Assault weapon limit prompts SHOT Show management switch

By LAURA CARROLL LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

11 years ago

People look at guns in the Browning booth at the Shot Show in the Sands Convention Center in Las Vegas, Jan. 2012.

Guns are on display at the Sig Sauer booth at the Shot Show in the Sands Convention Center in Las Vegas Jan. 2012.

A man looks a handguns at the Sig Sauer booth at the Shot Show in the Sands Convention Center in Las Vegas Jan. 2012.

You might notice some changes at the next SHOT Show in Las Vegas.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation has replaced its management partner for more than 30 years, Reed Exhibitions, with Las Vegas-based ConvExx. The new partner is privately held and has produced more than 200 shows and events, including the annual Specialty Equipment Market Association Show, which encompasses almost 1 million net square feet and attracts 135,000 attendees.

“We’re thrilled to be selected to help NSSF manage the SHOT Show,” said ConvExx Chairman Chuck Schwartz. “The SHOT Show is one of the premier tradeshow events, and we are proud to be associated with NSSF and the shooting sports industry.”

The foundation parted ways with Reed Exhibitions earlier this year after the company decided to restrict the sale of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines at its Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show in Harrisburg, Penn. The move angered many shooting enthusiasts and gun makers.

The SHOT Show stands for the Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show and attracts professionals involved with the shooting sports, hunting and law enforcement industries.

The 2013 trade-only event held at the Sands Expo and Convention Center attracted a record overall attendance of 62,371 people and more than 1,600 exhibitors across 630,000 net square feet. The 2014 event will be held Jan. 14-17 at the Sands Expo.