LOOKIN’ DOWN THE BARREL OF A GUN Local gun shop owner talks student access, permit-carriers on campus Heidi Hill
Staff Writer Nestled in a pink house near South Knoxville, Cary Wiedman presides over firearms transactions for out-of-state customers that visit A-Zone Sports, the gun transfer business he has operated since 2012. Though his job is part-time, Wiedman said his interest in firearms is rooted in the time he spent shooting .22 caliber pistols with his grandfather. “I like guns because they are simple machines (and) I like the engineering behind them,” Wiedman said. “There’s only so many ways you can make a gun, so when someone does something innovative, you want to see what it is.” In an eclectic living room of antique cameras, Wiedman meets clients, roughly 100 per year and organizes a pick-up for gun orders placed by online customers — a process he likens to a version of eBay for gun connoisseurs and salesmen.
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“(It’s) just like someone who sells Beanie Babies would also sell stuff on eBay,” he said. “The only difference is the Beanie Babies go straight to a customer whereas a gun has to go through a dealer first.” As a transfer point, Wiedman receives materials from gun distributors, after he confirms his license and receives the firearm shipment for a final sale. Following a successful background check, the A-Zone Sports owner completes the transaction. These background checks are run through the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s database, referencing both national and state queries. All of this, Wiedman said, creates a “more effective” catch for flagged individuals. Still, President Obama’s recent executive action on gun control (is designed to place more regulations on these background checks, originally intended to prevent convicted felons from obtaining weapons. See GUNS on Page 4
Thursday, January 28, 2016