In a bombshell announcement, Reed Exhibitions posted on their website that the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show will be postponed due to the controversy surrounding their decision to ban assault-style weapons from the show.
The show that was supposed to take place at the Farm Show Complex starting on February 2nd has been postponed. This decision comes after more than 300 exhibitors decided to boycott the show after they announced that assault-style weapons would be banned.
“Reed had the best show of its kind in the world, and (they) may have just destroyed that,” explained Bob Dunn of Dunn Sports Hunting.
Thursday, Reed Exhibitions President for the Americas, Chet Burchett, announced that the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show has been postponed.
The decision follows the recent controversy of assault-style weapons being banned.
The company posted on the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show website saying:
“It is unfortunate that in the current emotionally charged atmosphere this celebratory event has become overshadowed by a decision that directly affected a small percentage of more than 1,000 exhibits showcasing products and services for those interested in hunting and fishing.”
But many exhibitors have dropped out.
“The list was too big to publish this morning and by 9:30, they had published a list of people who are backing out of the show, it was up to 307,” Dunn continued.
Bob Dunn runs a sports hunting travel agency and pulled one of his booths on principle.
“I just decided I’d kind of go along with what the people are doing. The other one I still maintained because it arranged hunting and fishing trips worldwide, and I think that’s what that show is about, hunting and fishing trips,” Dunn commented.
In response to the controversy, Reed Exhibitors said:
“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.”
That decision has led to the postponement of the show.
“That’s 25 percent of that show, something seriously has to be done, because you can’t have a building that big with 25 percent of the spaces empty. That’s not going to work,” concluded.
The event was scheduled to take place at the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg from February 2 to February 10, and at this time, no other date has been chosen.
“Postponing is doing it at a later date,” Dunn stated. “It’s very difficult, you can’t do it at a later date on these shows, this is the ideal time to do it.”
Many exhibitors bought plane tickets, hotel rooms, and had their exhibits ready, but for now, they’ll have to wait to see what happens.
“…we hope that as the national debate clarifies, we will have an opportunity to consider rescheduling the event when the time is right to focus on the themes it celebrates,” Reed’s press statement concluded.
We tried reaching out to Reed Exhibitions for further comment Thursday, but they did not respond our phone calls and would not comment on whether people who purchased tickets will get their money back.
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Kirsten Page, Deputy Director of Communications for Governor Corbett, offered the following comment on behalf of the Governor:
“This was a private business decision made by a Reed Exhibitions. The Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show has had a large impact on Harrisburg’s economy for years, drawing thousands of people to the area. It is a loss for the region and the many businesses that depend on the revenue it generates.”
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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."
The show that was supposed to take place at the Farm Show Complex starting on February 2nd has been postponed. This decision comes after more than 300 exhibitors decided to boycott the show after they announced that assault-style weapons would be banned.
“Reed had the best show of its kind in the world, and (they) may have just destroyed that,” explained Bob Dunn of Dunn Sports Hunting.
Thursday, Reed Exhibitions President for the Americas, Chet Burchett, announced that the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show has been postponed.
The decision follows the recent controversy of assault-style weapons being banned.
The company posted on the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show website saying:
“It is unfortunate that in the current emotionally charged atmosphere this celebratory event has become overshadowed by a decision that directly affected a small percentage of more than 1,000 exhibits showcasing products and services for those interested in hunting and fishing.”
But many exhibitors have dropped out.
“The list was too big to publish this morning and by 9:30, they had published a list of people who are backing out of the show, it was up to 307,” Dunn continued.
Bob Dunn runs a sports hunting travel agency and pulled one of his booths on principle.
“I just decided I’d kind of go along with what the people are doing. The other one I still maintained because it arranged hunting and fishing trips worldwide, and I think that’s what that show is about, hunting and fishing trips,” Dunn commented.
In response to the controversy, Reed Exhibitors said:
“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.”
That decision has led to the postponement of the show.
“That’s 25 percent of that show, something seriously has to be done, because you can’t have a building that big with 25 percent of the spaces empty. That’s not going to work,” concluded.
The event was scheduled to take place at the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg from February 2 to February 10, and at this time, no other date has been chosen.
“Postponing is doing it at a later date,” Dunn stated. “It’s very difficult, you can’t do it at a later date on these shows, this is the ideal time to do it.”
Many exhibitors bought plane tickets, hotel rooms, and had their exhibits ready, but for now, they’ll have to wait to see what happens.
“…we hope that as the national debate clarifies, we will have an opportunity to consider rescheduling the event when the time is right to focus on the themes it celebrates,” Reed’s press statement concluded.
We tried reaching out to Reed Exhibitions for further comment Thursday, but they did not respond our phone calls and would not comment on whether people who purchased tickets will get their money back.
-----
Kirsten Page, Deputy Director of Communications for Governor Corbett, offered the following comment on behalf of the Governor:
“This was a private business decision made by a Reed Exhibitions. The Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show has had a large impact on Harrisburg’s economy for years, drawing thousands of people to the area. It is a loss for the region and the many businesses that depend on the revenue it generates.”
-----
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."