ESOS bans Modern Sporting Rifles

[wallace11bravo]

Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show in PA has banned so called "assault weapons" at this years show. The ESOS is considered by some to be the hunting and fishing equivalent of SHOT, with 1200 vendors and an estimated 1 million guests.

http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/803576_Assault-weapons-banned-at-Eastern-Sports-show-in-Harrisburg.html

Contact info for shows organizer:
Reed Exhibitions USA
383 Main Avenue
NorwalkCT 06851
United States
Tel: +1 203 840 4800
Fax: +1 203 840 5805
Email: inquiry@reedexpo.com
Website: www.reedexpo.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/EasternSports

Exhibitor Directory:
http://ess13.mapyourshow.com/5_0/search.cfm

Several exhibitors have pulled out already:
2 Million Bullets
Alaska’s Ravencroft Lodge
Arrowhead Outdoors
Athens Archery
Atlantic Tactical
Bass Pro Shops
Blaine Anthony, The Bear Whisperer
Boondock Outdoors
Cabela’s
CanCooker
Cross Canyon Arms
Cutting Edge Bullets
Dead Ringer
Direct Action Tactical Firearms
Domari Nolo Defense Consulting
Dominator 365
Droptine Outfitters
DuckWater Boats
Firearms Industry Consulting Group
Fred Eichler – Fulldraw Outfitters
Full Circle Outdoors
HookHunt
Hunters and Guides Connection
Kinsey’s Outdoors
Keystone Country Store
Lancaster Archery Supply
Midwest Whitetail Adventures
Mountain Dog Chews
Nature Blinds, LLC
Northern Hideaway Outfitters
Northern Outdoor Lodge
Open Season TV
Trijicon
Trop Gun Shop
Ralph & Vicki Cianciarulo – Archers Choice Media
Stokerized Stabilizers
The Warmbag
Whitetail Bosses
Wired Outdoors
Woodcock Limited of Pennsylvania
Wyvern Creations
X- Stand Treestands
Zook Cabin

[gsd]

saw this on facebook. load of crap it is. the organizers of said gun show will be rethinking that move come revenue time.

[bkoenig]

That's a pretty impressive list of vendors who have decided to stand by us, especially considering a lot of them are small vendors who were probably counting on this show for some significant revenue.  I will keep them in mind when making purchasing decisions.

[kozball]

I see that Dicks is going to be there, surprise,  along with
Smith & Wesson and Savage Arms, to name just a few.

[DaveB]

It appears that Savage arms has now cancelled.

[A-FIXER]

It appears that Savage arms has now cancelled.

Wonder what took them so long

[Supersparky]

I read that Trijicon has cancelled also.

[dkarp]

Hornady not on the list of exhibitors.

Outdoor Channel is also on the list, I don't know if they have (or will) pull out of the show.

[wallace11bravo]

I read that Trijicon has cancelled also.

Trijicon has long since pulled out, see the list above.

From the S&W FB page:

Smith & Wesson® Withdraws from Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show®

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (January 22, 2013) --- Smith & Wesson, a U.S. based leader in firearm manufacturing and design, today announced that the Company will not attend nor will it support or participate in the 2013 Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The announcement comes after the decision of show management company, Reed Exhibitions, to prohibit the display of modern sporting rifles in this year’s event.

James Debney, President and CEO of Smith & Wesson, said, “As a market leader in the firearm industry and an iconic brand that spans 160 years of American history, we believe it is important to make our position perfectly clear: We support the Second Amendment and the rights of our law-abiding customers to purchase these and all legal firearms. Therefore, we are unable to support any organization or event that prohibits legal firearms, or otherwise restricts a citizen's lawful and constitutional rights.”

www.smith-wesson.com.

[00BUCK]

Updated list link http://mynortheastoutdoors.com/esos-boycott-supporters

[wallace11bravo]

Thanks for the link, OO. Good to see someone is tracking this.

It appears that Savage arms has now cancelled.

I have seen no confirmation of this. Here is a quick way to let them know your thoughts:

http://www.facebook.com/SavageArms?fref=ts

[bkoenig]

S&W just announced via Facebook that they have pulled out.

[bkoenig]

Here's the latest list I've seen of exhibitors that have pulled out.  S&W isn't on there, so I know there are more.

