The Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show held at the Farm Show Complex each year says they've banned assault weapons from the show.
This decision has come in wake of the Newtown shooting that happened a month ago.
Local gun owners are outraged not only with the decision to ban them from the Farm Show in 2 weeks, but they're also fed up with the public's perception of guns.
James Diehl the Sales Manager at Trop Gun Shop in Elizabethtown says he is disappointed by the ban. "We're really disappointed, we were all looking forward to going."
Trop Gun Shop has been a part of the Eastern Sports and Outdoors show for years, but after the group running the show told them that assault weapons including the AR-15 would be banned from the show, they decided to drop out. "The modern sporting rifle or the AR-15 is such an integral part of the sporting community today that it has been accepted as a sporting arm, so it's a big mistake to take that out of the show." Diehl said.
On Tuesday, the organizers for the Eastern Sports and Outdoors Show released a statement saying in part: "…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."
Marshall Nowak, a gun owner, said he disagrees with the ban too. "I believe it's foolish. Trying to take away something like this from the public is absolutely foolish."
Other gun owners we spoke to say that the problem is not the guns themselves, but the people who own them.
"A gun won't do anything by itself, it needs to be driven by a person," said Christopher Romanell who works at Trop.
Diehl, the owner of Trop was told that the guns were "Not appropriate for a hunting show", but in the past the guns have been welcomed as sporting rifles. "This whole rack was filled with AR-15's."
AR-15's have been labeled as Assault Rifles and given a bad image after the recent Sandy Hook shooting, but gun experts say that Assault Rifles aren't even sold in gun stores, just used in the military.
Diehl says the guns sold in his store are similar but aren't the same. "What we sell on the sporting good shelves are what we call modern sporting rifles or MSR's which look and operate like their military counterparts but are semi-automatic."
While many people use guns for sporting, others use them for self-defense. "The only thing that's going to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun," said Romanell.
Ron Zeigler, a new gun owner, says its the culture as a whole. "Our culture is becoming a bit more hostile." He has taught his 10 and 13-year-old son how to shoot a gun for self-defense. "We want to be able to defend ourselves if someone comes into our home."
Zeigler believes the gun laws we have are enough. "Those weapons that have been available in the past I think should be allowed.
The Eastern Sports and Outdoors Show is set to take place from February 2 through February 10 at the Farm Show.
Here is the complete press release from the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show:
The Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show is a unique celebration of the authentic hunting and fishing traditions that are cherished by millions of Americans and their families. We are proud to celebrate these pastimes by featuring 1,200 exhibitors offering a diverse range of products from outfitters to fishing boats and RVs, from archery to art and from clothes to cabins.
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.
ESS is proud to participate in the preservation and promotion of the rich hunting and fishing tradition passed from generation to generation by American families.
This decision has come in wake of the Newtown shooting that happened a month ago.
Local gun owners are outraged not only with the decision to ban them from the Farm Show in 2 weeks, but they're also fed up with the public's perception of guns.
James Diehl the Sales Manager at Trop Gun Shop in Elizabethtown says he is disappointed by the ban. "We're really disappointed, we were all looking forward to going."
Trop Gun Shop has been a part of the Eastern Sports and Outdoors show for years, but after the group running the show told them that assault weapons including the AR-15 would be banned from the show, they decided to drop out. "The modern sporting rifle or the AR-15 is such an integral part of the sporting community today that it has been accepted as a sporting arm, so it's a big mistake to take that out of the show." Diehl said.
On Tuesday, the organizers for the Eastern Sports and Outdoors Show released a statement saying in part: "…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."
Marshall Nowak, a gun owner, said he disagrees with the ban too. "I believe it's foolish. Trying to take away something like this from the public is absolutely foolish."
Other gun owners we spoke to say that the problem is not the guns themselves, but the people who own them.
"A gun won't do anything by itself, it needs to be driven by a person," said Christopher Romanell who works at Trop.
Diehl, the owner of Trop was told that the guns were "Not appropriate for a hunting show", but in the past the guns have been welcomed as sporting rifles. "This whole rack was filled with AR-15's."
AR-15's have been labeled as Assault Rifles and given a bad image after the recent Sandy Hook shooting, but gun experts say that Assault Rifles aren't even sold in gun stores, just used in the military.
Diehl says the guns sold in his store are similar but aren't the same. "What we sell on the sporting good shelves are what we call modern sporting rifles or MSR's which look and operate like their military counterparts but are semi-automatic."
While many people use guns for sporting, others use them for self-defense. "The only thing that's going to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun," said Romanell.
Ron Zeigler, a new gun owner, says its the culture as a whole. "Our culture is becoming a bit more hostile." He has taught his 10 and 13-year-old son how to shoot a gun for self-defense. "We want to be able to defend ourselves if someone comes into our home."
Zeigler believes the gun laws we have are enough. "Those weapons that have been available in the past I think should be allowed.
The Eastern Sports and Outdoors Show is set to take place from February 2 through February 10 at the Farm Show.
Here is the complete press release from the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show:
The Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show is a unique celebration of the authentic hunting and fishing traditions that are cherished by millions of Americans and their families. We are proud to celebrate these pastimes by featuring 1,200 exhibitors offering a diverse range of products from outfitters to fishing boats and RVs, from archery to art and from clothes to cabins.
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.
ESS is proud to participate in the preservation and promotion of the rich hunting and fishing tradition passed from generation to generation by American families.