Trade show brings business to state
Updated: February 4, 2013
SPRINGFIELD -- The national debate over assault weapons is heating up and it's drawing business to Central Illinois. WCIA-3's Ashley Michels finds out why people are coming here.
One of the biggest hunting expos was supposed to be this weekend in Pennsylvania. But, when they said, "no guns," it got canceled.
So, a lot of the businesses came here instead. People said over and over, they've never seen the show here so crowded, which is great for local vendors. More people mean more sales.
But, it's a different story for the vendors who aren't normally here. One couple says the last minute switch from Pennsylvania could cost them about $75,000 worth of sales.
"It's going to hurt our business bad. Typically, we'll take a fourth of our business comes from that show. When you're going to cut in today's economy, now you're going to take another fourth less."
There weren't many weapons on display, mostly just hunting gear. A few weeks back, Governor Quinn said he was going to look into banning assault weapons from gun shows in Illinois. If he does, it would only be for ones held on state property.
One of the biggest hunting expos was supposed to be this weekend in Pennsylvania. But, when they said, "no guns," it got canceled.
So, a lot of the businesses came here instead. People said over and over, they've never seen the show here so crowded, which is great for local vendors. More people mean more sales.
But, it's a different story for the vendors who aren't normally here. One couple says the last minute switch from Pennsylvania could cost them about $75,000 worth of sales.
"It's going to hurt our business bad. Typically, we'll take a fourth of our business comes from that show. When you're going to cut in today's economy, now you're going to take another fourth less."
There weren't many weapons on display, mostly just hunting gear. A few weeks back, Governor Quinn said he was going to look into banning assault weapons from gun shows in Illinois. If he does, it would only be for ones held on state property.
