quote:

“It has become very clear to us after speaking with our customers that the event could not be held because the atmosphere of this year’s show would not be conducive to an event that is designed to provide family enjoyment. It is unfortunate that in the current emotionally charged atmosphere this celebratory event has become overshadowed by a decision that directly affected a small percentage of more than 1,000 exhibits showcasing products and services for those interested in hunting and fishing.

quote:

Originally posted by Jim Manion:
Here is a list of vendors who have dropepd out:

http://mynortheastoutdoors.com...-boycott-supporters/

That list is updated daily.

To address Saeed's question as to "why" in a little more detail, there is a huge push in the US now for gun control. And, finally, there is a huge push back against it.

Gun control proponents were quick to take the murders at Sandy Hook as their opportunity to use public opinion in the US to disarm the American public. Not all at once, but in a death of a thousand cuts.

These same progressives (the new communism), would never even think of banning cars to prevent drunk driving here in the US. You can't blame the tool there. And they conveniently ignore the link between most if not all shooters in these mass shooting events and psychiatric/psychotropic drugs, which are rampantly prescribed here in the US for young adults. Despite the fact that the FDA testing on these drugs did not include the under 25 age group, and despite the fact that all of these drugs contain the FDA"s most serious "black box" warning.

After all, big pharmaceutical companies spend tens of millions of dollars each year lobbying Congress, and spend tens of millions of dollars every year in the form of campaign contributions. A little known fact herein the US is that when a member of Congress retires or is voted out of office, what is left in their campaign funds becomes their personal money.

So before the young bodies were cold at Sandy Hook, progressives launched into their attacks on our Second Amendment. Hell, we even have a Supreme Court Justice, Ruth Ginsberg, who claims our Second Amendment is an anacronism and that our Constitution needs to be "modernized" - and she uses South Africa's Constitution as the shining model for the new era.

THIS SHOULD CONVINCE YOU ALL

SEEN IN THE PARKING LOT AT MANGAUNG ANC CONFERENCE : 106 BMW X5's, 28 RANGE ROVER SPORTS, 211 BMW 5 or 7 series sedans, 11 MASERATI's, 103 MERCEDES BENZ sedans, 6 HUMMERS, 9 FERRARI's. Apart from the fact that the tax payer is paying to get all these cars to the conference, paying for the luxury accommodation, decadently luxurious and excessive food and drinks (all free!!), wives, spouses, lovers, friends and family - all catered for - all at tax payers’ expense. And we wonder why the govt says they dont have money for RDP housing, proper education system, proper healthcare facilities, proper police force and crime control - and all the other things they promised and haven't honoured !!!!

Those of us who support our Second Amendment abided by a self imposed mourning period after the trajedy, but the progressives did not. Less than 24 hours after the trajedy, drafts of bills pushing serious gun control measures were published.

The battle lines have been pretty mush drawn, and sides have started to solidify.

One tactic used in the past (as with the Assault Weapons bans in 1994) was to split hunters out of the Pro Second Amendment pack. You will hear statements like you don't need 30 shots to go deer hunting, even though the Second Amendment had nothing to do with hunting.

In the past, it worked well enough to split the hunting community up - some hunters openly villified "black rifles" and high capacity magazines.

So what the Show's organizer was trying to do was to capitalize on that past split. The organizer, Reed, by the way, is a British company. And are now bloody shocked to see the colonialists once again in a rather nasty stir.

Hunters know full well where further gun control will go. As Martin Niemöller stated long ago:

quote:

When the Nazis came for the communists,
I remained silent;
I was not a communist.

When they locked up the social democrats,
I remained silent;
I was not a social democrat.

When they came for the trade unionists,
I did not speak out;
I was not a trade unionist.

When they came for the Jews,
I remained silent;
I wasn't a Jew.

When they came for me,
there was no one left to speak out.

