AR-15s Banned/ Venders Pull Out

[Sourdough]

Found this very interesting.  Think of all the money lost by the local communitee.  This was a big show.
 
http://www.grandviewoutdoors.com/turkey-hunting/articlecontent/1/2013/4563/eastern-sports-and-outdoors-show-postponed
 
What anti gun people don't understand, is that the AR platform has become one of the most populer hunting guns in America.  It's not only an assult rifle, but a versital hunting gun.

[Conan The Librarian]

SourDough:
 
Beyond that, it has become a standard design, just like an O/U shotgun or single shot rifle. Back during the first ban, it was still a bit exotic. Things have changed dramatically since then because of the trend toward:
1) Improvements in ergonomic design, just like everything else
2) Improvements in materials technology, like using plastic as a more stable and mold-able alternative to wood
3) Public familiarity. Bolt actions are for WW1 veterans, big game hunters, and target shooters. Everybody else recognizes autos as what a normal gun looks like.

[Bigeasy]

I have attended that show for the last 17 years.  It was cancelled after over 300 vender's pulled out.  Thing is, gun displays are only a small part of that show.  What a loss for the people who enjoyed attending it...Tons of outfitters for hunting, fishing, outdoors in general.  Entire arenas full of boats and campers.  Seen on the local news where that show generated about 40 million to the local economy, 80 million overall.  The mayor of Harrisburg is taking a lot of heat.  She, a black, female, democrat, came on TV and stated Harrisburg didn't need any gun shows, that there was plenty of other revenue producing sources for the local economy.....Harrisburg is on the brink of bankruptcy...
 
Larry

[Conan The Librarian]

They probably don't need any gun shows because they are getting bailed out. But symbolically, it's a good gesture to cancel the show. Number 1, they'll probably find another venue that's more gun friendly, and number 2 they are taking their money elsewhere. Probably a good thing all around.
 
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-10-12/harrisburg-city-council-votes-4-3-to-seek-bankruptcy-protection.html
 
 

[ironglow]

I don't get the part when DHS orders several thousand full auto black rifles (and associated 1.5 billion rounds, incl HP) they're called 'defense rifles'.
.
 But when US citizens buy semi-auto black rifles, they're called 'assault rifles'...
.
 
.
.
..TM7

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
 
  Good point, TM   ..

[Bigeasy]

They probably don't need any gun shows because they are getting bailed out. But symbolically, it's a good gesture to cancel the show. Number 1, they'll probably find another venue that's more gun friendly, and number 2 they are taking their money elsewhere. Probably a good thing all around.
 
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-10-12/harrisburg-city-council-votes-4-3-to-seek-bankruptcy-protection.html

Problem is, it was not the city that closed it down, it was the British owned promotion company who runs it, presumably to avoid bad publicity.  If you have not been to this show, its hard to describe the size.  Easily one of the largest in the country, covering not just guns, but any outdoor sport imaginable.  Well over a thousand guides, outfitters, vendors, etc. who really depend on this show for a lot of their bookings / business / sales.  Local motels, gas stations, etc. as well.  Yea, the Fed Gvt. will bail out Harrisburg - Cant let a Democratic city fail, but what about all the others hurt?  There is really no other place in PA big enough to hold this show that I am aware of.
The shows promoter should never have jumped on the "politically correct" assault weapon bandwagon to begin with.  After seeing the response, they should have done the right thing, and continued the show as it was, with no changes, publicly apologizing for a bad decision based on mis-reading public sentiment.  Could have lived with that.  I'm sure most vendors would have stayed if that happened.   But by cancelling the show, they showed their true colors, and hurt a lot of people in the process.
 
Larry

[KIMBER45]

My friends and I were going to go to set up a caribou hunt. Like others said ;It would have been a good show without the gun vendors. Now to find some other source for a caribou hunt.

[dukkillr]

My friends and I were going to go to set up a caribou hunt. Like others said ;It would have been a good show without the gun vendors. Now to find some other source for a caribou hunt.

I've been on 3 Quebec/Labrador hunts in the last 10 years and I'm going to chase mountain caribou in September 2013.  If you're interested in some starting points send me a PM.

[SHOOTALL]

Of course it would have been a good show no doubt. But it was impressive that all the venders stood together instead of allowing a few to get cut out. It is how all of us should start to act. Like old Ben Franklin said if we don't hang together we will surely hang .

[45-70.gov]

Of course it would have been a good show no doubt. But it was impressive that all the venders stood together instead of allowing a few to get cut out. It is how all of us should start to act. Like old Ben Franklin said if we don't hang together we will surely hang .

just goes to show your
DISCRIMINATION  is not tloerated....now should it be...in any form


i bet the next bunch thinks twace before inserting foot in  mouth

[Tommyt]

Did Harrisburg ban them ?


I'm missing this

[45-70.gov]

Did Harrisburg ban them ?


I'm missing this

does it matter?
some one had the athority....and should be boycotted

[DDZ]

No the quack mayor of Harrisburg didn't ban the show, she just opened her mouth about not needing any gun shows there. Which the Sportsman show is not a gun show. Its actually good that people like her do talk, because it shines a light on their stupidity.
As Bigeasy said it was a the British based owner and promoter of the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show. Their name is Reed Expositions.
A spokesman for Reed said " Our original decision not to include certain products in the Sports show this year was made to preserve the events historical focus on the hunting and fishing traditions enjoyed by American families".  "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 years show would not be conductive to an event that is designed to provide family enjoyment". Reed said that it feared "certain products possibly could attract negative attention given the current climate".
I guess Reed Exibitions never specifically stated publicly which products were excluded from the show, but some retailers said they were told not to bring any AR guns or ammunition magizines capable of holding 30 or more rounds to sell or even display.
A couple of the major sponsors to first pull out were Cabela's and the National Wild Turkey Federation. Many others followed suit, which is great that so many did. Some of the slated speakers for the show also boycotted the show.
From the article in the PA Outdoors News, it said right before Reed decided to cancel the show because of so many boycotting it, some people created a facebook page and put up a list of of exhibitors deciding to still stay and attend the show. With the idea of punishing them by not giving them business.

I was at the show once, and it is huge. You actually need to spend a couple days there just to walk through everything. I'm glad that so many exhibitors stuck together and decided not to go. Some of them I'm sure would lose a good bit of revenue by not going. Ammoland.com has a list posted of the exhibitors that pulled out.

 

[DDZ]

Heres a link to the list. I haven't found the list of exhibitors that decided to stay yet. I'm not very facebook literate.

http://www.ammoland.com/2013/01/list-of-exhibitors-boycotting-the-anti-black-rifle-eastern-sports-outdoor-show/#axzz2JQ8T06X2

[gstewart44]

I don't get the part when DHS orders several thousand full auto black rifles (and associated 1.5 billion rounds, incl HP) they're called 'defense rifles'.
.
 But when US citizens buy semi-auto black rifles, they're called 'assault rifles'...
.
 
.
.
..TM7

TM - you hit the nail on the head........

[45-70.gov]

http://www.forbes.com/sites/frankminiter/2013/01/27/eastern-sports-and-outdoor-show-what-postponement-of-the-u-s-s-largest-gun-show-says-about-america/


this  is great  divide and conquer  has fail  and  hit the liberals in the wallet


aand  hopefully at the ballot box

[KIMBER45]

My friends and I were going to go to set up a caribou hunt. Like others said ;It would have been a good show without the gun vendors. Now to find some other source for a caribou hunt.

I've been on 3 Quebec/Labrador hunts in the last 10 years and I'm going to chase mountain caribou in September 2013.  If you're interested in some starting points send me a PM.

PM sent