Comments on: NRA Withdraws from Eastern Sports & Outdoors Show Due to Reed Exhibitions Decision to Ban Modern Sporting Rifles

By: Seerak

Seerak — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 22:59:56 +0000

Apparently ESOS is taking its ball and going home for now. "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."

By: Geodkyt

Geodkyt — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 16:23:08 +0000

As was pointed out elsewhere, this WILL have an effect on exhibit planners who don’t care about (or are even opposed to) gun rights.

After all, Reed has just demonstrated they will fold in a heartbeat on the slightest of poitical pressure from a loud minority. Any exhibition that will include “non-PC” businesses or products, even if only by a minority of exhibitors, may well face the same thing.

Most commerical exhibition events are planned AT LEAST a year or two in advance — if you’re planning an exhibit involving energy production, medical technology, the entertainment industry, etc., are you going to take teh risk that Reed tanks YOUR exhibition at the last minute, because some loudmouth wets his panties?

I wouldn’t.

Reed’s primary customer base may not give a damn about their stand on gun rights, but they sure as Hell care about thier integrity in not backstabbing their customer’s program at (for industry) the very last minute.

By: Mu

Mu — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 14:39:28 +0000

Looking at their events calendar http://www.reedexpo.com/RX/RX_ReedExpo/Documents/6504_RX_CALENDAR_ONLINE_DECEMBER_2012_v6.pdf they are doing 90% of their business overseas anyway, where people will probably approve of their decision. Losing the US outdoor market unfortunately isn’t going to hurt them. BUT- a strong reaction like this should be a warning to all the smaller exhibition organizers out there that actually are depending on repeat business.

By: Jake

Jake — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 14:01:16 +0000

How many more before Reed folds?

Unfortunately, it sounds like (according to one of the commenters at Shall Not Be Questioned) Reed is a big enough business that they would barely notice losing the entire show. With $9.5B in annual revenue, it's almost a rounding error for them.

By: Cargosquid

Cargosquid — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 05:32:41 +0000

Someone with some clout needs to point to this, and instruct Congressmen that stand to lose their position, about how fast large amounts of support can disappear if they let their spines go squishy.

By: P.M.

P.M. — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 05:03:29 +0000

Good to hear. And yes bluesun, s.j.g.r.

By: TigerStripe

TigerStripe — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 03:28:44 +0000

Good to know. The show is going to collapse if Reed doesn’t fold anyway.

By: bluesun

bluesun — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 03:14:55 +0000

Shit just got real.

By: BGMiller

BGMiller — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 03:05:02 +0000

So Cabelas, S&W, Ruger, and the NRA….

How many more before Reed folds?

BGM