Gun owners, onlookers split on what gun control proposals could accomplish

Greg “Gooch” Ionadi, owner of Smoke N Guns in Oakmont, shares his thoughts about efforts at the federal level to enact legislation to help curb gun violence and mass shootings. Ionadi’s shop sells firearms and has a coffee and cigar bar.

Federal officials are discussing ways to control gun violence and mass shootings, including increasing the minimum age from 18 to 21 to buy semiautomatic rifles like these for sale at Fazi’s Firearms on Saltsburg Road in Plum.

Sales clerk Stefan Walter of Unity places a Magnum Research .357 Magnum pistol in a display case on June 7 at Bullseye Firearms Gun Vault in New Alexandria.

Federal lawmakers are discussing measures to curb gun violence and mass shootings that include requiring a background check to buy a handgun from a private party. Buying a handgun from a dealer, like the ones on display at Smoke N Guns in Oakmont, already requires a background check by state police.

Greg “Gooch” Ionadi, owner of Smoke N Guns in Oakmont, shares his thoughts about efforts at the federal level to enact legislation to help curb gun violence and mass shootings. Ionadi’s shop sells firearms and has a coffee and cigar bar.

The owner of Schultz’s Sportsmen’s Stop in Apollo said proposals from lawmakers to limit gun and ammunition purchases often result in an uptick in sales by people concerned that the guns they want will no longer be available.

“The way it is now, I can have a table at a gun show and people who buy from me have to get a background check,” said Debbie Schultz, who owns Schultz’s Sportsman’s Stop in Kiski Township. “But somebody who isn’t a gun dealer can sell guns, and the buyer doesn’t have to go through the background check.”