Hunting Show Stands Up To NRA By Banning Assault Rifles At Event

[Report1212]

In Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, one group of responsible gun owners is taking a stand against the NRA. The Eastern Sports & Outdoor Show, in the wake of the tragic events at Sandy Hook, decided not to feature certain weapons at the event, including assault rifles.

This is their statement on their move:

As a hunting-focused event, we welcome exhibitors who wish to showcase products and firearms that serve the traditional needs of the sport. Clearly, we strongly support the 2nd Amendment. However, this year we have made the decision not to include certain products that in the current climate may attract negative attention that 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.
This set off an angry reaction by the NRA, which decided to pull out of the event altogether.

Read more: http://boldprogressives.org/hunting-show-stands-up-to-nra-by-banning-assault-rifles-at-event/

[Tom Rinaldo]

1. Good to see. K&R n/t

[Pisces]

2. Wow, I loved hearing this.

[onehandle]

3. Semi-automatic assault weapons = basically, a machine gun.

One purpose. Hunting humans.

Good for them.

[clffrdjk]

4. Take a look

at how many vendors and sponsors have pulled out of that sport show. My money says it won't be held next year.

http://www.ydr.com/local/ci_22424721/list-eastern-sports-and-outdoors-show-boycotters

[ellisonz]

12. Good

[iamthebandfanman]

18. LMAO

they are getting done something anti-gun folks could never have done....
nobody will be buying any weapons and the show will likely never come back!

only hurting themselves! more power to them tho! lmao

[clffrdjk]

26. Exactly

They run off their supporters in an attempt at appeasing the unappeasable. Stupidity at its finest.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

56. I smell something . . . can't quite put my finger on it. . . . .

oh, wait. TROLL! ! ! !

[JimDandy]

102. I must send the boycotters a letter thanking them

for supporting the anti gun violence/pro gun control lobby who always boycott gun shows. The more the merrier!

[Historic NY]

22. And they have 254 more new ones....

How many on that list actually have anything to do with actual hunting?

There are many more hunting specific groups out there.

[annabanana]

27. so what?. . .n/t

[TheCowsCameHome]

31. Haha.

Drown in your stuff for all we care.

[UnrepentantLiberal]

41. That's a list of people and companies who support the boycott.

Not vendors who were sponsoring the event.

[Glassunion]

104. +1

Reading is indeed fundamental.

[frylock]

75. awwhhhh, the poor widdle babies..

taking their ball and going home.

[kestrel91316]

84. Fine with me. It's not like people don't know what guns are and need an educational even to show

them what they are.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

5. K&R

[FourScore]

6. YES!!! That's how it's done!

BRAVO to the organizers of The Eastern Sports & Outdoor Show!!!

[SayWut]

7. Actions have conseqences.

"Smith & Wesson® Withdraws from Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show®

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (January 22, 2013) --- Smith & Wesson, a U.S. based leader in firearm manufacturing and design, today announced that the Company will not attend nor will it support or participate in the 2013 Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The announcement comes after the decision of show management company, Reed Exhibitions, to prohibit the display of modern sporting rifles in this year’s event.

James Debney, President and CEO of Smith & Wesson, said, “As a market leader in the firearm industry and an iconic brand that spans 160 years of American history, we believe it is important to make our position perfectly clear: We support the Second Amendment and the rights of our law-abiding customers to purchase these and all legal firearms. Therefore, we are unable to support any organization or event that prohibits legal firearms, or otherwise restricts a citizen's lawful and constitutional rights.”

https://www.facebook.com/smithwessoncorp

[amandabeech]

24. Cabela's, the big sports outfitter, is also pulling out,

according to Freeperland.

If the Freepers are any indication, the number of people who show up may be lower, partly because some of the big exhibitors will be gone and partly because many people who show up at these events oppose restriction on the 2d Amendment.

[Go Vols]

33. .

