Yet another Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show exhibitor from Lancaster County has decided to pull out of the upcoming event in Harrisburg because of the show organizer's recent decision to ban assault rifles from being sold or displayed there.

Rob Kaufhold, owner of Lancaster Archery Supply, 2195A Old Philadelphia Pike, announced his decision Thursday, joining Trop Gun Shop of Elizabethtown, which decided Wednesday not to be an exhibitor.

"In support of the hunting and outdoors industry, Lancaster Archery Supply has chosen not to exhibit at the 2013 Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show where show management decisions have created a volatile and disruptive political environment," Kaufhold wrote on the company's Facebook page.

Lancaster Archery Supply does not sell guns or any gun-related accessories. Kaufhold said that's irrelevant.

"It's a matter of principle," he said. "I would have the same stance if I was John Q. gunowner."

On Tuesday, Reed posted a notice on the Facebook page for the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show, stating that the company had decided to prohibit the sale and display of "certain products that in the current climate may attract negative attention" at the show, scheduled Feb. 2-10 at the State Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg. Reed did not specify which products were banned.

But representatives from Kinsey's Outdoors in Mount Joy and The Sportsman Shop in New Holland, which are both affected by the ban, said they were told by Reed officials they could not bring to the show for sale or display any AR-style rifles or ammunition magazines capable of holding 30 rounds or more.

The Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show is billed by Reed as "the largest outdoor, hunting and fishing event" in North America.

Lancaster Archery Supply has been one of the show's largest exhibitors in its Archery Hall for the past 27 years, according to Kaufhold.

He sent a letter to Reed Exhibitions Thursday afternoon announcing his decision to back out this year.

"Lancaster Archery and thousands of our customers are deeply saddened, disappointed, offended and even outraged by the decision that the (show) management and Reed Exhibitions has taken in regard to modern sporting (AR) rifles, high capacity magazines and the rights granted to us by the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution," Kaufhold wrote in the letter.

He told the company he will likely take a financial hit for pulling out, but he couldn't afford to have Lancaster Archery's business name associated with the show this year.

"Lancaster Archery Supply has a stellar reputation that has been hard-earned over 30 years of serving the archery and hunting industry," he wrote. "Our brand cannot afford to be tarnished by supporting a company [that] is opposed to our Second Amendment rights."

Even if Lancaster Archery went to the show, Kaufhold wrote, the business still likely would have suffered financially, due to Reed's decision to ban certain guns and accessories.

"Financially, the position that Reed Exhibitions took has dire consequences for Lancaster Archery and every (show) exhibitor," the letter states. "Show attendance is sure to be a fraction of what it would have been prior to Reed's announcement. There are already boycotts and demonstrations against the (show) and exhibitors who support it by attending the show this year."

A Facebook page titled "Boycott the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show" was started early Wednesday. As of Thursday evening, it had nearly 1,000 "likes."

The Facebook reaction to Lancaster Archery Supply's announcement about boycotting the show was swift.

Within four hours of the announcement being posted, nearly 300 people "liked" it.

"Thank you for taking a stand," posted Steve Hoelzle. "The Hoelzle family will continue to buy all of our bows from Lancaster Archery."

Kaufhold said he had not received a response to his letter from anyone at the show as of Thursday evening.

Alex Cameron, general manager of Kinsey's Outdoors, said Lancaster Archery's move could set the tone for the next two weeks before the show opens.

"With LAS pulling out without (being a gun dealer), that really sends a statement," he said.

Kinsey's ownership was meeting Thursday, according to Cameron, to decide if they should follow suit.

"I have been hearing from customers urging us to pull out," he said. "Our ownership is debating that issue and is considering withdrawing from the show."

Trop Gun Shop was supposed to be a featured vendor in what was billed in November as a new "tactical guns and accessories" area. No such area exists on the floor plan for the show on the show's website.

In announcing its decision to pull out of the show Wednesday, Trop's owners stated on the store's Facebook page, "We feel as if their demands for us not to display modern sporting rifles, high capacity magazines, or even a logo of a manufacturer of said products is irreconcilable with our support of the Second Amendment."

A Reed spokesman did not immediately return a reporter's phone call for comment.

 preilly@lnpnews.com