Gun dealers and firearms purchasers packed The Forum on Saturday, looking for good deals on guns and ammunition at the annual Eastman Gun Show.

Chad Abercrombie and his father, Charles Abercrombie, are collectors from Gadsden Ala., who are operating a booth this year. The younger man said he was extremely happy with the crowd.

“It’s actually been a nice show,” he said. “We haven’t done this Rome show before. We’re just individual collectors who came here to sell what we’ve collected over the years.”

Charles Abercrombie said he thinks the rhetoric in Washington regarding gun control helped the turnout at the Rome show and similar events. His son said he thinks people are focused on the freedoms they may lose.

“They’ve shown it at these shows. That’s what we’re about, the freedom,” Chad Abercrombie said.

In January, President Obama signed a series of 23 executive orders related to firearms safety, including a call for the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta to research the cause and prevention of gun violence. The orders also require federal investigators to trace all weapons recovered in criminal investigations.

Terry Warren of Bowdon was taking a long look at a Ruger 10/22 autoloading rifle conversion kit. He said he had one at home that was very similar, but with a different stock.

Warren said one of the reasons he drove to Rome from Carroll County was to see how people were reacting to gun control proposals coming from Washington.

“Gun laws are like trying to outlaw cars because of the drunk driver,” Warren said. “It’s not the car’s fault, you know.”

Don Harris of Rome was just looking Saturday. He said he was thinking about taking up hunting and wasn’t worried about proposed changes in firearms laws.

David Striblin of Silver Creek said he was out looking for deals but “a lot of it is overpriced.” He owns a number of weapons but also said he isn’t worried about the debate.

“Nobody’s going to take my guns,” he said.

Gregory Randall of Dalton found a deal on a Ruger Mini-14 autoloading rifle. He was attracted to the gun by the equipment that came with it — “the scope, laser and light sight,” he said.

The throng looking at the latest in weaponry also included former Georgia State Patrol Commander Hugh Hardison and his wife, Sandi Hardison, who live in Cedartown.

The gun show continues today from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Admission is $8. Children 12 and younger get in free.