This push for gun control is not really about guns; it is about control. The Second Amendment is the last significant roadblock to a total gutting of out Bill of Rights. And our liberal brethern do not seem to understand that as the Second amendment goes, so goes our Bill of Rights. Any limitation or restriction on any one right can be equally imposed and applied on all other rights.

The "progressive" movement wants to move to a communist model. (You know its bad when Pravda starts mocking the current administration as communism on steriods). But to achieve their socialist nirvana, they need to first disarm their citizens.

quote:

Originally posted by Pauly3511:
http://www.easternsportshow.com/


“Our original decision not to include certain products in the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show this year was made in order to preserve the event’s historical focus on the hunting and fishing traditions enjoyed by American families,” said Chet Burchett, Reed Exhibitions President for the Americas. “In the current climate, we felt that the presence of MSRs would distract from the theme of hunting and fishing, disrupting the broader experience of our guests. This was intended simply as a product decision, of the type event organizers need to make every day.

“It has become very clear to us after speaking with our customers that the event could not be held because the atmosphere of this year’s show would not be conducive to an event that is designed to provide family enjoyment. It is unfortunate that in the current emotionally charged atmosphere this celebratory event has become overshadowed by a decision that directly affected a small percentage of more than 1,000 exhibits showcasing products and services for those interested in hunting and fishing.

“ESS has long been proud to participate in the preservation and promotion of hunting and fishing traditions, and we hope that as the national debate clarifies, we will have an opportunity to consider rescheduling the event when the time is right to focus on the themes it celebrates.”

quote:

Originally posted by Use Enough Gun:
Why would this affect the Shot Show next year?

quote:

Originally posted by Use Enough Gun:
Why would this affect the Shot Show next year?

quote:

Originally posted by Greg Schubert:
looks like the boycott worked! they cancelled the entire show?

quote:

Originally posted by LHowell:

quote:

Originally posted by Greg Schubert:
looks like the boycott worked! they cancelled the entire show?

That is one way to look at it.

Or, it is another victory for the anti-gun forces. Obviously.

quote:

Originally posted by A.Dahlgren:
OFFICIAL SHOCKEY STATEMENT REGARDING ESOS:

Due to recent decisions made by Reed Exhibitions regarding the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show, Jim and Eva Shockey will not attend this year’s event. We have carefully considered the feelings of our fans, customers and business partners in making this decision. We will miss seeing all of our friends who visit us in Harrisburg each year.
Thank you for your support and understanding.

- Team Shockey


Here is a list of vendors and celebrities not going to the Harrisburg show because of the gun ban.
Please add to the list if you hear about more not attending.
Cabelas
M Waddell + entourage
Blaine Anthony
Boondock Outdoors
Trop Gun Shop
DuckWater Boats Dover Ohio
Lancaster Archery Supply
Nature Blinds, LLC
Whitetail Bosses
Domari Nolo Defense Consulting
Wired Outdoors
Atlantic Tactical
Direct Action Tactical Firearms
Cutting Edge Bullets
Dead Ringer
Kinsey's Outdoors
Open Season TV
X- Stand Treestands
HookHunt
Full Circle Outdoors
Hunters and Guides Connection
Alaska's Ravencroft Lodge
Cross Canyon Arms
Fred Eichler - Fulldraw Outfitters
Ralph & Vicki Cianciarulo - Archers Choice Media
Zook Cabins
Warmbag
Mountain Dog Chews
Dominator 365
Midwest Whitetail Adventures
Arrowhead outdoors
My Northeast Outdoors
CanCooker
Northern Hideaway Outfitters
2 Million Bullets
Firearms Industry Consulting Group
Keystone Country Store

quote:

Originally posted by wymple:
Let's see if I have this right....A gun show is cancelled, and you call it a victory? It means nothing more than one less major gun show, and I'm not at all convinced that it should be construed as a victory for gun enthusiasts. It's more like a win fot the anti gun crowd.

quote:

Thank you for expressing your concerns over gun control and access to mental health care.


