SHOT Show set records for attendance (63,371 and 2,000+ media in four days in Las Vegas), the Harrisburg Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show claims itself as the largest outdoor show in the Northeast. More than 1,200 vendors of hunting, fishing, boating, archery and other gear are on the roster for the Feb. 2 to 10 event.
But in a stunning display of what can only be described as “bowing to the liberal agenda and the mainstream media”, Reed Exhibition; the organizers of the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show, have banned the display of modern sporting rifles, or what some media refer to as military-style assault rifles, at the Feb. 2-10 show in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
According to the event’s website officials “strongly support the 2nd Amendment” but decided negative attention on such weapons “would distract from the strong focus on hunting and fishing at this family-oriented event and possibly disrupt the broader positive experience of our guests.”
“As a hunting-focused event, we welcome exhibitors who wish to showcase products and firearms that serve the traditional needs of the sport.”
Ed Several, general manager of the show, said the “decision will impact five exhibitors out of the more than 1200 registered for the 2013 show”. And stated the decision covers ‘just this year. Take a break for a year.’
The statement made by the UK run company created a flurry of outrage, with social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook exploding with egregious comments.
A “Boycott the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show” page on Facebook encouraging vendors to withdraw from the show has generated more than 13,500 “likes.”
The decision has led to more than 75 companies and celebrities withdrawing from their show.
Their message? “If you don’t support the 2nd Amendment then we will not support you”.
I was impressed when I read on the Cabela’s Facebook page that after carefully considering their business practices “and the feelings of our customers, Cabela’s will, unfortunately, not have a presence at the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show.”
As one of the Wild World of CarrieZ’s biggest supporters, I was thrilled they are taking this stance in what I personally feel is an outrage.
Lee and Tiffany Lakosky of “The Crush TV,” Pat Reeve of “Driven TV,” and Larry Weishuhn, a hunter, writer and television personality, announced they will boycott the show, according to Deer & Deer Hunting Magazine.
Lee Lakosky said it was a “hard decision” for him and his wife to boycott the Harrisburg show, “but we can’t support a show that doesn’t completely support the Second Amendment.”
The (Lancaster) Intelligencer Journal/Lancaster New Era said Kinsey’s Outdoors of Mount Joy, Lancaster Archery Supply and Trop Gun Shop of Elizabethtown had said they do not intend to participate.
John Annoni of Allentown-based Camp Compass and 2 Million Bullets has pulled his booth. Blitz TV, which was set to feature Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Trent Cole, also joined the boycott.
The National Rifle Association joined the list of protesters late last week, issuing a statement regarding Reed’s decision on the Pennsylvania show.
But the National Rifle Association (NRA) issued its own statement claiming it “strongly disagrees” with Reed Exhibitions’ decision to ban “modern sporting rifles” from the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show, and that the decision “has come as a surprise and concern”.
“We encourage all attendees to stand and fight for the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens and not cower from our principles in the face of media pressure,” the association said in a statement. “We urge you to follow the NRA and the outdoor industry’s lead by voicing your displeasure with Reed Exhibitions both before and during the show, and encourage them to reconsider their position.”
“We encourage Reed Exhibitions to reconsider their position,” the statement reads in part, adding, “The NRA’s future participation in the Eastern Sports & Outdoor Show will be determined by Reed Exhibitions’ actions in response to the concerns raised by the NRA, the outdoor industry, and America’s law-abiding gun owners.”
Trijicon, Inc., global provider of high quality, innovative aiming solutions to military, law enforcement and individual customers, has decided to withdraw its participation and support of the 2013 Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
“We, at Trijicon, are very disappointed in the decision of Reed Exhibitions to ban the display of Modern Sporting Rifles from the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show.”, said Tom Munson, V.P. of Sales & Marketing for Trijicon.
“Many of Trijicon’s loyal customers are responsible and law-abiding owners of these types of legal firearms and we will not support any organization that attempts to restrict their display or purchase.”
Trijicon is prepared to reconsider its support of future Eastern Sports and Outdoor Shows if Reed Exhibitions should reverse its stance regarding Modern Sporting Rifles.
The NSSF however is taking a different stance on the ordeal.
The National Shooting Sports Foundation strongly disagrees with the decision of the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show’s management to disallow the display and sale of Modern Sporting Rifles at its 2013 exhibition. In our discussions with Reed Exhibitions, we have made this very clear. While assuring us that all legally available firearms will be welcome at future Eastern Sports and Outdoor Shows, it was explained that this unfortunate decision was made in response to the planned actions of a single retailer that would have drawn significant unwelcomed media coverage at a time when firearms ownership is being assailed in the media. It is important to note that this year’s show will continue to feature a wide variety of firearms.