Several other vendors recently announced they would not participate after it was learned that assault weapons would be banned from the show. Those vendors include Cabela's, Kinsey's Outdoors, and Atlantic Tactical of New Cumberland

http://www.abc27.com/story/20655510/nra-pulls-out-of-eastern-sports-and-outdoor-show

[central scrutinizer]

57. Atlantic Tactical? - Are we at war with Bambi?

Somehow that name doesn't conjure up legitimate hunting for the table.

[2naSalit]

76. more on that

These guys are afraid of losing their propaganda believability among their customer base...

Cabela's, Elk Foundation boycott sports show over gun ban

http://www.ravallirepublic.com/news/state-and-regional/article_b224a9f5-d446-5eab-bf2f-94dfb85f8351.html

[frylock]

80. guess i will now be boycotting cabela's

[noiretextatique]

88. definitely will boycott

and i was just about to buy a new tent from them.

[2naSalit]

93. Pategonia and

I think REI support wildlife stuff instead of guns, and maybe LL Bean... but I'm not really certain but you might think about getting some of that stuff there instead. I boycotted Carhartt when they had that stoooopid ad on TeeVee depicting some young bucks out sittin' 'round a campfire when suddenly a wolf lunges at one of them. Bad imagery, that just doesn't happen, unless the animal has rabies and even then not likely. And the point was to show how tough their jackets were...

[noiretextatique]

118. thanks!

REI tends to be pricey, but i will check out the others

[2naSalit]

119. There's also

an outlet here in the west, they're based in WY but you can go online to check out what they have. They are religious and say so up front but they don't sell guns-that I am aware of- or engage in political issues so I don't mind doing business with them, everything is discount... many name brands, I think they are a liquidator. I get lots of stuff from them when I need something...

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/

If you're inclined to shop online, I'd be checking there first. They also take mail order in many forms of payment. Good luck.

[Ed Suspicious]

44. Just out of curiosity, is Smith & Wesson a hunting oriented company?

My impression is that they were more of a personal protection / law enforcement company.

[hack89]

48. Their line of AR-10s are hunting rifles

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product4_750001_750051_817049_-1_757785_757784_757784_ProductDisplayErrorView_Y

[Ed Suspicious]

51. Thanks.

[SayWut]

59. Their focus is primarily on personal protection / law enforcement.

The event, however is more of a trade show than the traditional type of gun show that attracts all the controversy.

Vendors at The Eastern Sports and Outdoor Shows are concerned more with drawing in new customers than serving as a point of sales.

The decision by S&W is a significant one because they are a huge player in the firearms market, but more importantly because they were once vilified and condemned by gun owners over a poor business decision they made years ago. The resulting boycott nearly bankrupted them.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smith_%26_Wesson#Agreement_of_2000

Even today, there are a number of gun owners that refuse to purchase S&W products (same with Sturm Ruger, but that's another story).

S&W's decision is part standing up and showing support for the 2nd amendment, and part trying to bury their past and regain the trust and support of gun owners.

[nakocal]

100. If we can't kill people, we're not going Fuck them

[northoftheborder]

8. Good for them, that is, good for the Hunting Association for their actions.

[iandhr]

9. Biden said quoting a hunter

"If You Got 12 Rounds, It Means You Already Missed The Deer 11 Times"

[Aristus]

10. Good for them. I hope this spreads.

I hope the NRA takes their assault rifles and goes to Hell...I mean: home.

[Robb]

11. "We don't promote hunting people."

[JEB]

13. Gun shows used to be

a lot more interesting and fun before the camo clad wing nuts invaded. One assault rifle is much like another. BORING.

[clffrdjk]

30. Placeholder

"Lancaster County exhibitor pulls out Harrisburg gun show, cites assault weapons ban
By P.J. REILLY
The Lancaster Intelligencer Journal

Updated: 01/18/2013 02:22:35 AM EST

As reported by the Lancaster Intelligencer Journal
Yet another Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show exhibitor from Lancaster County has decided to pull out of the upcoming event in Harrisburg because of the show organizer's recent decision to ban assault rifles {sic} from being sold or displayed there.

Rob Kaufhold, owner of Lancaster Archery Supply, 2195A Old Philadelphia Pike, announced his decision Thursday, joining Trop Gun Shop of Elizabethtown, which decided Wednesday not to be an exhibitor."

