If you’re a gun owner or hunter anywhere within a day’s drive of Pennsylvania, there’s a good chance you’ve at least heard of the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show in passing. It’s an absolutely massive outdoor show that has previously allowed firearms vendors to showcase their wares alongside outfitters looking whisk you away on a new hunt. Not this year.
We saw news from a credible source last Friday that the show was putting a ban on modern sporting rifles & magazines. Not only can the firearms and magazines not be on display, “no brochures or documentation that mentions or pictures any ‘black rifle’ or high capacity magazine will be allowed.” We asked around about the issue, and of course, noted as soon as we saw the statement that the company that actually puts on the show is none other than Reed Exhibitions – the same company that NSSF contracts with to put on SHOT Show. Needless to say, Reed did not institute such a ban on SHOT, only on the ordinary consumers that will be frequenting the ESOS. To them, it’s apparently a privilege that only credentialed people can look at the guns or hear their names, but we lowly citizens have no rights to speak or see these firearms and accessories.
Needless to say, the post we saw about the potential ban was verified this week. What’s more, according to one vendor who posted their letter to Reed online, Reed has seemingly violated their agreements with vendors on not only what would be allowed, but how parts of the show would be marketed. Domari Nolo Defense Consulting reports:
In particular, the removal of the promised Tactical section and renaming of that part of the event in a way that belittles the efforts of companies involved is unacceptable.
We would not have agreed to be included in a ‘Wild West’ area had that been the original agreement. Our sponsors also do not want such an association, and have pulled their support of our show presence.
In fact, according to other exhibitor reports, the organizers behind the ESOS won’t even return phone calls or emails to the exhibitors concerned and impacted by the decision. In other words, our money and the money from vendors who sell guns we use was good enough for Reed before, but now they want to have us banned from the premises.
Fortunately, we gun owners are happy to listen. Sebastian & I were planning to attend the Eastern Sports & Outdoors Show – something we have done while also lending a hand to NRA’s booth in the past. We pay for our own entrance fees and we support the vendors on the floor. Well, we did do all of those things. We will not be doing it this year. We will also ask our family members in the area not to attend.
Reed is more than happy to take the money of the modern firearms industry from NSSF with SHOT Show, and word on some forums is that they are keeping the money of the vendors who are pulling out now that they can no longer support the show’s restrictions on their products or those related to their products. They will take our money, but they will work against our Second Amendment rights and actively work to hurt the shooting sports communities. That is a problem.
People boycotting the show have already started to organize, and they are also doing great work in highlighting the exhibitors who are taking a significant financial loss and pulling out of the show over this decision – even when their products aren’t being banned (yet).
Gun owners, especially those in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland, are asked to contact Reed’s headquarters at 203-840-4800, inquiry@reedexpo.com, or by fax at 203-840-5805.
Or, as boycotting folks have noted, the information for the Reed employees (or director contractors) assigned to run the ESOS were previously published online, and some of the key folks include:
Group Vice President – Ed Several
Phone: 203-840-5932 Fax: 203-840-9932 Email: eseveral@reedexpo.com
Event Director – Chris O’Hara
Phone: 717-368-7487 Fax: 203-840-9868 Email: cohara@reedexpo.com
Public Relations – Deb Davis
Phone: 717-834-6267 Fax: 717-834-6207 Email: ddavis@conceptoneinc.com
Marketing – Cathy Kitlasz
Phone: 203-840-5871 Fax: 203-840-9781 Email: ckitlasz@reedexpo.com
If you have a moment, also consider checking out the products of some of the companies that have decided to stand with us and lose the investment they paid to exhibit at the show. Here are the ones I have found so far:
- Nature Blinds
- Cutting Edge Bullets
- Lancaster Archery Supply
- Atlantic Tactical
- Boondock Outdoors
- Whitetail Bosses
- Trop Gun Shop
- Dead Ringer Hunting
- Domari Nolo Defense Consulting
- Kinsey’s Outdoors
- Direct Action Tactical
- Hunters and Guides Connection
- Cabela’s
- Upper Canyon Outfitters
- CanCooker
- Zook Cabins
- Full Circle Outdoors
- The Warmbag
- Drop Tine Outfitters
- Northern Outdoor Lodge
- Hunter Safety
System - Outdoor Edge Knives
- Bowhunting.com
- Major League Bowhunter
- Eastern Chapter of the Wild Sheep Foundation
- Foxpro Game Calls
- Trijicon
- Cold Steel
- Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs
In addition to the above vendors who are sacrificing thousands of dollars just in deposits and many more thousands in lost sales, The Bear Whisperer, Fred & Michele Eichler, Lee & Tiffany Lakosky, and Ralph & Vicki Cianciarulo are withdrawing from their promotional and seminar appearances.
