Well put. I couldn't have said it any better and was going to make this post myself. I don't fault any company for attending - especially those who rely on this show for a hefty portion of their income. Remember, this isn't just fun and games, shake some hands, and hang out. This is business, and it's how companies survive. I personally will continue supporting companies like Wicked Tree Gear and can't wait to get my hands on a new pole saw when they're available for purchase. I would encourage everyone else to do the same.
Very well said. I agree completely. I am glad to see so many NOT attending, but understand that (from a business standpoint) some don't have that option. I only hope they do enough business to make it worthwhile with attendance from customers also dropping
Dan, Me of all people understands the pressures of business. Its about making choices as you so clearly stated . These business have to juggle the possibility of a short term loss verses the possible effects the continued infringement of 2nd amendment rights has on their consumer base. The fact of the matter is for some companies and the products they are selling at the show can be marketed to almost any group of consumers, and some are very specific to outdoors/hunting and firearms. So all the decisions being made aren't on the same level, but none the less they should be happy they are positions to make a decision some companies that was already forced on them. What about the companies that were directly effected by the decisions from Reed to ban "non traditional"? They didn't have a choice. We as consumers have a choice also, we can choice to support the companies that value the same rights and ideals as we do. Jimmy
Didn't see them listed but Hoyt is out and Matthews is staying in. Have not heard from Bowtech yet. Ruger and S&W are also out.
Just for the record - Mathews isn't displaying and never has at this show. They have dealers who choose to attend the show on their own behalf, but that's their own choice. They're selling more than just Mathews bows. Are you guys just pulling names out of the air now, or are you actually looking at the published exhibitor listings? As much as I agree with the overall point of this whole thing, it really seems like it's turn into a witch hunt for a lot of people.
Yes, for some of the businesses its a short term loss. But, for others, its a long term loss that may cripple and/or destroy their business. That's my point. I understand your stance to support companies that share your same ideals. I'm also saying that some of the companies that are attending the show share those same ideals, but are stuck between a rock and a hard place. Do they: A) Boycott the show? Sure they lose out on the booth fee, but how much inventory are they stuck with? How are they going to pay for said inventory if they don't attend this show? Will it cause them to go out of business? B) Attend the show and keep food on their families plates, yet be black balled by people who don't understand what they are going through. I think some people fail to understand how big this show really is and what it means to some small businesses in this industry. Me of all people understands this, as I was one of those vendors for a couple years out there. So, I encourage you to keep promoting the businesses that can take a stand and who were directly affected by the show's stance. But also try to see it from others shoes and not start a campaign to black ball the ones that can't afford to make that same stand.
Its funny mathews was jus brought up, they jus posted a statement on their facebook page. Pretty much what Justin said, corporately they don't attend that show and will not once again.
My problem is with the timing of the announcement, it has really put some of the smaller companies in a financial bind. I really agree with supportijg those that made a stand, but as Dan has mentioned many of these companies could fold because of a hastily made political decision. Imo.
Here is an updated list of Vendors that have pulled out of the show so far. The industry support has been outstanding. What a pleasure knowing that your dollars spent on hunting /fishing ect are going to people and companies that value your rights and are willing to stand with you to fight for them. 181 Vendors so far: 2 Million Bullets 24/7 Hunting TV Alaska’s Ravencroft Lodge Alaskan Outdoors TV Ambush Firearms American Whitetails of PA Antler Insanity Apex Tactical Appalachian Big Game TV Arrowhead Outdoors Athens Archery Atlantic Tactical Avian X Decoys Bangin Redhedz Turkey Gear Bear Archery Big Game Butter Blitz TV Bohning Archery Boondock Outdoors Bow Hunter’s Den Bow Life, LLC BowHunter Planet Bowhunting.com Cabela’s Camo Addiction Campbell Cameras CanCooker Cochrane 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 Domari Nolo Defense Consulting Dominance is Everything Hunting System Dominator 365 Down N Dirty Outdoors Driven TV Droptine Outfitters DuckWater Boats Eastern Chapter Wild Sheep Foundation Eastern Outdoors Easton Bow Hunting Excalibur Crossbow US, Inc Farmland Trophies Outfitting Fear No Evil Field Proven Calls Firearms Industry Consulting Group Flatline Productions Foiles Migrators, Inc Forbes Turkey Calls FOXPRO High Performance Game Calls Full Circle Outdoors Furtakers TV Ghost River Outfitters – Alberta Gone Wild Outdoors Goodling Rifles Gut N Tag, LLC H.S. Specialities Heartland Whitetails Hevi-Shot 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 Huntin’ Is Good! TV IceHole Coolers International Bowhunting Organization Iron Kin Hunt Club IScope J & M Traditions Keystone Country Store Keystone Elk Country Alliance King of the Mountain Inc. Kinsey’s Outdoors Kodabow Lancaster Archery Supply Major League Bowhunter Men in Treestands Productions Midwest Whitetail Adventures Mindful of Nature LLC Mountain Dog Chews