[JEB]

40. Gun shows 30 years ago were filled with old, unusual weapons of all types as well as all kinds of

interesting items from the American West, various sporting relics etc, etc. Nowadays, these shows are just industry trade shows selling stuff that is readily available. This degradation of merchandise and the accompanying collection of fools has pretty much killed any interest for me. The gun industry will let nothing stand in the way of their profits.

[chemenger]

35. I agree.

Never fired one but, over the years, I've looked at and shouldered a number of assault rifles. All of them were uncomfortable, awkward, and IMO very over-priced (come on ... a length of NPT-threaded pipe and a plastic shoulder piece for a stock).

I'll take a lever-action rifle with a nicely finished stock (preferably with a cheek rest), nicely blued barrel, etc. Not a gun-nut in any sense of the word (I'm all for licensing the gun owner, registering his guns, requiring that he carry insurance, and requiring regular license/registration renewals ... no different than owning a car) but I do think a rifle should have some visual aesthetic.

[jberryhill]

101. Aesthetics

While some deride the notion of "aesthetic restrictions", they do so in ignorance of everything we've learned about industrial design - how form and function of utilitarian objects interacts with human psychology.

[AlbertCat]

15. This set off an angry reaction by the NRA, which decided to pull out ...

Thus confirming and proving that "responsible gun owners" and the NRA are incompatible.

[hack89]

17. The list of vendors pulling out of the show is large and steadily growing

it is a British group that organizes the show - they clearly don't understand their intended market. I suspect we will see a "what we really meant" statement pretty soon.

[SayWut]

28. The 'Piers Morgan Effect'.

I wasn't aware that a British company was hosting the event.
After the S&W HUD agreement brouhaha and resulting backlash, you'd think they would have learned their lesson.

[JimDandy]

103. Welcome to DU. n/t

[Paladin]

16. Glad To Hear It.

The shooting sports have been negatively impacted by the assault rifle craze, so it's nice to see at least some venues drawing a line in the sand.

[hack89]

19. The shooting sports have enthusiastically embraced semiautomatic rifles.

They are the standard for competitive target shooting and are making tremendous inroads into hunting.

There is a reason that AR-15 type weapons are so popular.

[AlbertCat]

20. There is a reason that AR-15 type weapons are so popular.

So people who clearly cannot hit the broad side of a barn can finally hit it?

[hack89]

23. AR-15s are very accurate weapons

people use them in competition because they win.

I understand your passion but not the willful ignorance. I stated a fact about the shooting sports. You have yet to refute it.

[theKed]

47. That's not what he's saying, at all

Though I'm pretty sure you know that already.

Troll on, Gunnie.

[hack89]

50. It was just a mindless attack on evil black guns

willful ignorance - like yours.

[theKed]

52. Actually

He was pointing out the sort of people who need a 30 round mag are lacking in shooting accuracy, I do believe. But, again, you knew that.

[hack89]

54. And if you knew anything about competitive target shooting

you would understand why it was an ignorant statement.

[theKed]

55. Only person talking about

competetive target shooting is....


...wait for it ...

You!

Because you're trying to gin up a strawman argument. Srsly. We're talking about the vast hordes of mouthbreathers buying Bushmasters to whom the closest thing to competetive target shooting is seeing who can shoot more cans off that there fence after a 12 pack.

[hack89]

60. "They are the standard for competitive target shooting ..."

that is my post that he replied to. That is the subject of this sub-thread.

[AlbertCat]

74. "They are the standard for competitive target shooting ..."

So no one competes in target shooting with a pistol or a shotgun or a bow and arrow?

"They are the standard for competitive target shooting ..." for a competitive target shooting event for that type of gun.


Try to think more broadly. Especially when it comes to guns and gun worship.

P.S. yes yes yes...we're all impressed with your responsible gun knowledge...or not.

And be sure to tell us about willful ignorance at the next mass shooting of innocent people.... or NRA event.