I had planned to go, but not anymore. If you still come to the area, Trop Gun Shop and Atlantic Tactical are worth a visit (and your money).
Make sure you drop a note or a call to let them know. There is still time for them to change their mind if they feel they will potentially lose money on the show this year due to the decision.
Unless they fire the people who made the decision, I wouldn’t go back even if they reversed course. If their management doesn’t understand why what they’re doing is wrong and backpedals only because of money, they’re just going to screw us later.
Contact the NRA and encourage them not to participate in the show.
Maybe the 1200 vendors need to sue Reed for damages.
f*&k ’em. It’s time to separate the wheat from the chaff. Our opponents have played the economic boycott games for years now, it’s time to make some wafflers realize that if they’re not with us, they’re definitely against us…
I’ve heard it said before that the favorite pasttime of the 2A community is knifing traitors in the back. Hopefully, Reed will learn a valuable lesson.
Wafflers need to pick a side and get off the fence.
I’m no lawyer, but it would seem to me that if Reed exhibitions changed the rules after the banned vendors had signed up & paid, it would be reasonable to expect a refund.
Failing to get a refund would be reason to seek legal recourse.
The cost of defense would be higher than the refund and would clearly be a de-motivator for banning any vendor for displaying legal products. Small claims court is fine place for this type of action.
Roger
Trop’s a decent place- glad to hear they have withdrew.
I love how Reed is saying they don’t want this to be a distraction, and ended up creating a distraction. HAHA.
Knifing traitors in the back, indeed. Perhaps someone should get them in contact with Jim Zumbo.
The Farm Show Complex is owned by the State of Pennsylvania which means the complex is open to lawful possession. Lets all show up open carrying a pistol and a black rifle see if the Reed staff turns us away at the door. I they do we just stay an protest, if they let us in, here will be more black rifles there than the vendors would have brought. Either way we win, and they lose.
The Farm Show Complex is owned by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.
Let your voice be heard by taking your money elsewhere.
I am sorry but to me this makes the promoters “Fudds.” All for one and one for all.
I really hate using that term because far too many gun owners are willing to lump everyone or every thing branded “sportsman” or “hunter” into that category. The folks up there on the list of vendors who have pulled out over this decision include quite a few people who sell nothing at all related to the demonized “black rifles,” yet they are sacrificing thousands of dollars to make a stand for our rights.
I get what you are trying to say in terms of how the sponsors are behaving, but just be careful throwing around that term so that you don’t end up turning people against all hunters & sportsmen.
ADD CABELA’S TO YOUR LIST!!! HOW AWESOME THAT SUCH A LARGER RETAILER HAS DECIDED TO STAND BY THEIR CUSTOMERS!!!
Thanks for the update! That deserves its own post that will go up shortly.
AWESOME! I see you did! They had just announced it on a FB post without saying EXACTLY why so I immediately went to search for why and found your site! I shared their post on my wall and I hope everyone else will, too. If you haven’t “liked” their page, do so; they have demonstrated a solid stand against what Washington is trying to do!
Not only is Cabela’s “a larger customer”, it was one of their cosponsors. That really has to hurt…
2 million bullets has agreed to not attend the Eastern Sports Show under the current circumstances. Our mission to prioritize youth will continue with the support of those who are standing firm in this issue.
A charity can never afford to loose funding and we are hoping that those who do not attend will consider helping us out of the red by donating your attendance, food or travel fees at 2millionbullets.org
As soon as I heard about this I told my buddy I’m not going but he was going. Wrote an email to Reed voicing my decision not to go even though I have in years past and enjoyed it.
