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Change In Leadership Results In No Gun Show At County Center

One of the first signs that change is in the wind in Westchester County is the expected cancellation in January 2018 of a popular -- and unpopular depending on your point of view -- gun and knife show at the public-owned County Center in White Plains.

Preng Menga of the Bronx examines a rifle on sale in January 2018 during a gun show at the Westchester County Center. With the change in Westchester County executive, the January 2018 gun has reportedly been canceled.

Preng Menga of the Bronx examines a rifle on sale in January 2018 during a gun show at the Westchester County Center. With the change in Westchester County executive, the January 2018 gun has reportedly been canceled.

Photo Credit: Jon Craig
Westchester legislators, by a 9-8 vote in January, passed a ban on gun shows on county property. County Executive Rob Astorino, who was defeated by George Latimer, has reportedly decided not to sign a contract for a repeat gun show in January 2018.

Westchester legislators, by a 9-8 vote in January, passed a ban on gun shows on county property. County Executive Rob Astorino, who was defeated by George Latimer, has reportedly decided not to sign a contract for a repeat gun show in January 2018.

Photo Credit: Provided
Michael Kaplowitz, D-Somers, who is chairman of the Westchester County Board of Legislators, said he learned about last January's firearms show at the County Center from this sign.

Michael Kaplowitz, D-Somers, who is chairman of the Westchester County Board of Legislators, said he learned about last January's firearms show at the County Center from this sign.

Photo Credit: Provided
A Joint Meeting of Committees on Legislation, Labor/Parks/Planning/Housing, & Public Safety & Social Services last January when county lawmakers recommended a ban on gun shows held on county property.

A Joint Meeting of Committees on Legislation, Labor/Parks/Planning/Housing, & Public Safety & Social Services last January when county lawmakers recommended a ban on gun shows held on county property.

Photo Credit: Provided

Ned McCormack, a spokesman for Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, confirmed there will be no gun show at the County Center.

"There was no contract for a gun show and the administration is not going to sign a contract for a gun show," McCormack told Daily Voice.

The gun show's past promoter erroneously posted dates on his website which he subsequently removed.

The Westchester Board of Legislators voted to ban all future gun shows on county property in January, but the 2017 show went on, generating criticism because a few displays featured Nazi memorabilia and Confederate flags.

Ken Jenkins, co-chair of County Executive-Elect George Latimer's transition team, was the first to announe there will be no gun show in January 2018.

Latimer, a Rye Democrat, defeated Astorino, 57 to 43 percent, in the Nov. 7 election.

Jenkins, D-Yonkers, was the original sponsor of legislation banning gun shows. His bill was initially proposed after the deadly school shooting in Newtown, Conn., five years ago.

“To profit from this is just not the business Westchester residents want to be in," Jenkins said at the time. The ban was reintroduced after plans for a gun show at the County Center in White Plains on Jan. 21-22, 2017, as reported here by Daily Voice.

NorthEast Gun Shows and Westchester Collectors announced a two-day firearm and knife show/sale at the County Center on the weekend after Inauguration Day 2017. More details can be found by clicking here.

After a gunman murdered 20 children and six teachers at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., in November 2012, Astorino canceled a show scheduled for February 2013 at County Center. There hasn't been one since.

Return to Daily Voice for updates.

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