Pa Outdoor Show

[Thomas Garver]

Anyone who was planning to attend the outdoor show in Harrisburg please take it off of your schedule as it has been postponed indefinitely. About two weeks ago the U.K. based promoter banned assault rifles and large magazines. Last week Cabelas pulled out and it snowballed to 300 vendor and personality cancellations early this week. All who have attended in the past can attest that this show is much more than "assault weapons". But the liberal anti-gun mayor of Harrisburg is toting this as a major victory for the anti-gun movement. Estimates are that this 10 day event generates about $80 millon to the local economy, Too Bad as everyone needs any revenue that they can get today.

[Bob Kimble]

The mayor should be run out on a rail. Chasing away $80 million in revenue when the city is trying to file for bankruptcy doesn't make a lot of sense.

[Thomas Garver]

This show is a premier family event that gave our young people positive exposure as to what an outdoor experience can be even without firearms. It also exposed them to our understanding of what firemans mean to all who recognize ourselves as sportsmen.

[John Taddeo]

Wow, anyone who has attended this show must now realize to what extent this is going to reach. The revenue lost from this show should get a few peoples heads out of their stern. I hope....

[Jim DiSpagno]

Put the headgear on!!!! This is just the start. Time to regroup enmass.

[John Havard]

I have heard that the same organizing company from the UK also does the SHOT show. Further I have heard that the sponsors of the SHOT show will be looking for another company to organize and run the SHOT shows in the future. I hope this hurts the UK organizing company mortally.

There are several archery-only companies and archery-only guest speakers I know who cancelled their participation in support of the second amendment. I am very proud of them for doing that.

[Chuck Bishop]

Years ago I attended the ESOS show hoping I would see modern and vintage guns displayed. To my disappointment, there were very few displays of this type. Considering the cost to get in plus parking, and the fact that I'm not a hunter and just do a little fishing, it just didn't interest me in attending anymore.

I feel the boycott was needed to send a message to the gun banners and those who jump on the politically correct bandwagon. Deciding to boycott the show was a big financial decision by those vendors who come from all over the country to attend this show. A good percentage of their income comes from bookings made at this show. When you take into consideration this fact plus the economic impact to the local economy, it's a big loss for Central Pa., the state, and the city of Harrisburg.

[Rick Losey]

one small victory, that will be misinterpreted by the Media

Harrisburg Mayor Linda Thompson also released the following statement on the cancellation of the show:

"It is unfortunate that Reed Exhibitions of Norwalk, CT has made the business decision to postpone the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show scheduled for the City of Harrisburg in February.

It is also unfortunate that legal gun owners and the many families who have enjoyed a long tradition of hunting in the beautiful rural environment around the region will be deprived of this major event because of a controversy caused by firearms manufacturers who profit from the sale of weapons designed for the mass killing of human beings.

Many regional arms and outdoor vendors and related services have been hurt by the postponement as well. This kind of conflict within the firearms community is the result of years of polarization between the majority American sportsmen and hunters who exercise their constitutional right to bear arms and at the same time favor reasonable illegal gun controls, and a minority of NRA members who refuse to recognize the very real problem of illegal military style weaponry and the mass havoc such weapons facilitate

[Chuck Bishop]

Mayor Thompson, what a joke of a mayor she is. The city is just about bankrupt and she say's everything is going well:cuss:

Can you tell what her political party is? I won't comment about about what I really think.:nono:

[Marc Retallack]

Chuck, calling her and her administration a joke is being kind.

http://www.witf.org/state-house-sound-bites/2011/02/harrisburg-mayor-taunts-protests.php

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIScsreK79E

It's a shame the effect of cancelling will have on the local economy but actions have consequences. We seem to have forgotten that lesson some time ago.

Cheers
Marcus

[Rick Losey]

how many working outfitters will have a tough year ahead due to their rightfull choice to stand up for our rights.

this just the beginning

NY's Sheriff's assoc. just released a letter to the govenor stating although they support the mental health provisions and stiffer penalties for breaking exisiting laws. The rest of the NY bill is bad law poorly made and added they will not participate in confiscation and will as sworn to - support the constitution.

[Thomas Garver]

Jent, according to wikipedia the PA Farm Show building is owned by the PA Dept. of Agriculture.

