NRA Annual Meeting, here we come!

I can’t believe that I’m actually going to willingly stuff myself into a enclosed space with a thousand or so strangers.


I must be losing my mind.


On the other paw — guns. I’m willing to bet that the exhibited gun collections are going to be awe-inspiring.


And I’ll have a press pass. I have no idea what to do with a press pass, or even what it entails, but I imagine that my lady will help me suss it out.


Deep breath.


Good friends will be there, and Phlegmmy assures me that we’ll probably make even more friends before the weekend is over.


That will be odd.


Deep breath.


LawDog


postscript: Does anyone else find it a bit incongruous that there’s a note at the bottom of the NRA Annual Meeting page that states:

“The city of St Louis prohibits the carrying of firearms at the America’s Center Convention Complex”.

Not “prohibits the carrying of concealed firearms” or “prohibits the unlawful carrying of firearms”. Just: “Carrying Firearms Verboten”.


At a meeting of the National Rifle Association. At a convention center named “America’s Center Convention Complex”.


*sigh*


So far yet to go.


LawDog

Dispatch from St Louis
The First Migraine Salute

19 thoughts on “NRA Annual Meeting, here we come!”

  1. I find it a bit strange that the NRA would book an event at such a place. Some years ago the Ohio Gun Collector's Association pulled their shows out of a venue they'd inhabited for 30 years when the city surrounding it passed a waiting period ordinance. (Now that's voting with your wallet.)

    But having booked such a place, it doesn't surprise me the NRA would remind attendees to stay legal. That's one of the things the NRA is about.

    Enjoy your trip, and don't let JayG get behind you.

  2. Damn. Now I'm sorry I'm not going to this one. Next year it's in Houston. I might make that one. Will you be attending again, do you think?

  3. Have a GREAT TIME, you two!!

    You say Houston next year, Kevin? Hmmmmm, may have to see about getting 'credentialed' myself – hell, I can go to a Park & Ride & take a bus on downtown ……………….. πŸ˜‰

    Semper Fi'
    DM

  4. We're here… and yeah, that sucks… Gonna bring that up with folks tomorrow!

  5. It was the same deal here in Charlotte when it was here.

    Y'all have fun! I am so jealous!

  6. My suggestion would be to make sure your voice recorder is in working trim and then drop by the HS Precision booth for a friendly chat about spokesmen.

  7. Wasn't St. Louis a last minute replacement for… someplace else?

    The issue has come up, and NRA HQ has said that they want to try and spread the meetings around to as many cities as possible, and that there are not, alas, all that many cities with convention facilities that meet the requirements, AND that are fully supportive (or even not actively hostile to) our Second Amendment Rights.

  8. I wonder if you could get away with a gun if you identified yourself as a law officer? After, those in that frame of mind seem to think LEO are super, infallible and special. Take your cape. (grin)

  9. I could see the NRA intentionally holding the annual meeting in a gun-restricted place for a couple of reasons. First, it would give the residents of that place a chance to see that gun owners and NRA members are just regular folks, not the crazed mugshots you see on TV. Second, it reminds the membership that not everybody shares the same level of freedom, and encourages them to stay active in the debate.

  10. STL was a last minute replacement for somewhere else a few years back (don't remember if it was Cleveland, Philadelphia, or elsewhere). It went swimmingly- the venue works very well for the convention and while the city government was less than hospitable, all the various businesses nearby were thrilled.

    Also, keep in mind that St. Louis is smack dab in the middle of a huge concentration of NRA members and within a simple day's drive for many more.

    It's funny- it was the 2nd largest convention ever in STL, but the city government seems embarrassed that they were even here and that they chose to come back. Yet again, the businesses that stood to gain were salivating at the business- they know that a huge amount of well behaved people with dollars to spend are coming/are here, and things will go well for all.

    As for no CCW in the convention center, well, very few places have convention centers that aren't off limits. At least the state of MO has good gun laws and the city can't trump them with local bans. That's more than you can say for many other cities.

  11. As a former native of St. Louis who still comes back fairly often, I might recommend The Scottish Arms (http://www.thescottisharms.com/) if you are in the mood for tasty food and an extensive and impressive selection of Scotch Whisky.

  12. Last time they were in Dallas it was at the Convention Center downtown, a city owned venue. You couldn't carry there then by city decree. That law has since changed.

    There is a gun show at Market Hall this weekend in Dallas. It's a privately owned venue and is posted 30.06 (no carry)

    Seems you can't win.

  13. Sebastian at Shall Not Be Infringed covers this pretty well in a recent post

  14. Armed and Safe – Nuh-uh! NOT his cape – his "Pinky" outfit!! πŸ˜‰ πŸ˜‰ πŸ˜‰

    Love ya, LawDog!!

    Semper Fi'
    DM

  15. OH, PINK! I had not thought about that for quite awhile. I printed out those posts for the lad I mentor and let him read them. I got VERY little work out of him that day. πŸ˜€

  16. Lawdog, it was great to meet you. I recognized Phlemmy when I approached the table. Then I saw you and things added up.

    Phlemmy, Walking stick, guy holding stick, Lawdog!

    About the "No weapons" at the convention…didja notice they also didn't enforce their edict except when Romney and the Secret Service entourage came into the arena. That was the only time they enforced the prohibition (state law, BTW) and then only for the arena, not for the rest of the convention center.

    Hope you had a uneventful trip home.

  17. A datum about the no CCW at the convention. MO state law has a prohibition of weapons in amusement parks, stadiums and arenas with a capacity of 5,000.

    STL didn't enforce the prohibition until Romney and the SS arrived on Friday afternoon and then only in the arena dome.

    I carried most of Friday until we went to enter the area for the afternoon speakers. Then I saw the signs, the pat-down lines, and the metal detectors. Result: a quick walk through the rain to stash my pistol.

    Our entrance through the media gate went smoothly and quickly. I got wanded and the guy doing so kept muttering…beep!..phone…beep!…zipper…beep!…pen. He finally waved me through.

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