However, it would be unfair to penalize the 1,200 exhibitors or the some 200,000 sportsmen and women who will attend the show by discouraging participation at a time when the hunting and shooting sports community needs to be united in the face of political challenges. We urge industry exhibitors and attendees to participate in the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show as planned and encourage attendees to visit the Reed Exhibitions booth at the show to share their concerns and to then enjoy the show.
LEEK Hunting and Mountain Preserve rely on the donations received while exhibiting during the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show. It raised more than $5,000 at the 2012 show and fears that the boycott will discourage attendees as well, leading to a negative impact on donations and exposure the company would receive. The organization uses that money to bring six Wounded Warriors to its Potter County Preserve.
For co-founder Ed Fisher, while he’d like to join the boycott, taking a loss on the non-refundable booth fee is not an option.
Companies, celebrities and affiliates who have pulled out of the show:
- 2 Million Bullets
- 24/7 Hunting TV
- Alaska’s Ravencroft Lodge
- Alaskan Outdoors TV
- Ambush Firearms
- American Whitetails of PA
- Antler Insanity
- Apex Tactical
- Appalachian Big Game TV
- Arrowhead Outdoors
- Artistic Visions
- Athens Archery
- Atlantic Tactical
- Avian X Decoys
- Bangin Redhedz Turkey Gear
- Bear Archery
- Big Game Butter
- Blitz TV
- Bohning Archery
- Boondock Outdoors
- Bow Hunter’s Den
- Bow Life, LLC
- BowHunter Planet
- Bowhunting.com
- Cabela’s
- Camo Addiction
- Campbell Cameras
- CanCooker
- Cochrane River Outfitters
- Cody Turkey Calls
- Cold Steel Knives
- Combative Edge
- Continental Divide Outfitters
- Cross Canyon Arms
- Cutting Edge Bullets
- Darkwoods Blind
- DCVR
- Dead Ringer
- Deer and Deer Hunting.com
- Direct Action Tactical Firearms
- Dirty Dog Outdoors
- Domari Nolo Defense Consulting
- Dominance is Everything Hunting System
- Dominator 365
- Down N Dirty Outdoors
- Driven TV
- Droptine Outfitters
- DuckWater Boats
- Eastern Chapter Wild Sheep Foundation
- Eastern Outdoors
- Easton Bow Hunting
- Excalibur Crossbow US, Inc
- Farmland Trophies Outfitting
- Fear No Evil
- Field Proven Calls
- Firearms Industry Consulting Group
- Flatline Productions
- Foiles Migrators, Inc
- Forbes Turkey Calls
- FOXPRO High Performance Game Calls
- Full Circle Outdoors
- Furtakers TV
- Ghost River Outfitters – Alberta
- Goey Hunting Calls
- Gone Wild Outdoors
- Goodling Rifles
- Gut N Tag, LLC
- H.S. Specialities
- Heartland Whitetails
- Hevi-Shot
- High Lonesome Outfitters
- HookHunt
- Hoyt Archery Inc
- Hunter Safety Systems
- Hunter Specialties w/ Rick White
- Hunters and Guides Connection
- Hunters Comfort, LLC
- Hunter’s Specialties
- Huntin’ Is Good! TV
- IceHole Coolers
- International Bowhunting Organization
- Iron Kin Hunt Club
- IScope
- J & M Traditions
- Keystone Country Store
- Keystone Elk Country Alliance
- King of the Mountain Inc.
- Kinsey’s Outdoors
- Kodabow
- Lancaster Archery Supply
- Major League Bowhunter
- Men in Treestands Productions
- Midwest Whitetail Adventures
- Mindful of Nature LLC
- Mountain Dog Chews
- Muddy Outdoors
- Muskie Moose, LLC
- NasHunt Outdoors
- Nature Blinds, LLC
- NasHunt Outdoors
- Northern Hideaway Outfitters
- Northern Outdoor Lodge
- Northern Wilderness Outfitters
- Old Goat Outdoors
- Open Season TV
- Outdoor Channel Outfitters
- Outdoor Edge Knives
- Outdoor Specialist Grou
- Outdoorsnative.com
- Ozonics Hunting
- PA Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs
- PA Taxidermist Association, Inc
- Pat Strawser Custom Calls
- Pennsylvania Trappers Assoc.
