There are those who would take away your right to keep and collect guns but there are also those who protect that right; we, who defend the Second Amendment to our Constitution. Whether a Federal or State government is confirmed by such document, included wording is generally the same and with the same meaning; “The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.”

The third weekend in May has been a traditional time for NEACA, Inc. to support our goal of defending freedom by hosting an Arms Fair. We previously had done so at the NYS Armory in Newburgh and had used that location for our Gun and Militaria shows for many years. Twenty years ago was our last event at that Armory. Since then it has been closed and sold and our New Eastcoast Arms Collectors Associates had not found a suitable replacement facility to host our popular show, that is, until recently.

NEACA has discovered Icetime Sports Complex a little northwest of Newburgh city just off Exit 6 of Interstate 84. We have returned to the Newburgh area with a fine group of exhibitors and plan to run a spring and fall Gun & Militaria Show at this location.

The arena can hold 225 eight foot tables and for this show, we are well on our way to fill those tables with dealers of new, used, collector, investment grade and antique firearms of all sorts. Our NEACA membership includes most of the high quality firearms dealers in the northeast and many of them will participate in this our third show, back in Newburgh since 1994.

We also have local exhibitors offering military souvenirs and collectibles from our very first world conflicts; our American Revolution, also vintage firearms, swords and accoutrements from our War between the States, what is known as the US Civil War, and also dealers in relics and collectibles from our two World Wars and into our current War on Terrorism. You too can bring items in to sell or trade with our collectors.

Our events are a walk through history as attendees view museum quality vintage collectibles offered among the two hundred tables on May 16 and 17 at the Icetime Arena Arms Fair. We open for the public to buy, sell or trade on Saturday from 9 AM to 5 PM and again on Sunday from 9 AM to 3 PM. However, ours is a museum where you can actually purchase and collect a remnant from our historic past.

Whether your interest is with vintage firearms, swords or knives, in building a bayonet collection or simply one of pins and patches from WWI or WWII our exhibitors have items for your perusal. Fantasy swords to hand crafted knives will be there; hunting arms and accessories will be available as well as night vision optics, targets and all sorts of scarce ammunition to feed your collection or your firearms. This show is not to be missed and we encourage a family outing to show your support of our right to keep and bear arms.

Many politicians and dignitaries have also attended our well run Arms Fairs in Saratoga Springs, Utica and elsewhere such as our NYS Attorney General, Eric Schneiderman, who at Saratoga said, “the safest place to buy a gun is at our gun show.” NEACA has worked with the AG’s office to develop and maintain high safety standards at gun shows across NY State and now all promoters follow those guidelines set forth.

Within our gun show events all state and federal laws are followed and all modern firearms purchasers are required to go through an FBI background review; this is known as the National Instant Criminal System background check, or NICS. Each Federal Firearms Licensed exhibitor can perform this quick and easy check over a secure phone line and generally takes just a few minutes. It is now illegal in the State of New York to try to buy or sell a modern firearm without the aid of a FFL dealer to perform a NICS check of the purchaser. For a small fee, we offer this service at our show to those individuals who wish to bring their firearm to the show and offer it for sale to the public; there is no fee if sold to a FFL holder.

The NY Safe-Act now has many folks in our state upset over the myriad of new laws the act imposed. However, this is what we must live by until that Act is either amended, overturned or abolished. There will be a table at this show offering voting registration forms and information regarding the folks who would like to abolish the Safe-Act. We at NEACA and the majority of hunters, gun owners and Second Amendment supporters we know, would like this act repealed.

Actually, there are some good points to the Safe-Act such as attempting to keep firearms out of the hands of mentally ill people; and we have no problem with a general background check as has been federal law for quite some time. But, a background check on .22 ammunition purchases is stretching the limit of regulations designed to keep citizens safe. We do not feel any safer but rather infringed upon!

Recently at one of our NEACA Saratoga Springs Arms Fairs we were honored by a visit from former Arizona Congresswoman, Gabby Giffords and astronaut husband Mark Kelly. My wife, Cathy, and I had a very nice conversation with them while visiting their first gun show since Gabby was shot by a “deranged” gunman. We, as they do, want to keep guns out of the hands of troubled individuals, because they are the perpetrators of violent shootings, not the great majority of law abiding gun owners.

So, come one and all to our Arms Fair this May 16 & 17 and perhaps bring something to sell or trade with our exhibitors, talk to the dealers who are gun smiths or run shooting ranges, see the new hunting scopes and accessories, buy the hard to find ammunition and targets for your practice and talk to the politicians who will defend our rights, mine and yours, to continue to keep and bear arms as our Second Amendment guarantees. And certainly, don’t forget to register and vote to protect your rights on Election Day.

More show information is available at NEACA.com.