A gun show that was shut down at the Fayette County Fairgrounds has prompted threats of a lawsuit and a possible change in a West Union city ordinance. City officials forced the closing of a tool and gun show at the fairgrounds on the weekend of January 28th because the organizer, Keith Nemecek of rural Winthrop, failed to get a permit required of transient merchants and a one-thousand dollar bond. Nemecek threatened the city council with a lawsuit last night, claiming the law was selectively applied to his show, and violated his constitutional rights. A member of the fair board agreed, saying the law is not enforced at other times, and he says the city’s actions drive away business. Nemecek also presented the council with an administrative notice, claiming they have to pay him 75-thousand dollars in damages or face a federal civil rights lawsuit. Nemecek says he lost thousands of dollars in revenue, advertising and promotions when the show was cancelled. The council has refused to pay Nemecek, but is considering a change in the transient merchant ordinance.
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