After finding several sites, including this one, he seems to considering not going either.
Instead I have suggested that we visit any vendors nearby the Farm Show Complex who have taken a stand against Reed even though it will probably cost them $$$$$. I will show my support to those who have supported us and the Second Amendment.
To the vendors above,,,THANK YOU for having the courage and conviction to do what you have done.
United we stand divided we fall and that is exactley what Obama is hoping for
Thank you Cabelas!!! We The People always remember who stands with us and those who dont.
God Bless those whom did not book the show in the first place and we Salute those that are choosing to pull out of the show as vendors. Thanks to all of those that support the vendors by now choosing to attend as a consumer. The Staff of Reed Expo’s has been running their vendors and their customers off for quite some time. Congratulations Chris Ohara. You just took the largest outdoor show in the United states and made it the smallest one. We chose not to attend the ESOS this year due to the unprofessional practices of the show staff. From the vendor booths being robbed by the staff & hired security to annually rising cost of booth costs that never once proved to provide any advantage or gain in show performance for vendors. Reed Exhibitions has been running the ESOS into the gutter since 2008. They have proven to be uncaring, unprofessional and are now proving to be UNPATRIOTIC AND UNAMERAICAN!!
Anyone find it odd that is the organizer for SHOT show?
http://reedexpo.com/en/Events/2756/The-Shot-Show
If you have time on your hands, might be worth dropping an email to the companies in the “Tactical” category (or all vendors) about the new policy, just in case.
http://ess13.mapyourshow.com/5_0/exhibitor_results.cfm?type=parentcategory&parentcategory=18AA
I don’t know the legality of this but it would be nice to obtain legal council to see if a civil class action suit can be brought against Reed Exhibitions for not return deposits made to them by all the vendors. Is there anyone in here that could help with this matter?
A firearms community lawyer has already been posting on the relevant boards that his services are available to any vendor who wants to try and get a refund over this issue.
Wouldn’t this be a relatively simple matter of what the contracts say? If the contract allows the vendor to withdraw and get a refund, and the time-critical requirements have been met, it would seem like a small claims court issue. If that language isn’t on the vendors’ side, I doubt that a nebulous difference of opinion on a political issue would provide a legal foundation for breaking the contract.
Is the firearms community lawyer offering his services pro bono?
I would tend to agree on the contract issues. However, I’m not sure that it would apply to any vendors who signed contracts to appear in a section that would be marketed as tactical and then told that not only will there be no section, but they will ban all of the products that they make and sell, along with all of their brochures that even show those products. They probably have cause to pursue legal action. From what I have read from several vendors and speakers that have dropped out, Reed is refusing to take their calls or answer their emails. At this point, Reed is still using the names & promises of events with several celebrities to promote the show even when those celebrities have said for days now that they will not attend.
As for the lawyer, I doubt he’s offering pro bono work, but I don’t know what kind of deal he might be offering them. However, I wouldn’t judge him on that if he is charging something. Reviewing contracts, reviewing any and all attempts they have made to work with Reed on the issues, and figuring out if they have any claim is work that takes up time on his part. It sucks for the vendors to possibly be out money if the choose to pursue the legal options, but that’s ultimately still on Reed for changing up the terms of the contract at the last minute. I believe one celebrity who was supposed to speak posted last night that they heard Reed actually made the decision back in December, but they purposely sat on it until less than a month before the show. If that’s the case, and it put vendors past any key cancellation dates, then I would imagine that they would definitely have grounds to file legal action.
Excellent, excellent point about the vendors who have had all or a significant portion of the products they make or sell banned by Reed’s. Reed’s has effectively added an ex post facto condition to the contract, without mutual agreement.
I guess I should apologize for my implications in my question about the attorney, but I have always found the ambulance chasers, seeking to capitalize on someone else’s misfortune, distasteful. They turn up in all professions. One of my engineering professors from college turned into an ambulance chaser in the expert witness business, and I took special joy in besting him in court one time. Of course, I was pulling down some OK bucks, too. :-)
Headed to Cabelas to buy something for the Holiday.
Two words for Reed:
Smith.
And Wesson.
