Over at Say Uncle, they are still fighting the good fight against the AP for putting out misinformation about the mythical "gun-show loophole".

The legislation would close a loophole that has allowed people to buy firearms at gun shows without going through the normal criminal-background check...

Background checks are already required for people buying guns at stores to ensure they don't have a criminal record that would bar them from possessing firearms. But those checks are not conducted on purchases at gun shows.

Any time or any place a gun dealer sells you a gun, they MUST conduct a federal NICS check. It doesn't matter if you are at a gun show, a flea market, a back alley, or the dealer's store front. If they don't do a background check, they are breaking federal law and could face revocation of their FFL license, fines, and imprisonment. In fact, even when you buy Class III firearms which require an extensive 6 month background investigation, fingerprints, a sign off letter from your local sheriff, and the signature and tax-stamp from the investigating ATF agent, the dealer still MUST PERFORM A FEDERAL NICS BACKGROUND CHECK prior to you taking delivery of the gun.

It is federal law, and anyone who tells you otherwise is lying to you.

* Note: There are a few select states (like GA for instance) where a concealed carry permit is allowed to stand in for a NICS check. Illinois is not one of those states, and those few exceptions have nothing to do with gun shows or the location of gun purchases.