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Resistance See other Resistance Articles Title: Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show (Harrisburg, Penn.): What Postponement of the U.S.'s Largest Gun Show Says About America The media is missing the real story behind the “postponement” of the largest outdoor show in America. This is a story of ignorance, bias and a gross misunderstanding of America and Americans. This unfortunate fight began when Reed Exhibitions, a British events organizing company, announced that firearms and products associated with modern sporting rifles (guns the media has given the dubious label “assault rifles”) wouldn’t be allowed at the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show. The show was scheduled to begin on February 2 in Harrisburg, Penn. Reed Exhibitions prohibition also extended to images of modern sporting rifles. They wanted to whitewash a firearm category with Orwellian zeal from the show because they deem these semi-automatic rifles to be too militaristic for civilian use. They mandated this ban at America’s largest outdoor show, a show that regularly attracts 200,000 outdoor enthusiasts and pumps an estimated $44 million into the region’s economy. Outdoor product manufacturers, outfitters from across the country and world, conservation organizations and more come to Harrisburg each year for it. Many find it so overwhelming they complain about it. It’s nine-days long and is a very busy show that can be grueling for an exhibitor. For perspective, consider that Pennsylvania has about one million active deer hunters. Many more are in surrounding states. Many other gun owners, fishermen and more come to see new firearms, book with outfitters or just to see the show. The people who come pay an entry fee before entering the miles of aisles to look at new gear, buy products and to attend outdoor seminars on duck calling, elk hunting and fly tying. They are a dedicated consumer base in ball caps, camo jackets, and with pictures of last year’s bucks in their wallets. Years ago when I first started editing for Outdoor Life magazine my boss urged me to go. He said, “People drive for hundreds of miles to go to the Harrisburg show. Go and you’ll see the America we put out a magazine for each month. You’ll see the America the media here in New York City and more doesn’t understand.” He was right. Families come together and friends gather in groups to walk the crowded aisles and fantasize about buying the latest firearms or booking a hunt in Colorado, Alaska or Africa. Some save all year, even plan years in advance, before arriving to book that hunting or fishing trip. This is an event where Americans come together to enjoy outdoor pastimes and share stories and see what’s new. This is the swath of America Reed Exhibitions put its heel on. Now it seems to me that many in the media should go—if, that is, the event is held this year. They should drop their preconceptions and interview these people. They’d be shocked what they’d find. These are people who cherish their Second Amendment to be sure. They love an America that stays out of their way so they can use firearms in the field or to defend themselves and their loved ones. They cherish outdoor experiences with family and friends. They kill deer and eat the venison. They’re connected to the land and go to game commission meetings to give them hell if they don’t think the deer herd is being managed properly or the streams kept clean. They get tears in their eyes when a son or daughter catches a first fish or tags a first deer. They plant food plots to feed deer and hang game cameras to keep track of local bucks. They’re very involved in their outdoor resources and everything they do is taxed to fund conservation. Reed Exhibitions’ leadership should go, too. Sure, they do over 500 events in 39 countries every year. But clearly they’re out of touch with Americans. Clearly they hadn’t a clue what they were doing when in some corporate boardroom—perhaps at their headquarters in England—they decided to ban modern sporting rifles from this show. The backlash was fast and grassroots. Reports that companies were pulling out of the show quickly began to snowball. Cabela’s, a major sponsor (Cabela’s has a store in Harrisburg), was one of the first to announce it wouldn’t participate. Soon groups like the National Rifle Association, the National Wild Turkey Federation, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and companies like Ruger, Smith & Wesson, Crimson Trace, Trijicon and many more started to publically announce they were cancelling plans to attend in protest—this despite real costs to their bottom lines. Seeming shell-shocked and still out of touch, Chet Burchett, of Reed Exhibitions President for the Americas, responded by saying, “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…. 