Major League Bowhunter and BuckVentures have also withdrawn from the Eastern Outdoor Show. We have to stand for something or we’ll fall for anything.
Just Killin Time (https://www.facebook.com/JKTTV) announced they are not attending. This is a small time outfit who lives and dies by the shows, and they are sacrificing their spot for the cause.
I don’t see that they were ever listed as exhibitors or speakers.
This is very dissapointing. My booth is paid up and my hotel is reserved for the trip to Harrisburg.
It puts the vendors in a difficult situation. If Reed waived the entry fee you could still show up and support the vendors.
I can understand and sympathize with your situation. Unlike others, I’m not demonizing those choose to attend, only promoting those who are taking the risk to pull out of the show.
However, I think that asking Reed to waive the entry fee is simply a silly expectation or hope. The entry fee is $14/person. Media estimates are that the show has previously attracted 200,000 people. Do you honestly think that Reed has any incentive at all lose any of that money? That’s $2.8 million right there. Assuming that the exhibitor fees effectively cover their costs, then that’s a tidy profit they won’t want to give up. If they are looking at reduced attendance anyway over the repeated negative headlines in their target market, then they definitely won’t want to budge an inch on those entry prices.
If I could be so bold, if you’re going to go ahead and attend because you’re not in a financial position to eat the costs without a chance of profit from more hunts booked, then would you at least encourage those who stop by your booth to join the NRA? The NRA is still setting up a booth because they desperately need to reach the “low information” gun voters who don’t know what’s going on yet because they haven’t been playing close attention to the issue. I don’t want to say that everyone who walks through those show doors is “low information,” but we know that they aren’t involved in the issue enough to be part of the boycott over the rifle ban. That means there’s a somewhat higher chance that they don’t know about the horrible new laws in NY and the absolute nightmares that have been introduced at the federal level. We need those people to be informed, and an NRA membership is one of the easiest ways to do that.
Absolutely! I am a member and full supporter of the NRA.
I just found out today about this decision by Reed and I may still be in shock. I know I am very upset.
I do commend the vendors that are financially able to pull out.
I see a class action in the future for Reed.
I feel sad for all the vendors (hunting or no hunting related) that are loosing money due to the deceptive practices that have been implemented by Reed Expo. The ESOS made a poor choice for figuring out how to best promote this years show to maximize THEIR profits. NOW, Instead of trying the plan of asking for the understanding from the NRA, hunters and all outdoorsman worldwide. Why did Reed Expo not ask the NRA for their support and protection while promoting any type of gun related item at this years show. I believe that would have impacted the show in a way that extra police would have been needed for extreme traffic control due to the overwhelmingly rise in attendance. It would of been a show that no vendor would of wanted to miss.
It was said that the attendance for this years Shot Show was up substantially from last year. Much like it is and has been with each and every gun show being conducted nationwide this year. When the ESOS take money from a vendor and/or any consumer. It is then their responsiblity to make sure that the customers of the ESOS are taken care of and properly promoted and not try to do anything to jeprodize the profits of attending vendors. But at this point, with the extreme media attention that has been given to this issue. There is no chance for this years 2013 ESOS show to successfully recover. Not even if half of the vendors chose to stay or the half that have already left chost to return. The ESOS has shown the world that it cannot be trusted to defend the Constitution by which even they are governed. So now, what Reed Exhibitions is experiencing, is an extreme band of brothers that will ALWAYS AND FOREVER come together nationwide (even if they do not know one another) to fight for, to stand up for and to represent each other till the end of days. Outdoorsman, Hunters & gun owners have a great love of their sport and will do anyting to defend it. Our outdoor brotherhood is stronger in moral and principle than any government organization. Reed Expo chose to ban certain Constitutional freedoms from the very people that they are taking money from whom strongly defends it. AND NOW……. Reed Expo can sit back and watch as Hunters, outdoorsman, gun owners an sportsman worldwide Place our “BAN” against supporting and/or attending any Reed Exposition events and especially the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show.
Good luck to everyone this season!!
If Reed uses the names of of people who have withdrawn from the show, it seems that would be false advertising. Everyone should ask for a refund when they leave the show and file a complaint with the state.
