He was also the global leader for the jewelry portfolio at Reed Exhibitions worldwide.

FORBES: Jewelers of America Names JCK Veteran For Top Spot

Soon many more companies were pulling out and then Reed Exhibitions announced the postponement of the show.

FORBES: Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show: What Postponement of the U.S.'s Largest Gun Show Says About America

Bonaparte was senior vice president of JCK Brands for Reed Exhibitions, a promotion that was granted a year ago.

FORBES: Jewelers of America Names JCK Veteran For Top Spot

This is the swath of America Reed Exhibitions put its heel on.

FORBES: Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show: What Postponement of the U.S.'s Largest Gun Show Says About America

Reed Exhibitions prohibition also extended to images of modern sporting rifles.

FORBES: Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show: What Postponement of the U.S.'s Largest Gun Show Says About America

As a result, the NRA will not be participating in the upcoming show in Harrisburg or in any other shows hosted by Reed Exhibitions that maintain this policy.

FORBES: Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show: What Postponement of the U.S.'s Largest Gun Show Says About America

In announcing Thursday that the show was off, a Reed Exhibitions official said the intent of excluding "certain products" was to focus on hunting and fishing traditions of the event.

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The issue is among the most politically divisive in the country, as demonstrated by the decision by Reed Exhibitions to postpone the nine-day Eastern Sport and Outdoor Show scheduled to start February 2 in Harrisburg.

CNN: 'Enough is enough,' Feinstein says in proposing new gun ban

The respected medical journal The Lancet last week criticised its own publisher, Reed Elsevier, for being the owner of Spearhead Exhibitions.

BBC: Top exporters 2004