FYI, I know alot of you go to this, but you better make other plans.
Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show - Update - January 24, 2013
Reed Exhibitions has decided to postpone, for now, the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show given the controversy surrounding its decision to limit the sale or display of modern sporting rifles (also called ARs) at the event. The show was scheduled to take place February 2-10 in Harrisburg, PA.
“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.”
Instead of Reed Exhibitions trying to make a statement for themselves, they should have stuck to promoting the show and selling tickets.
That's too bad for the smaller vendors counting on the crowds that visit.
Probably haven't been for 8 or 10 years, was always fun, but too crowded.
suze
Posts : 634 Join date : 2010-02-13
Subject: Re: Eastern Outdoor Show, Harrisburg, Pa. Fri Jan 25, 2013 9:15 am
That stinks !!
wacker
Posts : 4055 Join date : 2010-01-30 Location : S/C PA
Subject: Re: Eastern Outdoor Show, Harrisburg, Pa. Fri Jan 25, 2013 9:29 am
Another thing that will hurt the surrounding area also at the bottom...
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Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show goes from huge to zero in less than two weeks
SHELLY STALLSMITH Published: Jan 25, 2013, 9:07 AM EST
When Reed Exhibitions announced Thursday that it was postponing the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show indefinitely, it paused the action that began with the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.
Last month's shooting, where 20 elementary school children were killed by a single gunman, renewed the fiery battle for gun control. Calls have been made to ban assault weapons and high-capacity ammo clips. Gun-rights advocates are reminding everyone of our Second Amendment guarantee to bear arms without infringement.
The fury prompted Reed Exhibitions to ban tactical rifles at the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show, which was scheduled to run from Feb. 2 to 10 at the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg. The decision was announced on Jan. 15. It took less than two weeks of announced boycotts, lost vendors and heated words to bring the postponement.
Here is how we arrived at the most-recent announcement:
--Jan. 16: Within 24 hours of the decision to ban tactical rifles, which Reed initially said would only involve less than a dozen of the more than 1,200 vendors, hundreds of people post to the show's Facebook page, saying they wouldn't be attending.
--Jan. 20: Cabela's Inc., one of the show's signature sponsors, pulls out and is hailed as champions of gun-rights advocates by many of the more than 600 commenters on PennLive.
--Jan. 21: Lee and Tiffany Lakosky, hosts of the Outdoor Channel's show "The Crush" announce they are boycotting the show. The couple say it was a hard decision, but in the end they "couldn't support a show that doesn't completely support the Second Amendment." ... Nonprofits such as LEEK Hunting and Mountain Preserve are worried about how a proposed boycott will hurt their ability to raise funds for their programs.
--Jan. 22: The Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs, which began the show in the 1950s, threatens to pull out of the show, saying "Upon hearing of this decision, we worked closely with the [NRA] and industry representatives, who were in discussions with Reed's upper management. We hoped that through continued discussions, we would be able to convince them to reverse their position." It was the federation that turned the running of the show over to Reed when it became too big for it to handle.
--Jan. 23: A website promoting the boycott lists more than 200 vendors who say they wouldn't be attending the show. Vendors who have nothing to do with guns say they are in a "lose-lose situation" because they will be thought of as anti-gun if they attend. ... Sportsmans Liquidation, a 19-store retail chain that sells discounted hunting, fishing and outdoor brands, announces it's dropping out of the show. ... The Nat'l Wild Turkey Federation pulls out of the show, taking its popular turkey-calling contest with it. ... The National Rifle Association joins the growing list of "sorry, but we will respectfully decline your invitation" groups.
--Jan. 24: Olympic gold medalist Jamie Gray announces she will not be making a scheduled appearance at the show. The Lebanon native, who won 3x20 rifle in the London Games, makes her announcement on her Facebook page.
--Jan. 25: The loss of the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show, because really, who expects it to be rescheduled, will mean a projected $43 million loss to the region. ___
Posts : 1634 Join date : 2010-02-01 Location : Off the Grid
Subject: Re: Eastern Outdoor Show, Harrisburg, Pa. Fri Jan 25, 2013 10:56 am
The anti gunners need spineless people like Reed Exhibtions to submit to the biased media pressure of their so called "common sense" gun laws to gain traction for their radical cause. It's is absolutley great for all people who value the 2A, whether they use guns to hunt, target shoot, or for self defense to unite together to fight for their rights as one. You and I know that the anti-gunners won't just stop at taking away AR-15's or other semi automatic guns, it's just the first step to take away your right to defend yourself.
Timmi
Posts : 112 Join date : 2011-11-30 Age : 70 Location : Christiansburg, Virginia
Don't know if anyone caught vice-dingleberry Biden giving self defense tips, after all he's a sportsman. More like a dufus.
"A shotgun will keep you a lot safer than an assault weapon," Biden added, holding up his arms as if holding a gun. "If you want to keep people away during an earthquake, buy some shotgun shells."
I'm sure you'd do well versus an angry mob protecting your family and property with a shotgun, hope you are a fast loader.
Dixiecop28
Posts : 421 Join date : 2010-09-30 Age : 46 Location : northern ohio
Subject: Re: Eastern Outdoor Show, Harrisburg, Pa. Sat Jan 26, 2013 12:36 am
Im glad I bought my AR when I did.
Ruger
Posts : 1634 Join date : 2010-02-01 Location : Off the Grid