Crossroads of the West Gun Show comes to Costa Mesa as Obama pushes tougher gun regulations

COSTA MESA, Calif. (KABC) -- In his final State of the Union address Tuesday evening, President Barack Obama made another pitch to step up background checks on gun sales.

Recently he announced executive action to ramp up background checks on gun sales, specifically targeting what some call the "gun show loophole," which keeps private sellers from having to run background checks in many states.

The action comes just prior to Crossroads of the West Gun Show setting up in Costa Mesa. It's one of the largest gun shows in California and owner Bob Templeton said he expects a record crowd.

"Gun shows are not a source of crime guns, there is no loophole as such that people can just walk in and buy a gun and walk out," he said.

California law requires private vendors to use a transfer dealer who runs a background check and holds the gun for 10 days.

Deborah Hernandez, a member of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, said she is thankful for the president's action, but wants congress to do more, especially with gun shows and online sales.

"You do fuel gun-trafficking, and that is a major, major source for crime guns," Hernandez said.

Templeton said lawmakers should focus more on those who misuse or could misuse firearms and not responsible gun owners, like the people he said come to his shows.

"Law-abiding citizens shouldn't be saddled with the burden of more restrictions on their Second Amendment rights, their constitutional right to own and bear firearms," he said.

The show in Costa Mesa is just one of Crossroads of the West's 60 gun shows in 2016.