[Daryl Corona]

Mayor Thompson, what a joke of a mayor she is. The city is just about bankrupt and she say's everything is going well:cuss:

Can you tell what her political party is? I won't comment about about what I really think.:nono:

Go ahead Chuck tell us how you really feel....You're among friends. She is just an example of another liberal, pin-headed politician who could'nt hold a job in the private sector. The longer I live the more I realise that liberalism is a mental disorder. I now know how Patrick Henry, John Adams and the rest of the founding fathers felt towards the English and King George and it ain't good.:banghead:

[Mills Morrison]

You all are making me glad I live in the Deep South, although we have our fair share of problems too.

[allen newell]

Do you have liberals in the South that feel they have a birth right to a political position? We seem to have that recurring problem here in Massachusetts. No experience required, just have the right last name.

[John Dallas]

I wish it was the "right" name. Unfortunately it is a "left" name

[John Taddeo]

Hey, I hate to pee into a fan here but does anyone have any thoughts on how this whole thing shakes out in the end. You hear and read of alot of people calling for the end of private firearm ownership, In reality this is not even a plausible statement. Now we have pea brain polititians sacrificing the economic gains of their city to prove a point. A sacrifice of tax paying citizens over something that is perfectly legal. I think it hits the fan here folks these people are serious and have no idea. God help us is right. Get a pro gun promoter in here and lets move on. Why would you not use one at an outdoors show in the first place, Good Lord man.

[Mills Morrison]

Do you have liberals in the South that feel they have a birth right to a political position? We seem to have that recurring problem here in Massachusetts. No experience required, just have the right last name.



Georgia had Eugene and Herman Talmadge. In SC, the politicians live so long, they don't need a dynasty (Strom Thurmond). Thank God Huey Long didn't start a dynasty.

Maybe one of your good gun shows will move to Savannah. All we have is the Eastman Gun and Knife show and you are hard pressed to find a gun not made of plastic, let alone a Parker

[will evans]

Maybe one of your good gun shows will move to Savannah. All we have is the Eastman Gun and Knife show and you are hard pressed to find a gun not made of plastic, let alone a Parker

Amen to that sentiment. The Eastman folks are making a killing over this. Every gun show has people wrapped around the building. I bet they walk 20000 people through the door every day of every show, or even more. The tables are full of nothing but glocks, XD's, M&P's, t-shirts, over priced 22 ammo, quadruple priced "black" rifles, $1500 AK47's(wish I had been buying those back when they were $100), with a few scattered and rare beat to hell LC Smith 12ga's someone found in the back of a barn that the seller thinks is worth $1200.

Finding a nice Parker at a Georgia gun show is less likely than doubling on Ruffed Grouse down here. It can happen, but you pay forward many good deeds before the Karma comes back to you.

[will evans]

Hey, I hate to pee into a fan here but does anyone have any thoughts on how this whole thing shakes out in the end. You hear and read of alot of people calling for the end of private firearm ownership, In reality this is not even a plausible statement. Now we have pea brain polititians sacrificing the economic gains of their city to prove a point. A sacrifice of tax paying citizens over something that is perfectly legal. I think it hits the fan here folks these people are serious and have no idea. God help us is right. Get a pro gun promoter in here and lets move on. Why would you not use one at an outdoors show in the first place, Good Lord man.

John, I'm not an attorney so take this for what its worth - very little. I know what I think ought to happen, but you can't pretend to know anything after Roberts turned his back on the country over Obamacare.

I believe the Heller decision stated it would be unconstitutional to ban a classification of firearms, firearms which are in common use, and any parts which are integral to the operation of the firearm. That might not have all come under one decision, but I'm pretty sure the court has already ruled on all three points. To me that makes it pretty clear that Congress can't ban "assault weapons" again such as happened in 1994. At that time, the Supreme Court was not structured favorably. That is the reason the NRA didn't pursue overturning the law back in the 90's. Today they would proceed full bore ahead as quickly as possible.

The two options are to use Robert's "you can tax anything" approach to place a high tax on possession of certain items (AR's, high capacity mags) but I don't know that the question has ever been settled on the constitutionality of placing a tax on the citizens before giving them approval to exercise their constitutional rights. The idea that it is okay for Congress to basically rewrite the 2nd Amendment to say, "Keep and bear arms so long as you have paid $xxx" doesn't seem quite right. This reminds me of the people on the left who say economically challenged minorities are disenfranchised by laws requiring them to show ID before voting because they can't afford identification. Laughable, but then shouldn't the same also be true of their proposed tax on assault weapons?

