Mass shootings prompt cancellation of Saugerties gun show
SAUGERTIES — A two-day gun show scheduled to be held in Saugerties on Father's Day weekend has been canceled in the aftermath of recent mass shootings across the country.
The show was to take place at the Kiwanis Ice Arena on June 18 and 19.
The cancellation was announced jointly on Thursday by the town and the New Eastcoast Arms Collectors Association, the promoter of the show, after the president of the organization, David Petronis, met with town Supervisor Fred Costello.
"Taking into consideration the recent events of gun violence, both here in New York and the tragic event in Texas, to continue with this gun show would have been irresponsible and insensitive to all those who recently lost loved ones," Petronis said.
The cancellation follows shootings in Buffalo, where 10 people were killed by a gunman in a supermarket on May 14, and in Uvalde, Texas, on May 24, when a gunman killed 19 students and two teachers at an elementary school.
Petronis said some Saugerties residents also called him with concerns about the show.
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"Even with my very staunch support of our Second Amendment rights, and knowing we have the right to pursue our contract with the town to hold our show, at this moment in time I feel cancelling and possibly rescheduling our show to a later time period or other venue is the right thing to do," Petronis said.
"I know feelings are intense and near breaking points about these senseless shootings, and I don't want to be the catalyst in bringing any violence to this great little town," he added.
Costello applauded Petronis for canceling the show.
"Mr. Petronis has been conducting gun shows here in Saugerties for many years, and has always cooperated with the town," Costello said.
Mike Randall covers breaking news for the Times Herald-Record, the Poughkeepsie Journal and the Journal News/lohud. Reach him at mrandall@th-record.com or on Twitter @MikeRandall845
This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: Gun show at Kiwanis Ice Arena in Saugerties canceled after shootings
