Saugerties gun show operator says it's back on as town considers canceling event

SAUGERTIES — The gun show is back on. Or at least that's what its operator is planning as town officials mull whether to shut down an event that is becoming controversial in Saugerties.

Last week it was revealed that the gun show scheduled for the Kiwanis Ice Arena on Father's Day weekend was canceled in light of the recent gun violence around the country. That announcement was made in a statement from Saugerties Town Supervisor Fred Costello Jr. and David Petronis, president of New Eastcoast Arms Collectors Associates, which runs the gun show.

A few days later, though, Petronis said he still plans to hold the event June 18-19 in the hopes of attracting a big crowd and "sticking the liberals in the eye" with a good show. Town officials are divided on how to handle the show, with a potential debate at Wednesday night's town board meeting, when there could be a vote on canceling the event.

Costello, who had supported the cancellation, could not immediately be reached for comment Monday. Town board members revealed Monday, though, that a dispute may be looming.

"At our Town Board meeting Wednesday night we will be voting on a resolution to reimburse Mr. Petronis for his expenses," Leeanne Thornton, a town board member, said in an email. "As a member of the Board, I do not feel that a gun show should be an allowable use on town property and will support a motion to make sure that this is not an allowable use for renting the facility in the future.

"Due to the location of our youth soccer fields, skate park and baseball complex not to mention across from the 7-12 Saugerties school building having a  gun show on this site is not appropriate. If the promoter wants to have a Hudson Valley event, there are other areas that would be more appropriate for this type of venue in the Hudson Valley area."

Town board member Zachery Horton, though, said if there is a motion to decide the event's fate, "I believe it’s going to be a close vote."

Gun show in limbo

Saugerties Police Chief Joseph Sinagra released a statement Thursday announcing the cancellation of the gun show, which has been held in Saugerties several times in the past.

"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 in that statement.

That violence includes 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.

Saugerties: Gun show canceled amid mass shootings

Guns: Hochul pushes NY to ban residents under 21 from certain firearms

Politics: Census showed NY is more diverse, but representation might not be

In the statement, Costello supported the show's cancellation.

On Friday, though, Petronis sent a letter to the town board asking that its members disregard his statement and allow him to hold the show.

In his letter, Petronis said Costello, Sinagra and Rob Kleeman, who runs the ice arena for the town, called him last Wednesday and asked, "out of the blue," if he could cancel the show. Officials mentioned the possibility of protesters, Petronis said, and suggested he hire off-duty police officers for security.

That group had another call Thursday, when officials said they could refund Petronis if he canceled the show, he said. Officials again mentioned the possibility of Petronis paying for police security, he said, and Sinagra told him police would have to shut down the show if there was any outside disturbance or violence. Sinagra could not immediately be reached for comment Monday.

Petronis agreed to issue a joint press release with the town, he said, but that statement was sent out before he was informed that it was ready to go.

Petronis said in his letter that he sees "how very political this show has become," but that he wants to proceed with it.

"Notwithstanding the tragic events which had recently occurred nationwide, and please know that I and all our gun fraternity and dealers abhor those events, we, and all of you know, it was not the fault of the gun but rather the senseless actions and fault of the mental minds of crazed individuals," he said. "Banning guns is not the answer to deranged shooters performing their perverted tasks, better mental health guidelines, hardening schools and educating our younger population of their historic and great American past would go a longer way to solving these occurrences."

Controversy in Saugerties

A message on Petronis' website further explains his stance that the show must go on. He said he expects TV cameras to cover this situation and "the controversy brings the news, the news brings the people."

"In polling my exhibitors, they all want to still come, and they see a great show going forward," he added. "The advertising by flier and posters has been out for two months and now with all this controversy in the papers and on-line we should get a huge crowd, if nothing else from the gun owning public than just sticking the liberals in the eye with a good show of support for our show."

So will the show go on? Horton said it might not be clear until after Wednesday night's board meeting.

"I still am in support of the show moving forward," he said, adding that he does not think Petronis should have to pay for security if the event is held. Horton cited similar events in the past in which the organizers were not required to pay for security.

"If this does go forward, if we’re looking to keep things fair, I don’t believe he should be held to a different standard than past events," he said.

Petronis said he was in touch with staff at Kiwanis Ice Arena on Monday morning and that they are prepared to host the show this weekend. If the event is held, he is not sure if he will be required to pay for security, but "if they tell me I have to do it, then I have to do it."

Matt Spillane covers breaking news throughout the Hudson Valley. Click here for his latest stories. Follow him on Twitter @MattSpillane. Check out our latest subscription offers here.

This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: Saugerties gun show might be on at Kiwanis Ice Arena amid controversy