Harrisburg, Pa Eastern sports show 2nd amendment wins out...

24 January 2013, 21:56

brent ebeling

Well I guess the boycott got their attention. Not sure what they are thinking long term. It is one thing for you to decide not to attend weighing all the factors and cost for yourself. It is entirely different if that choice is made for you. So are they refunding booth space, airfare already booked and other expenses to those they are canceling on? If you are a vendor who was canceled will you want to come back again next year? I guess having 25% empty spaces and virtually no speakers was a little embarrassing for them.

24 January 2013, 22:00

Black Fly

I got the same message from a vendor that I work with. I will certainly miss the event and the people, but there some things that just can't be ignored.
Well Done Friends
Bfly

24 January 2013, 22:41

JTEX

Outstanding.

Damn shame for the vendors though.
Americans for the 2nd ammendment STANDUP!

.

24 January 2013, 23:34

butchloc

as i understand it NSSF is now looking at reeds, to possibly replace them for the shot show

25 January 2013, 16:06

Thunder Head

It sounds like they have a D.C. politician writing there press releases.

25 January 2013, 17:24

LHowell

quote:
Originally posted by retreever:
... WE WON!!!

Mike, I'm still not sure who won.

The biggest "gun" show in the country is closed. [The anti's hate gun shows]

and over 1000 exhibitors have lost the majority of their season - some of which will not survive because of it.

Who won? Certainly not the exhibitors.

25 January 2013, 17:28

LHowell

Also,

see this essay from theGunsamerica Blog

25 January 2013, 20:22

retreever

Les,

I feel for the exhibitors, but it is listed as an Outdoor show and not a hunting and fishing show as Reed is saying. This show covers all the outdoor and shooting sports.
There is also a multitude of other shows to possibly attend. But time and constraints will dictate who can exhibit and who has to go back to there home countries or states.
But to allow exhibitors to pay there money and then tell them you are not welcome, does not sit with me.
I will miss being at the show and seeing my friends and just enjoying it all.

Mike

25 January 2013, 23:42

Hntnhrd

I see this more as a skirmish then a win /lose. Reed Expositions took a stance that they did not want to have AR type rifles displayed or sold. This was going to directly effect a handful of vendors. Though in the larger picture it was a shot across the bow of the second ammendment. Small Business owners, most of the first 200 vendors that pulled out, said that was unexceptable. As of Wednesday, I believe ,there were 300 vendors on the list and 60 or so personalities that made their own decision to back out. It was on Thursday that Redd decided for the remaining 900 vendors that they would not have a show. Now for the anti gun crowd to take claim for this, canceling the show, would not help their cause. The local papers in PA are already reporting the financial loss to the community in the area of 44 to 80 million dollars.
The hunting shooting and outdoor industry wanted to have this show take place,heck it took the NRA a full week to finally commit to not going. It is that most small business owners didnt want to see their fellow business owners be trampled on. They showed that by deciding not to exhibit at the show, most willing to walk away from the thousands that they had already paid to Reed, Airlines and Hotels (though not happily I expect). The blame for all of this lies squarely on the shoulders of Reed Expositions and the anti-gun groups that pushed them to make the initial decision to not allow certain guns and paraphanalia to be displayed.

There is huge support out there for the companies that took a stand and were willing to lose thousands in doing so. I have been receiving emails to my facebook page and my website with that support. I have had more serious interest from perspective hunters then I probably would have received at the show.

I don't see this as a win for the antigun group, It is definately a loss for Reed Expositions, and a step in the right direction for legal gun owners in the US.

25 January 2013, 23:49

clayman216

Regarding the vendors. I too feel sorry for them. BUT, we must confront this crazieness now or there will be no future for them or us. Its not just the so called " assault weapons " they want outlawed, IT IS ALL FIREARMS, if you couldn't see through the BS before you should be able to now. If you cant see it coming then I feel sorry for YOU.

26 January 2013, 00:01

Todd Williams

quote:
Originally posted by Hntnhrd:
I see this more as a skirmish then a win /lose. Reed Expositions took a stance that they did not want to have AR type rifles displayed or sold. This was going to directly effect a handful of vendors. Though in the larger picture it was a shot across the bow of the second ammendment. Small Business owners, most of the first 200 vendors that pulled out, said that was unexceptable. As of Wednesday, I believe ,there were 300 vendors on the list and 60 or so personalities that made their own decision to back out. It was on Thursday that Redd decided for the remaining 900 vendors that they would not have a show. Now for the anti gun crowd to take claim for this, canceling the show, would not help their cause. The local papers in PA are already reporting the financial loss to the community in the area of 44 to 80 million dollars.
The hunting shooting and outdoor industry wanted to have this show take place,heck it took the NRA a full week to finally commit to not going. It is that most small business owners didnt want to see their fellow business owners be trampled on. They showed that by deciding not to exhibit at the show, most willing to walk away from the thousands that they had already paid to Reed, Airlines and Hotels (though not happily I expect). The blame for all of this lies squarely on the shoulders of Reed Expositions and the anti-gun groups that pushed them to make the initial decision to not allow certain guns and paraphanalia to be displayed.

