The annual Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show is one of the largest of its kind in the U.S. but has been postponed and might not occur after hundreds of exhibitors and the National Rifle Association (NRA) backed out due to a ban on the display and sales of assault rifles by show organizer Reed Exhibitions.
“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, president for the Americas, Reed Exhibitions. “In the current climate, we felt that the presence of modern sporting rifles 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.”
The annual event was scheduled to run from Feb. 2 through Feb. 10 at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center in Harrisburg, but has been postponed with no future dates announced. Reed Exhibitions will refund all fees paid by vendors.
“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,” said Burchett. “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.”
Although only a small percentage of exhibits would have been impacted, other exhibitors decided to pull out in protest. The National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) canceled its participation in the event along with a popular turkey call contest scheduled for Feb. 3.
“We feel strongly about the importance of the Second Amendment in pursuit of our mission of preserving our hunting heritage,” said Skip Motts, president, NWTF Pennsylvania chapter. “We reached out to our chapters from across the state and received overwhelming support for taking this stand.”
The NWTF canceled its exhibit and announced it will reschedule the NWTF-sanctioned turkey calling contest after a “suitable venue is determined.” The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, NRA and others joined the boycott as well as many of the scheduled celebrities and other special guests. As many as a third of the more about 1,200 exhibitors joined the boycott initially organized by the owners of the website MyNortheastOutdoors.com in response to the show’s ban on assault rifle displays and sales.
“We have won a battle today, but the war still looms in front of us. We have leaders in our government who still wish to take our rights away from us,” said Chas McHenry of MyNortheastOutdoors.com “Sen. [Dianne] Feinstein is proposing her assault weapons ban, and we need to make sure all of our elected officials know that any stance against our rights will be unacceptable.
“The Clinton-era ban was ruled completely useless after its termination, and now there is another encompassing ban being proposed.”
Despite the successful boycott and possible show cancelation, Reed Exhibitions might proceed with a rescheduled event.
“The [Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show] 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,” said Burchett.
While the show might go on, another major firearms tradeshow managed by Reed 
Exhibitions for several decades could proceed without the firm. Officials for the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) are unhappy with Reed’s recent actions and are weighing options for future SHOT Shows, which is the world’s largest firearms-based tradeshow and was held earlier this month at the Las Vegas Sands Expo and Convention Center.
“In the days following Reed Exhibitions’ announcement that modern sporting rifles would be prohibited from the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show, the leadership of the NSSF has been in intense, frank discussions with Reed Exhibitions management in an effort to reverse this unacceptable decision. These discussions reached an impasse,” the NSSF posted on its website.
“The NSSF is in no way affiliated with nor does it participate in or exhibit at this show in any way. Reed Exhibitions does, however, manage the NSSF-owned SHOT Show. Because of Reed’s recent actions, the NSSF is considering all options regarding the management of future SHOT Shows.”
Reed Exhibitions, based in the United Kingdom, banned the display and sale of modern sporting rifles during the show after the Newtown, Conn., massacre, during which Connecticut State Police report a stolen Bushmaster AR-15 assault-style rifle was carried and used as the primary weapon along with two stolen semi-automatic pistols by shooter Adam Lanza to murder 20 school children and six adults before committing suicide at the Sandy Hook Elementary School on Dec. 14.