P.P.S. Y'know, if you are knowledgeable, and I bet you really are and not a complete troll because a lot of gun enthusiasts will post about specific gun knowledge and the minutia of gun info, why do you let the NRA make you look like gun nuts? When ARE the responsible gun owners gonna take their sports and shows back? Like this show?

[hack89]

85. There is a reason only a tiny minority of gun owners are NRA members.

The NRA is not my responsibility - I don't have to defend them.

[hack89]

21. They will regret this

the backlash is large and furious. The number of sponsors and exhibitors backing out is large and growing larger every day.

[Floyd_Gondolli]

36. Who cares.

[hack89]

38. Pissing off your customer base is not a sound economic model in any industry.

I think the organizers of this show will care a lot when they see the hit to their profits.

[Floyd_Gondolli]

43. Meh...there's always more money to be made.

Plenty more opportunities to sell stuff to gun nuts.

[Gore1FL]

53. Or Maybe those drawn to this show because of their hunting hobby

will never buy from those who pulled their support.

Your data is as good as mine (non-existent) on the impact of this, if any.

[hack89]

58. I know it is important for many to paint all gun owners

who own semi-automatic rifles as part of a dangerous, RW fringe. I think you will find that such weapons are much more mainstream then you think. Additionally, you are going to see many who would never consider buying such a weapon take offense at this as another mindless salvo in the culture wars between rural and urban people.

What we have here is a British company not understanding the values of their American customers. They will regret it.

[theKed]

78. "Let's not make this a culture war...

...it's just those damned British trying to push their values on us"

Yup, nothing to see here folks.

[hack89]

87. Reading comprehension is not your strong suit is it?

I specifically referred to urban vs rural values.

[theKed]

91. Just because

its a sifferent culture than you meant, doesn't mean its not a culture war

[hack89]

92. Time will tell. nt

[Gore1FL]

86. I am not painting gun owners as anything.

I am merely pointing out that those still attending the show might take issue with those that pulled out.

[frylock]

81. i know that i'll no longer purchase ammo or fishing gear from cabela's..

if they want to cater to mouthbreathing crybabies clamoring for more 30 round mags, then i'll take my business elsewhere.

[bluestate10]

96. Those boycotter's can be boycotted. Somewhere, they rely on money from

ethical hunters and people that love fishing, and even people that don't hunt or fish. I fish and wouldn't buy a thing from a vendor that boycotts a hunting and fishing event because the organizers don't want assault rifles displayed.

[hack89]

98. Time will tell. nt

[Remmah2]

25. You do realize that there's nothing left to buy?

Maybe just beef jerkey.

[ieoeja]

49. They are down to only 1,088 vendors.

That would be a lot of beef jerky.

[Remmah2]

73. Okay

Throw in a few buy-sell optics vendors with Chinacrap stuff.

[Bill USA]

32. RECOMMENDED!

[JustAnotherGen]

34. One of my very good friends

Her significant other banks a lot on this show each year. . . He runs fishing charters off the South East Coast of New Jersey.

Sharing because being an outdoors person doesn't just mean hunting. These shows will go on - just without AR-15 vendors!

[myrna minx]

37. Our NRA friends are predicting DOOM! DOOM, I tells ya!

I hope your friends have a great season.

[JustAnotherGen]

65. I do too!

Both of their boats survived Sandy!

[myrna minx]

71. I'm sure they were so relieved and grateful to find their boats intact!

My best wishes to them - It's folks like them that will be the economic engine and recovery to the region.

[JustAnotherGen]

108. Post 107

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=2252125

This is bad . . .

[badhair77]

39. I would hate to see this show end.

It is so much more than guns. When we bought our camper we checked out every brand there, in one spot. There are lots of boats, RVs, and recreation equipment we could never afford but we could dream. Hotels and lodges also frequent the show so one could find unique places to stay.

I'm glad the management took a stand even though they are going to be hurt by it. I hope the vendors who drop out are hurt more. I will never enter a Cabela's store again.

[Victor_c3]

42. those would be "reasonable" gun owners and enthusiasts

It just goes to show how out of touch a certain segment of the NRA and far right really is with the rest of reality.

