Op-ed: Time for Outdoor Retailers to leave Utah and its anti-recreation politics (Move the show to Montana?)

Over the past several months Utah’s political leadership has unleashed an all-out assault against Utah’s protected public lands and Utah’s newest monument. It’s time for Outdoor Retailer to leave the state in disgust.

Over 20 years ago, I successfully led the effort to relocate the Outdoor Retailer Trade show to Utah. The state has some of the country’s most beautiful, varied, wild and iconic public lands that personified our industry’s values. Utah’s public lands also formed the underpinnings of the state’s great competitive advantage — an unmatched quality of life unique to much of America that has attracted some of the best and brightest companies and their employees to the state.

Gov. Gary Herbert and Utah’s D.C. delegation are leading a national all-out assault on the sanctity of Utah and the country’s public lands. Together, Utah’s political leadership has birthed an anti-public lands political agenda that is the driving force of an existential threat to the vibrancy of Utah and America’s outdoor industry, as well as Utah’s high quality of life.

By Peter Metcalf

Full Story: http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/4798906-155/op-ed-time-for-outdoor-retailers-to

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The Outdoor Industry Is About to Become a Serious Political Force

President Obama signed a bill that would finally measure the size of the industry—and lobbyists can’t wait to flex that muscle

By: Brad Rassler

Full Story: https://www.outsideonline.com/2140261/outdoor-industry-about-become-serious-political-force?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=facebookpost