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.” Talk about being out of touch. Modern sporting rifles are among America’s top-selling firearms. Many, such as Remington’s R-15, are chambered in calibers used by deer hunters. Predator hunters have long used them. The companies that make them are working around the clock to fill months, even years, of backorders. These firearms are mainstream among hunters and in high demand. How would the presence of these firearms “distract from the theme of hunting and fishing”? Saying that is like banning sports cars from a car show while saying sporty, fast, cool and expensive autos aren’t popular or even particularly useful. Perhaps Reed Exhibitions’ leadership has only been watching the BBC and reading the London Times and The Washington Post. Maybe they need to reacquaint themselves with the people they serve. Too bad they haven’t, as this decision is harming a lot of people. Many of the more than 1,000 exhibitors come from out of state and provide a huge boost to hotels, restaurants and other services during the a slow winter season. Also, many small exhibitors depend on sales at the show to stay afloat—though many of these small companies nevertheless pulled out too. The NRA officially announced: “We had called on Reed Exhibitions to reconsider their decision; unfortunately they have steadfastly refused to do so. As a result, the NRA will not be participating in the upcoming show in Harrisburg or in any other shows hosted by Reed Exhibitions that maintain this policy. We are disappointed that Reed Exhibitions has ignored the concerns expressed by attendees, the outdoor industry and the NRA in not reconsidering their position to ban the display of Modern Sporting Rifles.” The NRA’s announcement was a tipping point. Soon many more companies were pulling out and then Reed Exhibitions announced the postponement of the show. This very public fight highlights the fundamental mistake Reed Exhibitions made: They failed to note that America’s gun owners are sticking together as they fight for the America they know and love. Meanwhile, other shows across the country are announcing they are not banning modern sporting rifles from their conventions. For example, The Portland Sportsman’s Show—the second largest consumer sportsmen’s gathering in the country—contacted The Outdoor Wire to say they have “no intention of outlawing any legal sporting product from their exhibit floor.” This is further complicated by the fact that Reed Exhibitions has long worked with the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) to put on the SHOT Show, an annual trade show for firearms and related companies. Now it’s uncertain whether Reed Exhibitions will continue to put on SHOT. The NSSF announced in a statement that “intense, frank discussions” with Reed Exhibitions management over the Harrisburg show were unsuccessful. Now the NSSF says it is “considering all options regarding the management of future SHOT events.” All this says a lot about the ongoing battles started by legislators who want to ban the modern sporting rifle with “assault weapons” bans. Instead of bringing gun owners to the table and seriously considering advice and proposals from people who understand firearms safety and more—ideas like getting armed officers into schools, shoring up the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), and finding ways to ensure that those with severe mental-health issues don’t have access to guns—President Barack Obama, Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and others are relying on a populist turn against the right to own, hunt with, and shoot modern sporting rifles to get their guns bans and more. They think they can use the term “assault rifle” to win a public debate to ban semi-automatic firearms that look a certain way. They’re trying to divide hunters from those who own modern sporting rifles when hunters own and use these rifles. Instead of bringing groups together to come up with real solutions, they’re using horrific events as ammunition in an ideological war against the right to bear arms. It’s not surprising that a British company might fail to understand the American people by picking such a fight, but it’s a shame the White House doesn’t. This debate didn’t have to be a divisive and ideological conflict harming American companies, local economies and affecting freedoms safeguarded in the U.S. Bill of Rights. A centrist president could have had a real discussion and then backed policy positions that really would help stop homicidal maniacs. Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
#1. To: X-15, shooters, 4 (#0)
In case anyone missed it. Post videos of shows in your parts of the country. “The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out... without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost inevitably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane, intolerable.” ~ H. L. Mencken I dislike the idea of armed cops in school. I grew up in public schools. During the "dare" years. I always had a cop in the school in multiple school systems. All they ever did was terrorize the students. well actually some cops are guilty of much worse... and not all of them are caught and of those that are caught few are properly punished. Most cops are evil. You really do not want them near your children. I think I'd prefer complementary CHL for teachers.... Nothing mandatory but for those that want one , they should be comped. ___FIRE
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