2 Million Bullets
Abner Druckenmiller
Alaska’s Ravencroft Lodge
Angie & Scott Denny – THE LIFE at Table Mountain
Antler Insanity
Appalachian Big Game TV
Arrowhead Outdoors
Athens Archery
Atlantic Tactical
Bangin Redhedz turkey call manufacturers
Bear Archery
Blaine Anthony, The Bear Whisperer
Blitz TV
Bob Folkrod
Bob Mercier
Bohning Archery
Boondock Outdoors
Bow Hunter’s Den
BowHunter Planet
Bowhunting.com
Cabela’s
Camo Addiction
Campbell Cameras
CanCooker
Chris Brackett
Cochrane River Outfitters
Cold Steel Knives
Continental Divide Outfitters
Cross Canyon Arms
Cutting Edge Bullets
Darkwoods Blind
Dead Ringer
Deer and Deer Hunting.com
Direct Action Tactical Firearms
Domari Nolo Defense Consulting
Dominance is Everything Hunting System
Dominator 365
Droptine Outfitters
DuckWater Boats
Eastern Chapter of Wild Sheep
Eastern Chapter Wild Sheep Foundation
Eastern Outdoors
Easton Bow Hunting
Eddie Salter
Excalibur Crossbow US, Inc
Family Traditions TV
Farmland Trophies Outfitting
Firearms Industry Consulting Group
Foiles Migrators, Inc
Forbes Turkey Calls
FOXPRO High Performance Game Calls
Fred Eichler – Fulldraw Outfitters
Full Circle Outdoors
Furtakers TV
Grow The Bone
Gut N Tag, LLC
Haley Heath
Heartland Whitetails
High Lonesome Outfitters
HookHunt
Hoyt Archery Inc
Hunter Safety Systems
Hunter Specialties w/ Rick White
Hunters and Guides Connection
Hunters Comfort, LLC
Hunter’s Specialties
International Bowhunting Organization
Iron Kin Hunt Club
IScope
J & M Traditions
Jay Gregory
Jim and Eva Shockey
Jim Shockey
Keystone Country Store
King of the Mountain Inc.
Kinsey’s Outdoors
Kodabow
Lancaster Archery Supply
Larry Weishuhn
Lee & Tiffany Lakosky “The Crush“
Major League Bowhunter
Matt Morett
Men in Treestands Productions
Michael Waddell
Midwest Whitetail Adventures
Mindful of Nature LLC
Mountain Dog Chews
Muddy Outdoors
Muskie Moose, LLC
NasHunt Outdoors
Nature Blinds, LLC
Northern Hideaway Outfitters
Northern Outdoor Lodge
Northern Wilderness Outfitters
Open Season TV
Outdoor Channel Outfitters
Outdoor Edge Knives
Outdoor Specialist Grou
Ozonics Hunting
PA Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs
PA Taxidermist Association, Inc
Pat & Nicole Reever
Pipeline Ridge Hunting Preserve
Primal Urge Outdoors
Primos Hunting Calls
Proc’s Huntin Buddy
Radical Hunter
Ralph & Vicki Cianciarulo – Archers Choice
Red Star Arms
Revolution Hunting
Rhino Outdoors
Rougeaux Taxidermy
Savage Outdoors
SecureIt Tactical
Southern Game Calls
Spook Span
Sportsmen of North America TV
Stan Potts
Stay Ready Inc
Stokerized Stabilizers
Susquehanna River Waterfowlers Assoc
Table Mountain Outfitters
The Bear Whisperer
The Outdoor Loop
The State Line Bone Mine a NW Missouri and Iowa outfitter
The Warmbag
Timberline Outfitters
TNT Archery
TNT Archery
Tom Dokken
Tough Country
Tough Country Products
Trent Cole
Trijicon Inc.
Trijicon, Inc
Triple Mag TV
Trop Gun Shop
Trop Gun Shop
Turnbull Manufacturing
U Slide Bow Hunter
Upper Canyon Outfitters
Wallaston Lake Lodge
Watson Air Lock
Whitetail Bosses
Whitetail Freaks
Whitetail Heaven Outdoors
Whitetail Heaven Outfitters
Wired Outdoors
Woodcock Limited of PA
Woodcock Limited of Pennsylvania
Wyvern Creations
X-Stand Treestands
Zook Cabins

[ckspeed]

Looks like Ruger is still on the exhibitor list and I haven't seen them in the pull-out lists.

Maybe a few email requests would help them along..

https://www.ruger.com/dataProcess/contactSupport.php

[Famous556]

Looks like Ruger has indeed pulled out according to this source 

http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/805854_List-of-exhibitors-boycotting-the-Eastern-Sports-and-Outdoor-Show.html

Which is good considering they make an AR now.

I'll say that I am very impressed with all of these big and small names stepping up and saying they will have nothing to do with this show.  It really bothers me when companies or individuals subscribe to a watered down version of the 2nd amendment.  All of these companies/organizations/persons boycotting this show deserve our respect, gratitude and business. 

It's no surprise to see companies like EoTech, Trijicon, Ruger, S&W, Cabelas Etc. because AR sales and aftermarket make up a big part of their businesses.  But I am more impressed to see that there are a number of archery companies and organizations, Hevi-Shot and others who have little to no business in the AR market stepping up and supporting the 2A as a whole.

[Chris C]

Whoops should've kept their mouths shut.   http://www.easternsportshow.com/ 

[whatsit]

Whoops should've kept their mouths shut.   http://www.easternsportshow.com/ 

Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show - Update - January 24, 2013

Reed Exhibitions has decided to postpone, for now, the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show given the controversy surrounding its decision to limit the sale or display of modern sporting rifles (also called ARs) at the event. The show was scheduled to take place February 2-10 in Harrisburg, PA.

“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,” said Chet Burchett, Reed Exhibitions President for the Americas. “In the current climate, we felt that the presence of MSRs would distract from the theme of hunting and fishing, disrupting the broader experience of our guests. This was intended simply as a product decision, of the type event organizers need to make every day.

“It has become very clear to us after speaking with our customers that the event could not be held because the atmosphere of this year’s show would not be conducive to an event that is designed to provide family enjoyment. 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.

“ESS has long been proud to participate in the preservation and promotion of hunting and fishing traditions, and 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.”

That. Is. Awesome. I'm glad they felt the heat. Now it will be fun to watch them backpedal. 

[XDHusker]

That. Is. Awesome. I'm glad they felt the heat. Now it will be fun to watch them backpedal. 

Yup, as a general rule in business you shouldn't tick off 90% of your customer base.  Just saying.

[bkoenig]

I love how they blame everyone else.

Sounds like Reed is going to lose the SHOT show, too.  The NSSF is actively looking for someone.

[XDHusker]

I love how they blame everyone else.

Sounds like Reed is going to lose the SHOT show, too.  The NSSF is actively looking for someone.

That's awesome.