I Hope that a good “Class Action Lawsuit” is successfully executed against the show organizer on behalf of the affected vendors! This “Political Correctness” is going too far! I fully support all vendors that pull out, and condemn those that caved in to minority feelings relative to recent tragedies. Adding restrictions AFTER vendors paid should be justification for REFUNDS!
I am not knowledgeable about the issue at all, but I have been told that Class Action Lawsuits in Pennsylvania are extraordinarily difficult to set in motion.
Reed is either being just plain stupid, or playing the role of useful idiot. I wonder if they understand they are playing into the divide and conquer tactics that the Chosen One and the Court Jester have devised?
Is this pure genious, I have never seen so much free publicity for the show. True they have lost some key venders and in the end it might bite them in the ars. But in the long run they may be gaining all of the people that have no interest in guns. Even though having no interest in guns doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have no interest in your rights.
I don’t know how often this site is updated. But also, NWTF has pulled themselves from the ESOS. This was recently announced. Our Rights will not be trampled on!
Ya know how everyone always says write your Senator? So I wrote him a very nice well written email expressing my concerns over the current gun laws being proposed. Though you would like to see the reply.
Looks like we are in trouble.
—– Original Message —–
From: Senator Robert P. Casey, Jr.
To: [Removed by Bitter for privacy]
Sent: Saturday, January 19, 2013 1:08 PM
Subject: Response from Senator Casey
Dear Mr. [Removed by Bitter for privacy]:
Thank you for taking the time to contact me about the tragic shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. I appreciate hearing from you about this issue.
As you know, on December 14, 2012, an individual in Newtown, Connecticut forced his way into Sandy Hook Elementary School and opened fire on teachers and staff in the building. In total, the perpetrator murdered 20 students between the ages of six and seven years old, as well as six adults, many of whom heroically sought to stop the shooter and save the lives of children. Like many Americans, I was deeply affected by the scope and brutality of this act. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families.
The motives that led to this senseless massacre will likely never fully be comprehended. However, I believe that all public officials have a responsibility to work to prevent such an event from occurring again. This incident reflects a complex problem that requires a comprehensive strategy, including funding for law enforcement officers and the mental health care system. Too many individuals with mental illness are not receiving the services they need and tragically, sometimes a small number of these individuals turn violent. I have supported access to affordable and accessible mental health services for all Americans and I will continue to review proposed solutions to improve our mental health system.
As you may know, I am a strong supporter of the Second Amendment. Pennsylvania has a fine hunting and sporting tradition, and I will defend the right to bear arms as it is enshrined in our Constitution. However, I also believe that the attack at Sandy Hook Elementary School highlights very serious dangers posed to public safety by the misuse of certain weapons and technology originally developed for warfare. According to reports, the shooter was able to kill many children and adults very quickly because he possessed a military-style semiautomatic weapon. He also allegedly used magazines containing up to 30 rounds of ammunition and carried hundreds of rounds more. After much reflection and careful study of the issue, I have decided to support a federal assault weapons ban as well as legislation restricting high capacity clips. In light of what occurred at Sandy Hook, these are two measures that will lessen the chances that this will happen again soon.
Our Nation has already begun a critical dialogue as we examine what steps must be taken to prevent this type of tragedy in the future. On December 19, 2012, President Obama announced the formation of an inter-agency task initiative, led by Vice President Biden, to study these issues and recommend possible actions. I look forward to reviewing these proposals, as well to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to address this complex issue.
Again, thank you for sharing your thoughts with me. Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future about this or any other matter of importance to you.
For more information on this or other issues, I encourage you to visit my website, http://casey.senate.gov. I hope you will find this online office a comprehensive resource to stay up-to-date on my work in Washington, request assistance from my office or share with me your thoughts on the issues that matter most to you and to Pennsylvania.
Sincerely,
Bob Casey
United States Senator
P.S. If you would like to respond to this message, please use the contact form on my website: http://casey.senate.gov/contact/
Yeah, we’re seeing this reply from Casey. He feels safe because he was just re-elected to a 6-year term. He doesn’t feel like gun owners are any kind of threat to his cushy seat anymore.