There is huge support out there for the companies that took a stand and were willing to lose thousands in doing so. I have been receiving emails to my facebook page and my website with that support. I have had more serious interest from perspective hunters then I probably would have received at the show.

I don't see this as a win for the antigun group, It is definately a loss for Reed Expositions, and a step in the right direction for legal gun owners in the US.

100%

26 January 2013, 00:12

pagosawingnut

They obviously don't remember when Jim Zzumbo spoke out against "black rifles" and promptly lost a lot of sponsorship.

26 January 2013, 01:38

Duckear

The Fudds (from Elmer Fudd on Bugs Bunny)are those mistaken individuals that somehow think the liberals and progressives are only after 'assault rifles' and Glocks. And they would never take away their trap guns, deer rifles, or papa's shotgun. Well the Fudds need to pull their head out of the sand and realize that as gun owners, we either hang together or we will hang separately. Imagine the shock some NY squirrel hunters are going to get when they find out the 10 rd factory mag in their 10/22 is now a 'high capacity clip' and illegal per their oppressive state government.
If it takes the canceling of a show to wake them up, good.
And as far as the other exhibitors are concerned, they should have threatened to pull as well.
After all, the 2A isn't about hunting and sporting arms.

27 January 2013, 03:31

Mike Smith

You all have to read the new bill introduced Fri by the "honorable?" Senator Feinstein. Scary stuff

Here is a link from our brethren up north that you all might find interesting. Think it can't happen here?

http://www.sunnewsnetwork.ca/v...tu...n/2081848359001

27 January 2013, 03:51

Aspen Hill Adventures

quote:
Originally posted by pagosawingnut:
They obviously don't remember when Jim Zzumbo spoke out against "black rifles" and promptly lost a lot of sponsorship.

Oh 'shoot', my muzzleloader is BLACK!!!

27 January 2013, 04:03

465H&H

I can't think of anything more scary than a woman with a black rifle!

465H&H

27 January 2013, 04:48

larryshores

People, this is serious business. Make no mistake, this is just the start. The sad events in CT are exactly what the left is looking for. They will now pander to the ignorant masses.

I am making a large contribution to the NRA when I get home next week.

27 January 2013, 04:54

Duckear

quote:
Originally posted by larryshores:
People, this is serious business. Make no mistake, this is just the start. The sad events in CT are exactly what the left is looking for. They will now pander to the ignorant masses.

I am making a large contribution to the NRA when I get home next week.

Very good.

I would suggest you give memberships in addition to giving to the NRA-ILA (the part of the NRA that lobbies for us in DC.) That's what I have done.Giving memberships boosts the numbers. And that gets attention to folks in DC. The NRA has been hovering around four million members for years. We need to make it five million ASAP.

27 January 2013, 09:30

JBoutfishn

While a statement has been made for the Second Amendment, I see many losers, no winners.

27 January 2013, 09:34

JBoutfishn

quote:
Originally posted by Mike Smith:
You all have to read the new bill introduced Fri by the "honorable?" Senator Feinstein. Scary stuff

Here is a link from our brethren up north that you all might find interesting. Think it can't happen here?

http://www.sunnewsnetwork.ca/v...tu...n/2081848359001

I was in town when the news talked about Mss. Feinstein, I stopped at my favorite gun shop and bought a new 1911. We all need to do our share. I get to pick it up in 10 days.

28 January 2013, 06:26

Wendell Reich

We are experiencing firsthand the old adage "Freedom isn't free." It cost all of these companies money to pull out of this show, nonrefundable airfare, hotel, shipping, lost business etc ...

Being in the hunting industry, I understand the sacrifice made. Setting aside their own financial self interest, taking a stand for our Bill of Rights instead.

God bless them. I am proud of what I have just witnessed. American businesses banding together, intolerant of liberal political correctness.

28 January 2013, 06:31

Tim Ferrall

"We must all hang together, or surely we will all hang separately."
Benjamin Franklin

28 January 2013, 08:41

Idaho Sharpshooter

I expect reed will have one helluva hard time ever doing another sports show in America...

Okay by me.

29 January 2013, 05:38

SFRanger7GP

It is always a positive when people back their beliefs and rights with their money. However, the majority of the gun owners will not do that. The majority of gun owners are not members of the NRA. I watched people buying like crazy at the local Bass Pro Shop recently and internet sales are off the chart. Why won't most of them join the NRA? I would like to see ALL vendors and businesses put a "2nd Ammendment Defense Tax" on all sales. This tax could be the cost of their NRA membership if they are not already members and a donation to the NRA-ILA if they are already members.