For nearly twenty years, the volunteers who staff the local fire department in the village of Andover, New York have been raising money for its operations by hosting an annual gun and sportsmen’s show, and this year’s event should have taken place this weekend at the fire hall on the village’s Main Street. 

Thanks to New York’s gun control laws, however, last year’s show will be the last for the foreseeable future. Though the state doesn’t have any kind of official ban on gun shows, the laws governing the sale of firearms and ammunition are so draconian that the department announced earlier this month that officials reluctantly made the call to cancel this year’s event, citing “increased regulations and restrictions from our state government” as the reason for the cancellation. 

While not providing specifics, the department said state regulations “impacted the sustainability of our event to the point that we have had to make the decision that it can no longer go on.”

State law requires gun shows have national instant criminal background checks before selling or transferring any firearm. The shows are also governed by strict rules for signage and security. 

The Andover show is known for hosting dozens of vendors and displays of firearms, ammunition, knives, outdoor sports accessories and exhibits. The event has run for seven hours on the first day and six hours on its final day. Admission to the show has been $5.

Crowds have come not only to browse the exhibits but also to enjoy the pancake breakfasts served on both days of the event. 

The fire department said the show has provided a “huge source of support for our department” and a “great opportunity for us to welcome the community into our building.”

The fire department called the sportsman show a “very significant fundraiser for the department,” helping to finance new equipment and upgrade the fire station.

In addition to the money that the hundreds (if not thousands) of attendees spend at the show itself, the village of Andover undoubtably benefited from those visitors filling up their cars at Steve’s Gas & Grub or grabbing lunch at Rockburgers (I’d be tempted to try their “pizza logs”, whatever those might be). But because of the draconian laws in the Empire State, the volunteer firefighters and the local businesses that relied on the money generated by the gun show are going to have to find another source of funding. 

The state’s gun laws aren’t just an affront to our right to keep and bear arms. They’re an attack on a way of life. The Andover Fire Department Gun & Sportsman Show is one of those small-town events that’s a big deal for the local community, and even though residents can still purchase a firearm at Gaylord Guns and Ammo on Main Street if they want, it’s gonna be an entirely different experience than browsing the tables, talking to vendors, greeting old friends and new neighbors, and coming together in search of a good deal and to celebrate our Second Amendment rights. 

I’m sure Gov. Kathy Hochull won’t shed a tear for the end of an Andover tradition. If she’s even aware of the untimely demise of the gun show she’s far more likely to cheer the fact that the fire hall will be largely vacant this weekend. But for those of us who understand the importance of the right to keep and bear arms; not just for personal safety, hunting, or recreational shooting but for the values and tradition that come with it, Andover’s loss is significant, and this is a sad day for the small town in Allegheny County.