BLOOMSBURG - The proposal to ban firearms on the grounds of the Bloomsburg Fair this year has been rescinded, board members said Wednesday.
President Paul E. Reichart said the board will not be checking for or banning lawfully concealed weapons.
"While we cannot prevent those who want to commit unlawful acts, we recognize those who are law abiding citizens and will continue to handle it on a case-by-case basis," he said.
Those who do not abide by the law in any way will be removed, he said.
"As far as we're concerned, it's a dead issue. We want people to come to the Bloomsburg Fair," he said.
After the ban was announced last month, fair officials got hundreds of boycott threats, and Facebook pages calling for people to not attend the fair attracted 1,000 supporters.
Bill Barratt, Bloomsburg's superintendent of police and parking, told the Press Enterprise that those complaining didn't realize the fair is a private entity on private property, which means it can ban whatever it wants.
The reversal goes against recommendations from the Department of Homeland Security, Barratt said.
Officials said they will still search bags when people enter, but security will not perform patdowns to look specifically for a concealed weapon. If a firearm is found, security will ask for the proper paperwork.
Open carrying, however, will still be banned.
The fair has not had any gun problems in the past.