That said, don’t give up on writing lawmakers – even anti-gun ones. No, you won’t change their mind. But, if they get inundated with letters, they will know that their more middle-of-the-road colleagues–especially those up in 2014–will be absolutely flooded beyond imagination with contacts. They will be more likely to fold and give up the fight. I know it’s frustrating, but just remember that it does have value. :)
I wrote as well after reading his web sight, I am sure that is a form letter response. Someone should remind him that last monday NBC news broke the story that there were four handguns used and not the AR15. The AR15 was found in the trunk of Lanza’s mothers car. I saw this on a blog sight and started digging around on the net. It was hard to find but it is real and it came from NBC’s sight. I know there is a lot of crap out there about conspiricy but all I am looking for is the truth.
Thank you for this great post. I appreciate the time spent to put this together. However, the vendor list you have above is not complete. There are many businesses that have made sacrifices and we deserve to be on that list. We have been promoting the boycott from early on and when this list is complete we would love to promote this post. thank you for your understanding, Paul
No, it’s not complete. I’ve been honest about that in the many posts on this subject because I’m updating on the issue less frequently. It was getting to be a bit much to do multiple times a day because I’m actually verifying that people were exhibitors to begin with. There have been many people claiming that they are pulling out who were never attending as an exhibitor to begin with. In fact, one business was actually bragging in the media about how they are included on the main list circulating even though they never planned to exhibit in the first place. So, yes, it’s slower to update. Besides that, there are many other issues to be covered this week with the US Senate pushing for an actual legislative ban on these guns that would impact the entire country.
Just received an e-mail from Reed. Show is postponed!!. Refunds to vendors!! Details on Jan. 31st.
We want to let everyone know that the ESOS has been postponed/CANCELLED for this year. to Verify this statement is true, anyone can go to http://www.easternsportshow.com Backwoods Whitetails Outfitters want so commend the brotherhood of sportsmen that stood together together against those trying to support anyone trying to infringe on our gun rights.
Also we want to quickly comment on the issue of vendors/companies that were boycotting the show but did not show up as vendors on the show plan. Please know that not always does a company specifically purchase a booth space. Another reason sporstman, vendors and other companies are upset that the show will not take place. Is due to that outdoor shows are places where outdoor, company networks, affiliate sponsors, etc… gather, discuus business and support each other these shows. So though some companies saying they are boycotting may not appear on the list?….Those companies were planning to attend to support and in support of their affiliate sponsors or business partners. Again.. God Bless all of those that took a stand together to show that we as sportsman will never let anyone threaten the extinction of our beloved sport!!
If you are religious you might choose to think of it this way… Say that members of your congregation decide that mass fornication is a good thing. Do they have the right to change the teachings of your God? The truth is the truth. It doesn’t matter how many people try to stray from it. Did I just compare our founders to God? In a way I did, but please note that I am not trying to insult anyone. For the purpose of the American Government our constitution and founders who wrote it are much like God is to believers. It is the law. It is indisputable.
Our founders did not want a “democracy†for they feared a true democracy was just as dangerous as a monarchy. The founders were highly educated people who were experienced in defending themselves against tyranny. They understood that the constitution could protect the people by limiting the power of anyone to work outside of it much better than a pure system of popularity. A system of checks and balances was set up to help limit corruption of government and also the potential for an “immoral majority†developing within the American People. We have forgotten in this country that we are ultimately ruled by a constitution.
Why is a democracy potentially just as dangerous as a monarchy? Let’s look at something that Benjamin Franklin said because it answers that question more fully and succinctly than I can.
Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote. -Benjamin Franklin
Even 230+ years ago our founders were perceptive enough to realize that democracy was a dangerous form of government. How so? Because the citizens of a country can become just as corrupt as any government. We have seen evidence of this throughout history. Ask Native Americans and African-Americans if this population can become corrupt.
I think in 2012 we are seeing evidence of what Franklin was trying to tell us. Just because a majority of people may support certain ideas it does not mean that those ideas are just. In simple terms, just because most Americans love our president and voted for him, it does not mean that he has the power to go against our constitutional rights.
Next I’d like to review the text of the second amendment. It is very clear. This is the law of this land. So when Senator Feinstein or President Obama talk about taking your guns, you need to think about something. Are they honoring their sworn oath to uphold the constitution?