When our children and families are no longer safe at our schools, in our malls, and in our movie theaters, we as a country must take action. The shocking numbers of public shootings throughout the country last year, culminating in Newtown, Connecticut, demand that we engage in a serious national discussion.



Many people have expressed concerns about holes in our mental health care system that contributes to violence. Though people with mental illness are not at an increased risk of behaving violently in general, there is a subset of individuals with mental illness who are at risk of violent behavior of the kinds we have seen in public gathering places.



Over the last few years, Congress has passed laws to improve the mental health system so individuals in need of psychiatric evaluation, treatment, and support do not fall through the cracks. Several components of these laws have yet to be fully implemented.



In a bipartisan effort to ensure that mental and behavioral health services are covered by insurance in a manner equivalent to medical and surgical services. Congress passed the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act in 2008 This law prohibits insurance companies from arbitrarily limiting the number of hospital days or outpatient treatment sessions a patient is granted, as well as prohibiting higher copayments or deductibles for subscribers who seek psychological services. Such practices by insurance companies were both wrong and counterproductive. This legislation will help the 54 million Americans with mental illness gain access to appropriate and affordable treatment. My Senate colleagues and I have been working with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to ensure this law is fully implemented. Additionally, I and several of my colleagues sent a letter to President Obama asking him and HHS to fully implement the law.



The Affordable Care Act (ACA) is also working to improve access to mental and behavioral health services. Individuals in Ohio who have been denied insurance coverage due to a pre-existing mental health condition can now access the new Ohio High-Risk Insurance pool. For more information on the high risk pool or to sign-up for coverage, please visit http://www.insurance.ohio.gov/...HighRiskPoolFAQs.pdf



The ACA immediately eliminated pre-existing coverage exclusions for children. Kids will no longer be denied coverage — or have services excluded from coverage — as a result of pre-existing conditions. Additionally, parents of young adults can now maintain coverage for their children until age 26. Serious mental illness is often first noticed in the late teens or early twenties, when the brain is changing rapidly and when pressures to perform are great. It is crucial that young adults with existing or emerging mental illnesses not experience lapses in coverage at this time of high risk.



Beginning in 2014, insurance companies can no longer deny coverage to individuals with mental illness and insurers cannot use mental illness as a reason to raise premiums. HHS also established an essential benefits package — a set of health care service categories that must be covered by most plans — that will take effect in 2014. Mental health and substance abuse disorder services will be part of this package.



The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act and the ACA represent tremendous strides forward for mental health coverage and access. However, we must also re-examine our mental health safety net, which has faced unrelenting budget cuts, reducing access for some our most vulnerable citizens.



Finally, we must work to reduce the stigma attached to mental health treatment, and find ways to support families who are concerned about the mental health status of their loved ones. It is essential that families know about the mental health resources available to them, and that they understand they have allies and other resources to which they can turn. Education about signs of mental illness, how to obtain a mental health screening, and how to access treatment services are simple but key ingredients to a successful national plan for managing mental health crises. Should any legislation concerning gun control and access to mental and behavioral health care come before the Senate, I will keep your thoughts in mind.



Thank you also for sharing your thoughts on background checks for firearms owners.



I continue to receive numerous constituent letters voicing opinions on this issue. Gun shows have become a way for criminals and gun traffickers to purchase weapons without a background check and without a record of purchase. Gun sellers at these shows are not always registered the same way as owners of gun shops. This enables people to sell guns to criminals or the mentally unstable without any record being created for law enforcement. The International Association of Chiefs of Police supports improving and expanding the background check process to ensure that registration and background check is conducted for every gun sale.



Gun control is a complex issue and we must work together to uphold our Constitution while at the same time ensuring that our communities are safe. We can and must act to ensure tragedies like this never happen again.



Should any legislation come before the Senate for a vote, I will keep your views in mind. Thank you again for getting in touch with me.



Sincerely,



Sherrod Brown

United States Senator