Last year, LEEK Hunting and Mountain Preserve raised $5,000 in donations at the Eastern Sports and Outdoors Show.
That $5,000 paid for the nonprofit to bring six wounded veterans to its Potter County preserve.
Customers check out Thompson/Center rifles, at the 2010 Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show. The show's decision to ban assault weapons this year has a nonprofit worried small crowds will hurt its ability to raise money. CHRIS KNIGHT, The Patriot-News
"I'm talking kids who lost their legs, lost their arms," said Ed Fisher, a LEEK co-founder. "We're a very unique organization that we can get these guys out in the field and show them they can still hunt."
Wounded veterans walked up to their booth at the Harrisburg show and learned what was possible, said Fisher, who lives in Lewisberry. Other people took information to give to a Wounded Warrior in their life.
LEEK had hoped to have an even bigger impact at this year's show, Fisher said. In addition to accepting donations, they were going to buy a license to run small games of chance. Raising more money would have meant helping more Wounded Warriors.
Now, Fisher fears that won't happen.
The show's decision to ban the display and sale of assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines has caused Cabela's to pull out. A Facebook group claims another 60 vendors are boycotting.
"This is really getting bigger by the day," Fisher said. "It's going to get bigger and bigger and it's not going to go away unless Reed Exhibitions [which runs the show] changes its mind."
Fisher predicted that vendors aren't the only ones who will stay away. Most of the crowd are not gun control supporters. If they stay home, LEEK will lose out on donations and exposure.
He doesn't blame the vendors. Reed was wrong to impose the ban, Fisher said. It wouldn't make sense for a vendor that specializes in the banned items to show up. And it's not worth the travel costs to other vendors if they think the crowds will be small.
A lot of those other vendors have a show the following week. For LEEK, this show is a one off — non-refundable — investment.
"If I could afford to pull out of the gun show I would, but I can't," Fisher said. "I'm a nonprofit and I don't have that kind of money."
LEEK has all but abandoned its plan to raise money through small games of chance. It doesn't look like it will be worth the investment in the license, Fisher said.
Last year, the nonprofit took a quadriplegic veteran hunting. Twenty-two other outfitters had turned her down before she heard about LEEK, Fisher said. Once in the woods, she bagged a deer.
Fisher wanted the show to launch more of those moments.
He's doubtful.