Parsonsburg firearms auction looks to move primarily online

Friday marked day two of of the 10th Annual Firearm and Mens’ night out gun auction in Parsonsburg, Md. However auctioneers say changes will be made next year in ways big and small.

Doug Marshall of Allen and Marshall auctioneers says President Obama’s executive order on gun control really just means more paper work for his business, but it won’t change the process for the buyers themselves since auction winners already must pass through the national instant criminal background check system (NICS) run by the FBI.

The big difference Marshall says, has more to do with the national gun buying climate. Because as Marshall points out, there’s a stigma attached to buying guns in public.

“The awkwardness of purchasing firearms, people would rather remain anonymous and purchase them from home then in a live event like that, or like this, where people see them. So we are clearly going to move more into the online auctions next year,” Marshall said.

Marshall said during day one of the auction, the number of people in the auction house was down compared to years past and 60 percent of their ammunition sales were online.

When weapons are bought through the online auction, the weapon is then sent to the buyer’s closest federal firearms licensed dealer. That dealer is then in charge of the background check.