Muddy Outdoors Muskie Moose, LLC NasHunt Outdoors Nature Blinds, LLC NasHunt Outdoors Northern Hideaway Outfitters Northern Outdoor Lodge Northern Wilderness 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, Inc Pat Strawser Custom Calls Pennsylvania 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 Rougeaux Taxidermy S & W Outfitter SecureIt Tactical Skull Shine Southern Game Calls Spook Span Sportsmen of North America TV State Line Bone Mine Staudt’s Gun Shop Stay Ready Inc Stokerized Stabilizers Susquehanna River Waterfowlers Assoc Table Mountain Outfitters Team Overkill The Bear Whisperer The Outdoor Loop The State Line Bone Mine a NW Missouri and Iowa outfitter The Warmbag Timberline Outfitters TNT Archery Tough Country Trijicon, Inc 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 The Warmbag Watson Air Lock Watt’s Truck Center Whitetail Bosses Whitetail Freaks Whitetail Heaven Outdoors Whitewolfsurvivalsupply.com Wired Outdoors Woodcock Limited of Pennsylvania X-Stand Treestands Zink Calls Zook Cabins Speaker / Celebrites Pulled Out (23) Abner Druckenmiller – Furtakers TV Angie & Scott Denny – THE LIFE at Table Mountain Blaine Anthony, The Bear Whisperer Bob Folkrod Bob Mercier Brad Farris – Primos Chris Brackett Eddie Salter Fred Eichler – Fulldraw Outfitters Jay Gregory Jim and Eva Shockey Jimmy Primos – Primos Larry Weishuhn Lee & Tiffany Lakosky “The Crush“ Matt Morett Michael Waddell Pat & Nicole Reever Ralph & Vicki Cianciarulo – Archers Choice Stan Potts The Bone Collector Tom Dokken Trent Cole Other Boycott Supporters (15) Anything About Guns Bloodline With Alex Ruthledge Blue Rock Outfitters Broken Arrow Wilderness Chasing Trophy Whitetails Eddie Salter Family Traditions TV Gene & Barry Wensel Haley Heath Hank Parker NebraskaOutfitter.com Roger Raglin Wyvern Creations
Here is why we are fighting, http://www.washingtontimes.com/blog...ult-weapon-ban-coming-thursday/#ixzz2IlMxxRay
Update: Jamie Grey the Olympic Gold medal winner pulls out of the show also... I want to thank all of you for your concern regarding my participation at the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show. It was with great honor that I originally accepted the invitation to participate in the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show. My purpose in attending this show in year’s past has always been to help provide a deeper knowledge and understanding for the Olympic Shooting Sports and as a way to give back to my local community given its proximity to where I grew up. Jamie Gray As an Olympic gold medalist, passing on those values and knowledge has become even more important for me today. As an avid outdoors woman who grew in this sport in part due to my experience at ESOS, it’s a decision that doesn’t come easy but I have decided that I will NOT participate. My decision is due to what I feel would be an inability as an Olympic athlete to represent my sport, industry and USA Shooting teammates in the best possible manner given the political climate that will be present as a result of the decisions that have been made. The message that I hope to instill in the participants of the ESOS can only be muddled as a result of the current situation. I look forward to my involvement in the Show in the years to come.
While that seems like an easy answer, it's not quite that simple. I know of several companies (many outfitters) that attend this show and rely on it substantially to book hunters for this coming fall. Many western outfitters go to the ESOS because you people don't have elk, mule deer or antelope to hunt, and it's the best opportunity to book these hunters. Sure, they could go to other shows, but by this time of year most shows are either booked, over or too close to attend. Application deadlines are closing in for many states and if these outfitters don't book in the next couple of weeks, they don't eat for the fall. You'll have a hard time finding anyone that supports our second ammendment more than I do, but it's far more than a slap in the face to Reed. This will impact far more people than you realize and will most likely cost some of them their lively hood. That is fact.
I have my own business, it's my third one. The first business I sold, the second failed and now I am going on 10 years on the third. I work a second job as a medic and avg 60 hours a week at that from Jan-Sept...I am not complaining we live very well and have a wonderful life. I am working right now and my wife is home alone with our two year old son. She dials 911 and depending on where the two state patrols, and one country patrol is ...that's all there is at night I the county we live in. She can have a 5 min to 30 min wait...or longer. In the night stand is hand gun, and that's all that stands between her my son and a lot of nasty people,while she is waiting 20 minutes for the police to show up. This week in NY that fascist prick Cuomo and some of our senators and legislators broke the law in order to take away the rights of my wife and hundreds of thousands of other NYers to protect themselves. They turned that hand gun in to a felony because of the magazine that's in it and number of bullets that loaded into it. So when you tell me people's businesses are at stake the only answer I have is better that then their lives. Business come and go as does jobs but our lives and rights we never get back.
My only question to folks is this: what does a civilian man or woman need a 30-round magazine for? While I am all for these companies backing out and standing proud, as well as 2nd amendment rights, I question defenses on the use of high-capacity magazines when not in use against the enemies of our nation.
To take a stand against racial intolerance and injustice. A much larger and deeper issue than that of the legality of high-capacity magazines. A pretty poor comparison if you ask me.