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State , the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
This is a pretty clear statement. The fact is that it took 232 years for the Supreme Court to even rule on this amendment because it has never been successfully challenged. In 2008 a case of Columbia v. Heller the Supreme Court ruled that a handgun ban in Washington D.C. was unconstitutional. One also has to take this into consideration. The Supreme Court supports your right to own guns. If you want to research this decision further you can start here.
For those who try to debate the spirit of the 2nd amendment, they are truly no different from people who will try to take Biblical quotes out of context to try to support their immoral decisions. The founders were very clear on the intent of the 2nd amendment. Let me share a few quick quotes here:
The strongest reason for people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government. -Thomas Jefferson
Firearms stand next in importance to the Constitution itself. They are the American people’s liberty teeth and keystone under independence … From the hour the Pilgrims landed, to the present day, events, occurrences, and tendencies prove that to insure peace, security and happiness, the rifle and pistol are equally indispensable . . . the very atmosphere of firearms everywhere restrains evil interference – they deserve a place of honor with all that is good. -George Washington
The Constitution shall never be construed….to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms. -Samuel Adams
I could find hundreds of quotes like these. This country was built on the right to bear arms. It was built on the rights of an individual to bear arms, regardless of what his government or neighbor happened to think. This is crystal clear. Ironically the people who voice their opinions against this right have their free speech protected by your guns.Without guns in this country, all other amendments become null and void, simply because “We the People†will lose our power of enforcement.
We need to keep this in mind as our “representatives†try to push gun bans. I don’t care if 99% of people are in support of gun bans (which is far from the case), it is a violation of our constitutional rights, plain and simple.
A constitutional republic protects the rights of the individual even when their ideas are very much in the minority. If I were the only person in America who believed in the 2nd amendment, I would still be within my rights to call upon it. You would all think I was insane and possibly celebrate if I was gunned down, but in the end I would be the only true American among us.
Our framers were very clear on this. If my government comes to take my guns, they are violating one of my constitutional rights that is covered by the 2nd amendment.
It is not my right, at that point, but my responsibility to respond in the name of liberty. What I am telling you is something that many are trying to soft sell, and many others have tried to avoid putting into print, but I am going to say it. The time for speaking in code is over.
If they come for our guns then it is our constitutional right to put them six feet under. You have the right to kill any representative of this government who tries to tread on your liberty. I am thinking about self-defense and not talking about inciting a revolution. Re-read Jefferson ’s quote. He talks about a “last resort.†I am not trying to start a Revolt, I am talking about self-defense. If the day for Revolution comes, when no peaceful options exist, we may have to talk about that as well. None of us wants to think about that, but please understand that a majority cannot take away your rights as an American citizen. Only you can choose to give up your rights.
Congress could pass gun ban legislation by a 90%+ margin and it just would not matter. I think some people are very unclear on this. This is the reason we have a Supreme Court, and though I do not doubt that the Supreme Court can also become corrupt, in 2008 they got it right. They supported the constitution. It does not matter what the majority supports because America is not a democracy. A constitutional republic protects the rights of every single citizen, no matter what their “elected servants†say. A majority in America only matters when the constitution is not in play.
I just wrote what every believer in the constitution wants to say, and what every constitutional blogger needs to write. The truth of the matter is that this type of speech is viewed as dangerous and radical or subversive, and it could gain me a world of trouble that I do not want. It is also the truth. To make myself clear I will tell you again. If they come for your guns it is your right to use those guns against them and to kill them. You are protected by our constitution.
Most of the articles I am reading on the subject are trying to give you clues without just coming out and saying it. I understand that because certain things in this country will get you on a list that you don’t want to be on. I may well be on that list. This blog is small and growing so I may not be there yet, but I have dreams. I also have my own list of subversives and anyone who attempts to deny my constitutional rights is on that list.
Thank you for providing an online outlet for all of the exhibitors affected by Reed’s decision not to endorse our Second amendment rights.
Please add my company to your show exhibitor page.
Western Colorado Outfitters
Booth 7839
http://www.westerncoloradooutfitters.com
970-249-8877
Elk and Mule deer hunts