To me, the crux of the argument is that the left wants to say the public shouldn't own "implements of war". Hogwash. The very reason for the 2nd amendment is to protect the people's right to own those same implements of war being used not only by our government but also by foreign governments. Military use should offer protection under the common use provision of the Heller decision. I hope the large cap magazines would fall under that same category. My opinion is that the current structure of the court supports my view of the 2nd amendment. I was even confident enough that I cashed in on the hysteria by selling my AR10's for triple what I had invested.

The common use provision of the Heller Decision was the most interesting to me. I think the door has been opened to eliminate the current ban on short barreled rifles and shotguns, as those are currently in common use by our military.

[Dean Romig]

Hey, I hate to pee into a fan here but does anyone have any thoughts on how this whole thing shakes out in the end. You hear and read of alot of people calling for the end of private firearm ownership, In reality this is not even a plausible statement.


The thing that so many politicians and ignorant liberals seem to be missing (intentionally or not) is the fact that "We, the people" have the God given right to the pursuit of life, liberty and happiness and that the Constitution is a document written to limit our government and to explain what our rights are. The Bill of Rights further clarifies, among other things, those Rights and defines the limits "We, the people" set for our government. The Second Amendment's words "Shall not be infringed" puts up the BOLD RED STOP SIGN to government.... it draws the line in the sand!

[Mills Morrison]

The Eastman Gun and Knife show's motto is "bring your money and bring your honey, 'cos we got jewelry too" Fortunately, my wife is not in to jewelry.

[Rick Losey]

When the defining document of our country starts with "We the PEOPLE" and reffers to "the PEOPLE" in several key phrases as a contrast to the states or the federal governments

Everyone understands that people means the citizens when it says

"The right of the people peaceably to assemble"
or
"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects"

but then a phase is well written as "the right of the people to keep and bear Arms" is written down, soehow these incrediably detailed wordsmiths meant somebody else????? just in this phase??? Really????


and even worse is the 4 out of 9 sitting SCOTUS members think is means something else :shock:

[Marc Retallack]

For anyone interested, here is a list of exhibitors who chose to boycott the show prior to it's postponement. I humbly suggest that they need our support for the rights they have chosen to stand for.

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


Although inappropriately titled (ESOS isn't a gun show), here's a good article on the show's postponement.

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/


Cheers
Marcus

[Dean Romig]

It's not about hunting...!!!

He's just trying to coerce the 'blind followers' of his liberal agenda with fabrication after fabrication.

[John Taddeo]

Here is my two cents. The big conglomerates of the shooting and outdoor industry now need to make it clear to the city of Harrisburg that they are NOT coming back. These industy leaders are in a position to lobby a promoter and move the exposition elsewhere.The promoter (backed by local gov.) has in effect imposed sanctions on the industry by giving it the ultimatum of coming under their conditions or stay home. The shooting society seems to be a disorganized one and very rarely shows its economical might. Leave Harrisburg as a reminder and find a pro gun, pro constitutional town RIGHT NOW and dont look back. I am sure the N.R.A., N.W.T.F, Realtree, Mossyoak, ect. have the horsepower to do this. We all get letters from these people regarding infringments of our rights, NOW SHOW ME, and let the people of Harrisburg take care of its mistake.

[Rick Losey]

I read today that NSSF is already looking at options for other promotors for the SHOT show

but everyone needs to stand up and stand together. NY groups are organizing a Feb 28 rally to discuss this with their represenatives. While the governervor is trying to get minions out to sportsmans clubs to divide and conquer by telling them this doesn't affect them.

[Mills Morrison]

It is this same mentality that has caused industry to leave these areas (indeed the country) in droves. If you act like you don't want people's business, chances are they will go with someone else who is glad to have your business

[John Taddeo]

Please don't read this the wrong way. If there is no show and the outfitters and charters suffer (and everyone comes back next year like nothing happened) What you have shown is no solidarity with respect to what you are standing for. Why would another promoter or local government not try the exact same crap. At some point the true impact of economic reprecussions from these peoples ignorance needs to raise its head to the uninformed . The people who will really suffer are your Guides, Charters and small industry buisnesses. I tip my hat to them for having the kahunas to stand together.

[Mills Morrison]

The most important thing we can do to protect gun rights and appreciation of American classics such as Parkers is to get the next generation interested. We are working on our two boys and I hope to work on my nephew who lives in a "gun free household" soon. Stress appreciation and safety. I encourage everyone here to do the same.