The Eastern Sports and Outdoor show is held in Harrisburg, PA every winter. It is billed as one of the largest on the east coast. The people that run it (British owned) have announced that AR, hi cap mags are not welcome. Cabela's announced they will not attend due to the policy change. Several have also announced that and a boycott the show effort is getting traction. From my local newspaper:
Cabela's Inc., the North American hunting and fishing retailer, announced Saturday that it will not participate in the Eastern Sports and Outdoors Show to be held Feb. 2-10 at the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg.
This comes on the heels of smaller retailers boycotting because of the decision by event organizer Reed Exhibitions to ban the display and sale of assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines. The ban was imposed following the deadly school shooting in Newtown, Conn., that claimed the lives of 20 children and six women and reignited the gun-control debate.
Alex Cameron, general manager of Kinsey's Outdoors, Mount Joy, PA which just announced it was withdrawing from the show, said the news about Cabela's is a big deal.
The international retailer — which has 40 outdoor gear and sporting goods stores across the U.S. and Canada — is "definitely a superpower in the industry," he said.
"Their voice speaks volumes."
Headquartered in Sydney, Neb., Cabela's also was a sponsor of the event, billed as Pennsylvania's largest outdoor sports show. Other Lancaster County retailers that have pulled out are Lancaster Archery Supply and Trop Gun Shop, Elizabethtown, PA.
A post Saturday on Cabela's Facebook page explained the reasoning behind the decision.
"Due to recent changes made by Reed Exhibitions [regarding the show] Cabela's will no longer sponsor this year's event. After careful consideration regarding Cabela's business practices, and the feelings of our customers, Cabela's will, unfortunately, not have a presence at the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show."
Comments on the Facebook page almost uniformly supported the move. Some posters viewed it as strong stand in support of the Second Amendment, which guarantees the right to keep and bear arms.
Cabela's Inc., the North American hunting and fishing retailer, announced Saturday that it will not participate in the Eastern Sports and Outdoors Show to be held Feb. 2-10 at the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg.
This comes on the heels of smaller retailers boycotting because of the decision by event organizer Reed Exhibitions to ban the display and sale of assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines. The ban was imposed following the deadly school shooting in Newtown, Conn., that claimed the lives of 20 children and six women and reignited the gun-control debate.
Alex Cameron, general manager of Kinsey's Outdoors, Mount Joy, PA which just announced it was withdrawing from the show, said the news about Cabela's is a big deal.
The international retailer — which has 40 outdoor gear and sporting goods stores across the U.S. and Canada — is "definitely a superpower in the industry," he said.
"Their voice speaks volumes."
Headquartered in Sydney, Neb., Cabela's also was a sponsor of the event, billed as Pennsylvania's largest outdoor sports show. Other Lancaster County retailers that have pulled out are Lancaster Archery Supply and Trop Gun Shop, Elizabethtown, PA.
A post Saturday on Cabela's Facebook page explained the reasoning behind the decision.
"Due to recent changes made by Reed Exhibitions [regarding the show] Cabela's will no longer sponsor this year's event. After careful consideration regarding Cabela's business practices, and the feelings of our customers, Cabela's will, unfortunately, not have a presence at the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show."
Comments on the Facebook page almost uniformly supported the move. Some posters viewed it as strong stand in support of the Second Amendment, which guarantees the right to keep and bear arms.
