Unless Reed Exhibitions, the U.K. based company that runs the Eastern Sports & Outdoor Show (that I recently featured in a column) has a quick change of policy, show-goers may have little to see at this years show that is slated to run Feb. 2-10 at the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg.
It seems Reed has elected to not allow any exhibitor to sell or display any tactical rifles (ARs) or their magazines and accessories at the show. This has brought a huge boycott by big name exhibitors like Cabela’s, Kinsey Outdoors, Lancaster Archery, Trijicon, Ruger Firearms and about thirty others in show of support for Second Amendment rights.
Even seminar personalities like Lee & Tiffany Likosky, Ralph & Vicki Cianciarulo, Barry & Gene Wensel, Hank Parker, Eddie Salter, Stan Potts, Larry Weishun, Matt Morett, Bob Folkrod, Abner Drunkenmiller, Chris Brackett, Mike Waddell the Bone Collector and 18 more have dropped out.
The NRA got involved to the point of showing displeasure with Reeds’ recent policy and ironically, Reed runs the huge SHOT (Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade) show for the National Shooting Sports Foundation, a show that is comprised of ARs and a wide gamut of AR accessories.
According to the Northeast Outdoors.com news letter, as of 2:13 p.m. today (Feb. 22), the following exhibitors have pulled out. However, it's my understanding that some on this list were not going to exhibit in the first place. And in some respects, a company like Cabela's really doesn't have to be there as they have their own show seven days a week in Hamburg.
The so-called cancellation list includes:
2 Millon Bullets, 24/7 Hunting TV, Alaska’s Ravencroft Lodge, Alaskan Outdoors TV, Ambush Firearms, American Whitetails od PA, Antler Insanity, Apex Tactical, Appalachian Big Game TV, Arrowhead Outdoors, Athens Archery, Atlantic Tactical Avian X Decoys, Bangin Redheadz Turkey Gear, Bear Archery, Blitz TV, Blue Rock Outfitters, Bohning Archery, Boondock Outdoors, Bow Hunters Den, Bow Lite LLC, Bowhunter Planet, Bowhuting.com, Camo Addictions, Campbell Cameras, CanCooker, Cochran River Outfitters, Cody Turkey Calls, Cold Steel Knives, Combative Edge, Continental Divide Outfitters, Cross Canyon Arms, Cutting Edge Bullets, Darkwoods Blind, DCVR, Dead Ringer, Deer and Deer Hunting.com, Direct Action Tactical Firearms, Dirty Dog Outdoors, Driven TV, Droptine Outfitters, DuckWatre Boats, Eastern Chapter Wild Sheep Foundation, Eastern Outdoors, Easton Bow Hunting, Excalibur Crossbows US, Farmland Trophies Outfitters, Fear No Evil, Field Proven Calls, Firearms Industry Consulting Group, Flatline Productions, Foiles Migrators, Forbes Turkey Calls, FoxPro Game Calls, Ghost River Outfitters – Alberta, Gone Wild Outdoors, Goodling Rifles, Gut-N-Tag LLC, H.S. Specialties, Heartland Whitetails, Hevi-Shot, High Lonesome Outfitters, HookHunt, Hoyt Archery, Hunter Safety Systems, Hunter Specialties, Huntin’ Is Good TV, IceHole Coolers, International Bowhunting Organization (IBO), Iron Kin Hunt Club, IScope, J&M Traditions, Keystone Country Store, Keystone Elk County Alliance, Kodabow, Major League Bowhunter, Men In Treestands Productions, Midwest Whitetail Adventures, Mindful of Nature LLC, Mountain Dog Chews, Muddy Outdoors, Muskie Moose LLC, Nature Blinds LLC, NasHunt Outdoors, Northern Hideaway Outfitters, Old Goat Outdoors, Open Season TV, Outdoor Channel Outfitters, Outdoor Edge Knives, Outdoor Specialist Grou, Outdoorsnative.com, Ozonics Hunting, PA Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs, PA Taxidermist Association, PA Trappers Assoc., Perry’s No Peep Archery Site, Pipeline Ridge Hunting Preserve, Primal Urge Outdoors, Primos Hunting Calls, Proc’s Huntin Buddy, PSE Archery, Radical Hunter, Ranew’s Outdoor Equipment, Red Star Arms, Revolution Hunting, Rhino Outdoors, Rougeau Taxidermy, S&W Outfitter, SecureIt Tactical, Skull Shine, Southern Game Cals, Spook Span, Sportsmen of North America TV, State Line Bone Mine, Stay Ready Inc., Stokerized Stabilizers, Susquehanna River Waterfowlers Assoc., Table Mountain Outfitters, Team Overkill, The Bear Whisperer, The Outdoor Loop, State Line Bone Mine – a NW Missouri & Iowa Outfitter, The Warmbag, Timberline Outfitters, TNT Archery, Tough Country, Triple Mag TV, Trop Gun Shop, Turnbull Manufacturing, U Slide Bow Hunter, Ultimate Camo, Umax Outdoors, Upper Canyon Outfitters, Wallaston Lake Lodge, Tex Mex Outdoors, Watson Air Lock, Watt’s Truck Center, Whitetail Bosses, Whitetail Freeks, Whitetail Heaven Outdoors, Whitewolfsurvivalsupply.com, Wired Outdoors, Woodcock Limited of PA, X-Stand Treestands, Zink Calls and Zook Cabins.
Other boycotters include Anything About Guns, Bloodline with Alex Ruthledge, Chasing Trophy Whitetails, Family Traditions TV, Wyvern Creations and probably by tomorrow they’ll be more.
In a phone interview with Rick Weaknecht of Weaknecht Archery in Kutztown, he’s taking a wait-and-see attitude since his shop is one of the first and oldest archery shops to be at the show when it first began 50 years ago.
Oh. And as I was about to upload this Examiner.com column my email beeped and there was a message from Smith & Wesson who stated they just bowed out of the show.
So stay tuned. We’ll keep you posted on any new information on the show and if Reed Exhibitions has a change of heart.
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