- Perry’s No Peep Archery Site
- Pipeline Ridge Hunting Preserve
- Primal Urge Outdoors
- Primos Hunting Calls
- Proc’s Huntin Buddy
- PSE Archery
- Radical Hunter
- Ranew’s Outdoor Equipment
- Red Star Arms
- Revolution Hunting
- Rhino Outdoors
- Rougeaux Taxidermy
- S & W Outfitter
- SecureIt Tactical
- Skull Shine
- Southern Game Calls
- Spook Span
- Sportsmen of North America TV
- State Line Bone Mine
- Staudt’s Gun Shop
- Stay Ready Inc
- Stokerized Stabilizers
- Susquehanna River Waterfowlers Assoc
- Table Mountain Outfitters
- Team Overkill
- The Bear Whisperer
- The Outdoor Loop
- The State Line Bone Mine a NW Missouri and Iowa outfitter
- The Warmbag
- Timberline Outfitters
- TNT Archery
- Tough Country
- Trijicon, Inc
- Triple Mag TV
- Trop Gun Shop
- Turnbull Manufacturing
- U Slide Bow Hunter
- Ultimate Camo
- Umax Outdoors
- Upper Canyon Outfitters
- Wallaston Lake Lodge
- Tex Mex Outdoors
- The Warmbag
- Watson Air Lock
- Watt’s Truck Center
- Whitetail Bosses
- Whitetail Freaks
- Whitetail Heaven Outdoors
- Whitewolfsurvivalsupply.com
- Wired Outdoors
- Woodcock Limited of Pennsylvania
- X-Stand Treestands
- Zink Calls
- Zook Cabins
- Abner Druckenmiller – Furtakers TV
- Angie & Scott Denny – THE LIFE at Table Mountain
- Blaine Anthony, The Bear Whisperer
- Bob Folkrod
- Bob Mercier
- Brad Farris – Primos
- Chris Brackett
- Eddie Salter
- Fred Eichler – Fulldraw Outfitters
- Jay Gregory
- Jim and Eva Shockey
- Jimmy Primos – Primos
- Larry Weishuhn
- Lee & Tiffany Lakosky “The Crush“
- Matt Morett
- Michael Waddell
- Pat & Nicole Reever
- Ralph & Vicki Cianciarulo – Archers Choice
- Stan Potts
- The Bone Collector
- Tom Dokken
- Trent Cole
- Anything About Guns
- Bloodline With Alex
- Ruthledge
- Blue Rock Outfitters
- Broken Arrow Wilderness
- Chasing Trophy Whitetails
- Eddie Salter
- Family Traditions TV
- Gene & Barry Wensel
- Haley Heath
- Hank Parker
- NebraskaOutfitter.com
- Roger Raglin
- Wyvern Creations
~
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8 Comments
Standing up for what you believe in is not always painless. When a forign company tries to dictate what is to be displayed in a public venue, then it is time to no longer support that company. Its about time we did this. Support the companies who support you.
I noticed in the article Reed Exibition is a UK run company…. Reed! you lost that war it ended with the UK signing the Treaty of Paris in 1783. We whipped your butts …you tried to take our guns away in Lexington and Concord; Paul Revere’s ride was to call to arms to stop the tryany of the King. You lost! Our founding fathers knew how important it was to keep the right to bear arms they made special note of it in the Bill of Rights… our 2nd amendment. Perhaps it is time… Thomas Jefferson said “The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.”
Post a list of the bastards that do not boycott the show, so we can boycott them as well!
Great Post. to reduce the rights of the many to control the few does NOT work when the few already disregard the laws in place.
Keep up the good work!!
Thanks! And great comment!!
Carrie,
It comes down to money. Too many big money sources are in this together and the choice to ban any weapon from such a show is a disgrace.
The Show was the largest outdoor show in the world when we started attending. It was 10 days of insanity and great PR. It was hard work, pure and simple. Talking to that many people all day, answering questions and giving people tips as well as glimpses into Alaska and what it means to be horse outfitters.
It started becoming “political” about ten years after we started attending. This, is beyond any of the pussy-rules that started popping up every year, lessening our exposure (as well as more vendors, than can possibly be listed), lessening the ROI.
Carrie
Yes it is unfortunate it has come to this. I wish Reed would give more detail of the
” Planned actions of a single retailer” what was this plan that got them to make such a critical decision.
I feel bad for the small business that is showing their products at this show and rely heavily on the sales of such a show.
Carrie, I never thought about the little guy that will be impacted by this. It’s a catch twenty two. I applaud the companies standing up for their second amendment right but am angry at them for purposefully hurting smaller vendors.
Shame on the show for even causing this mess.