[oldandhappy]

45. wow

Good for them. I am sure there will be plenty of guns and gun products to satisfy the people who attend.

[ehrnst]

46. Mountain Dog Chews and Campbell Cameras are boycotting???

Really?

[Tombiag]

61. Wow!

Even murderers are against assault rifles now!

Good to hear they only advocate murdering certain kinds of animals.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

62. I NEED my assault fishing pole...

[hack89]

63. Olympic gold-medalist will skip Outdoor Show

Local Olympic gold-medalist Jamie Gray is the latest celebrity to drop out of the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show.

Gray, a 2002 graduate of Cedar Crest High School, won the gold medal in women's 50-meter three-position rifle at the London games last summer.

Nearly all of the hunting and shooting-sports celebrities, such as Gray, who were supposed to appear at this year's show to sign autographs and give seminars, have backed out.

Read more: http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/806571_Olympic-gold-medalist-will-skip-Outdoor-Show.html#ixzz2Ip0uCx3h

[badhair77]

64. Perhaps she has a sponsor

who has dropped out?

Right down the road from where she used to practice, during the 2000 election, there were hand-painted signs reading "Gore will take your guns" I'm not surprised she's bailing. This is the neighborhood mentality. Everyone is after their guns. Paranoia reigns.

[hack89]

66. Not paranoia - economic common sense

biting the hand that feeds you is never a smart move, whether it be a company or an individual.

[badhair77]

69. You're right about biting the hand that feeds you.

I can see her point if that is the case.

I went off on a side rant and did not realize it. When I saw where she used to practice I thought of the mentality of the people who put up those signs and how self-satisfied they were with the Bush election. Just think Ted Nugent clones. I totally forgot I started posting about Jamie.

[LanternWaste]

67. uite heartening to see many of the responses and reactions to this cultural sea-change

I believe this is third of fourth gun-show I've read of in the past ten days that has done this. It is quite heartening to see many of the responses and reactions to this recent and unexpected cultural sea-change in regards to our collective obsession with firearms.

And if a Right-Wing political action committee (the NRA) is getting huffy about, I suppose that's more icing on the cake.

[Hugabear]

68. To any gun nuts who are upset over this - go fuck yourselves

Very telling that the gun lobby and their sycophants are upset over a decision to focus on more traditional firearms rather than assault weapons.

So much for the NRA claims that they're about tradition and family. Bullshit. They're only about promoting gun manufacturers and their precious assault weapons. The NRA today is a far cry from what the NRA used to be.

[JEB]

72. The NRA

is about making lots of $$$$$$$ for gun manufacturers. Not much else. Sad little men promoting a product, a product hardly anyone actually needs.

[Leftcoastgary]

97. The NRA is about more than just supporting manufacturers,

The NRA has to keep their members frightened enough so they will purchase more firearms. They have to keep them afraid for their safety. They have to be kept afraid someone will be taking away their guns. You won't be able to keep your guns if you don't have an assault weapon to protect them.

[JEB]

105. Yep,

talk about your low down dirty underhanded sales techniques. They've essentially created a cult that they can pump for money through gun sales.

[frylock]

82. word up

[mainer]

70. Good for them. Real hunters are embarrassed by the assault rifle nuts.

Real hunters don't need assault rifles to shoot a deer.

[libdem4life]

77. This is reminiscent of the restaurant/bar non-smoking law in CA..the hand-wringing that the industry

(bars and restaurants) would go into bankruptcy if people couldn't smoke as they ate and drank. Now I think it's pretty much national. And that was one big, loud lobby.

Reasonable people understand and make appropriate accommodations...smokers had to go outside...those who need a machine gun to take to the target range will have to make accommodations and will survive, as well.

[frylock]

83. excellent observation

[Raffi Ella]

79. K&R

Game On.


Can you hear us now, NRA Trolls?

[WillyT]

89. K & R !!!

[ReRe]

90. We are witnessing....

.... the beginning of the end for the NRA.

[BlueStreak]

94. The best way to preserve gun "rights" is to act responsibly

This gun show operator get that. Kudos to them.

