Gun show debate re-emerges in Westchester County exec race

WHITE PLAINS, Westchester County (WABC) -- The debate over holding a gun show on county property has re-emerged as an issue in the race for Westchester County executive. That election is this November between Republican incumbent Rob Astorino and democratic challenger George Latimer.

Latimer, a State Senator, told Eyewitness News he thinks the show should be scrapped in light of the Las Vegas mass shooting that left 59 people dead and more than 500 injured.

"The most single important thing is that we make a commitment to terminate having these gun shows at the Westchester County Center. We're not saying they can't be held in Westchester. We just don't want them at a public facility and give sort of the public endorsement of these things," Latimer said.

Astorino disagreed, asking what does a gun show in Westchester have to do with a mass shooting in Las Vegas?

"To equate the 8,000 law-abiding citizens of Westchester who came to the gun show here with a complete psychopath, intent on killing as many people as possible, is just utterly awful," Astorino said.

So far Westchester County has not signed a contract but one promoter claims there will be a gun show at the center on January 20 and 21, 2018.

Astornio says semi-automatic guns, similar to those used in Las Vegas, are already illegal in New York and are not sold at the gun show.

Earlier this year, Astorino vetoed a ban on gun shows in Westchester County.