The National Rifle Association's annual meeting is this weekend and it's a galaxy of pro-gun stars!
Sarah Palin!
Glenn Beck!
Newt Gringrich!
Ollie North!
Oh, and no guns.
Yes, in this celebration of all things that go bang, each of these NRA-sanctioned speakers will be offering their address before a crowd of disarmed gun enthusiasts.
On its website, the NRA warns:
North Carolina State law prohibits the carrying of firearms in the Charlotte Convention Center, and the Time Warner Cable Arena. In addition, the Rules and Regulations of the Charlotte Convention Center prohibit the carrying of firearms in the Center. Pursuant to Time Warner Cable Arena policy, all individuals entering the Arena will be subject to a magnetometer security check.
To think that you'd have to suffer the indignity of going through a metal detector to hear someone proselytize about your right to carry your gun anywhere you want is easy irony.
So why is the NRA allowing their leadership, their membership, and their special guests--even NRA board member Ted Nugent, yes, even the Nuge!--to be forced to undergo the indignity of being stripped of their guns with little more than a whimper?
Well, because to do otherwise would frankly be nuts.
And despite complaints lodged on pro-gun message boards, the NRA knows this. And I'm willing to bet that the rationale offered by Ken at NRA headquarters isn't very satisfying to most concealed and open-carry fans:
Thank you for contacting us.
The Charlotte Convention Center does not allow the carrying of firearms, both open and concealed.The large size of our event and the fact that many of the largest convention centers are in some of the most restrictive cities leaves us with relatively few convention centers large enough to accommodate the Annual Meetings. In an effort to provide all NRA members a better opportunity to attend the Annual Meetings, it is important that we move the event around the country as much as possible. While we will not consider bringing the Annual Meetings to a city with gun laws we feel are restrictive, we must however deal with convention centers that have restrictions simply because there are so few convention centers that both allow conceal carry and are large enough to host all of the events that comprise the Annual Meetings.
Thank you for your support!
Best Regards,
Ken
NRA Member Communications
The NRA could publicly gnash their teeth and caterwaul about mass disarmament resulting from the draconian rules imposed by the state of North Carolina and the dark overlords of the Time-Warner Cable Arena. Instead, they relegate the issue to a note on their website and a cheery e-mail from Ken. And that's because even the NRA is well aware that a heavily armed crowd numbering in the tens of thousands (as promised by the organization) is an invitation to mishap and even disaster.
Follow Josh Sugarmann on Twitter: www.twitter.com/VPCinfo
How quickly one forgets, huh Josh?
"Packing Heat: NRA members can be armed at Louisville convention 11:35 PM EDT on Wednesday, May 7, 2008
(WHAS 11) - One of Louisville’s biggest conventions, the National Rifle Association, begins Friday May 16th with most events at the fairgrounds. The NRA is advising its members to feel free to bring along their own firearms if they are so inclined. And apparently even to a speech by the republican presidential candidate John McCain.
When McCain appears at the NRA convention in Louisville next Friday, not only will his security detail be armed, but so will the audience.
The national rifle association's Ashley Varner says it's "a treat" that the Kentucky Exposition Center, unlike previous NRA convention sites, allows concealed weapons.
Kentucky law does allow some public buildings to ban concealed weapons, like courthouses, jails, schools and city hall. Private businesses can set their own rules. But the NRA website is alerting members that Kentucky recognizes concealed carry permits from all states.
The NRA says they have no way of knowing how many of the 60,000+ attendees will bring their guns with them. There's no word yet from the Transportation Safety Administration if they are making any special plans at the airport."
That's because after over 20 years of existance, the VPC still has no real membership. As such it is hardly is a position to criticize an NRA event that attracts tens of thousands.
* Revenue for the NRA Store was $415,000 which is a record amount.
* NRA signed up $683,000 in new or upgraded memberships.
* The ILA dinner brought in $244,000, also a record.
* 9,466 people attended the Leadership Forum
* 11,754 people attended the Freedom Experience, which is normally the NRA Banquet.
http://www.snowflakesinhell.com/2010/05/17/facts-from-the-nra-convention/
Please show me examples of automatic weapons commonly found on the civilian market.
Here is a hint: There arn't any.
Does the NRA have some sort of automated action alert "bat signal" that sends all the nutbags to clog the comments section up with 2nd amendment cliches?
For the record, I own a handgun, but I'm not militant about it, and I don't fetishize guns. NO ONE is coming to take your guns away...stop with the hysteria.
I'm aware that there plenty of fellow liberals and progressives who clamor about how evil guns are, but the reality is that there is no political organization anywhere in America that has the clout to ban guns. It's just not going to happen.
The hysteria that gets whipped up from the pro-gun crowd is what I object to.
Well, because to do otherwise would frankly be nuts."
so this means they are all now nutless without their guns??
The NRA supports carrying guns in National Parks.
The NRA has, at is very core, the notion that responsible gun ownership is never a problem, and as such, guns should be carried by members at all times. Furthermore, this will result in the increase of public safety and the deterrence of crime.
Apparently, this does not include a gathering of their own members.
They could have found a venue for their meeting that would allow guns.
They could have had their meetings in a National Park.
http://nrablog.com/post/2010/05/17/City-officials-say-80000-NRA-members-visited-Charlotte.aspx
What "city official"?
What facts?
Your tirade against lawful firearms ownership, and your desire to outlaw all forms of firearm ownership have grown truly weary.
And now you're jumping the shark with one of the lamest arguments I've ever heard. I quit the NRA in 1993, but surely you, Mr. Sugarmann, director of the vaunted VPC, understands what the rule of law is. The convention center where they've chosen to have their convention does not allow firearms on the property. So, in essence, the NRA are respecting the property rights of a privately owned business (who most certainly have the right to regulate their property as they see fit). Is it possible that by doing so, the NRA are proving they are better people than you, Mr. Sugarmann? You seem to be suggesting they flagrantly ignore the rights of the property owner, you know, like you so desperately desire to ignore the rights of firearms owners.
Didn't FL pass a law enabling people to keep guns in their cars while parked in company parking lots? What about the property rights of those company owners? Somehow this entire issue is ass backwards and a crock of - - - - flows from both sides.
And yes, Florida did pass that law. To be quite honest with you. I strongly disagree with that piece of legislation. Yes, I believe we have the right to bear arms, but I also happen to believe in the sovereignty of property rights. I don't feel the state of Florida has the right, or even obligation to trump those rights of property owners.
Who is the real example of hypocricy here? It isn't the NRA
Answer: They know their own product.
It's the same with the NRA honchos. They know their own product.
The reason firearms are not allowed to be carried at the convention is simply a matter of complying with the state law and the rules of the convention center. There will be plenty of firearms on display in booths where people can pick them up and handle them.