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 K]

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.

[Pa SxS]

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.

[OH Osthaus]

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

[Pa SxS]

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

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

[Marc Retallack]

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

http://www.witf.org/state-house-soun...s-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