[Politicub]

95. Good for them. It's reasonable gun owners who are going to turn the tide.

I am going to send a note of support. I'm not a hunter nor into guns but I appreciate they're part of the solution.

[nakocal]

99. NRA does not support hunters, they support gun manufacturers

The NRA does NOT support hunters. They support gun manufacturers and rejoice with every gun death and gun massacre as they know they can scare some more of their cowardly supporters into buying even more guns.

[hack89]

106. Eastern Sports & Outdoor Show has been "postponed"

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

http://www.easternsportshow.com/

[JustAnotherGen]

107. This is a disaster for our friends

They've got nothing to do with hunting. Between hotel, tradeshow booth, new marketing materials, etc. etc. they are our $5900.

This is the SLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW season for fishing charters in the North East. They book a LOT of charters during this show.

And postponed means they do NOT get their deposit back to participate.

They've also gotten threatening emails and such from rabid gun promoters threatening to black list them as anti-second Amendment.

What they DON'T know is the man whose business of FISHING they just totally fucked went on a hunting trip this past weekend . . . and guess what he took with him?


Bullies. They are such bullies and they fucked things up for everyone else. They are selfish.

And when this couple can't make ends meet these same TEABilly BULLIES will cry -Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh - you welfare queens! Pull yourselves up by your bootstraps.

Where the hell were these bullies when Vaginal Probes were on the table in VA? I bet you I know . . . they were throwing their money behind the proposal. Because you know - vaginas and uterus's are not protected but their precious guns are.


Fucking hypocrites - every last one of them.

[hack89]

109. Then perhaps Reed Exhibitions should have refrained from making a political statement.

It doesn't take too much imagination to figure out what would happen in such a hyper-charged atmosphere.

Reed Exhibitions should stick to doing what they are best at - putting on shows so people like your friends can make money.

[JustAnotherGen]

112. Ahhhhh

If only we had this kind of tunnel vision on women's rights - never again would the vagina or uterus be up for 'political' discussion.

[hack89]

115. I don't understand the attitude that a fight for anything important will not have casualties.

Your friends will lose money. What about those vendors that Reed banned? Why can't they make money.

If this is important for America then your friends should be willing to sacrifice for the greater good. That is what gun control advocates keep telling gun owners.

[JustAnotherGen]

113. The other thing

Is the threatening emails and such from the gun vendors and their minions.

I've told her we need to IP trace those folks down and fuck with them. Like find out where they live, go to google maps, photo shop targets over them and send them to them with a thanks for nothing note!

It's not just the show operators - it's people who weren't even going to attend behaving in an intimidating manner. They were stupid. They both own AR-15's! And use them!

[hack89]

116. This issue brings out the assholes on both sides

it is unfortunate that your friends were threatened.

[JustAnotherGen]

117. Here's a direct copy/paste from her

With her permission to post at du:

Sorry - but fucking redneck teaparty small minded dirt bags with nothing better to do with their damn time than cause problems.


No one wanted their fucking guns. They just didn't want them AT that show. They were trying to PREVENT protests and :bs:

And instead the ignoramus got all riled up and now its (poof smiley/gone - doesn't exist at DU).


And who suffers? Not Reed Exhibitions - the 1500 or so small businesses who were vendors...not to mention the local hotels and restaurants who probably counted on the business from this show to make it through the winter in nowhereville central PA.

[PoliticAverse]

110. If it is postponed why wouldn't they get their booth payment back?

Can they just change the date of the show with out any refund to the exhibitors that have
signed up based on promised dates?

[JustAnotherGen]

111. Really

It's going to be 'postponed'? That's not what the fishing folks are saying on their boards. Postponed means maybe some day in the future we'll have another show.

I think they need to get up in the grill of the show organizers and DEMAND their money back.

[PoliticAverse]

114. "Vendors will be refunded, according to an email company officials sent to them."

From: http://www.wgal.com/news/susquehanna-valley/dauphin/Organizer-postpones-Eastern-Sports-and-Outdoor-Show/-/9704162/18262818/-/58a957z/-/index.html