Saturday, May 22, 2010

What do we want from the NRA in a convention?

Charlotte was a mistake, a substantial one. From the moment the NRA knew the Convention Center was no-carry and that even restaurants were carry-hostile for even the concealed carry crowd, Charlotte should have been a no-go.

Bad words should have been said, tearing at hair performed, and general dismay expressed - and then a press release distributed that the NRA was horribly, horribly, sorry...but that it would be, based on the hostile welcome the city offered the NRA's members, be holding 2010 elsewhere - even holding it on the Burning Man site, complete with Tents & RV's as convention facilities, would have been a screaming improvement.

Fortunately, contrary to the NRA spin, there are a number of *other* cities (not just two or three) that could accommodate the convention. Houston, Dallas, Oklahoma City, Phoenix, Albuqueque - heavens, even Seattle would be friendlier to folks attending with both open-carry and CPL options (check who Seattle is reciprocal with, and with due notice, you can either bag a permit or go open carry if your state isn't listed).

There are plenty of convention-ready cities (or, if necessary, large flat pieces of ground) that welcome us and our cash. We'd like to support them.

We want a convention where we are not disarmed - not in the event facility, not in our hotels, and not when we're out and about or seeking a bite to eat.

As covered elsewhere, Marriott in Charlotte got cute with NRA members and other attending folks - placing them at significant legal risk. According to various reports, this is apparently a corporation wide problem.

We want to be warned of risks and of vendors that would abuse or cheat us. And while we're at it, we'd like to know who our friends are so we can spend money with them.

Anything else we should be asking for, folks?

After all, once we realize the NRA screwed up significantly, and tell them so, it's part of our responsibility to offer some hints on how to do better going forward.

Thoughts?

5 comments:

Old NFO said...

Agreed... They cost themselves a number of attendees by going to Charlotte, and I will tell them next time I'm at the range.

Divemedic said...

Orlando, for one.

Wraith said...

This is why I refuse to join the NRA. If they ever decide to act like real gun-rights supporters, I may reconsider.

In the meantime, Gun Owners of America and Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership, while small, actually have testicular fortitude. That's where my NRA-earmarked dollars are going.

Anonymous said...

At least 2011 will be a significant improvement.

PA in general is very gun friendly. It's easy to get a non-resident permit if they don't have reciprocity (though I think that may be changing a bit so get yours now if you need one!)

Pittsburgh is a typical urban area and people have complained about being hassled for open carry, but open carry is NOT illegal. "No guns" signs do not carry any legal weight and, other than the standard federal restrictions, very few places are off limits: courthouses and schools (though schools have the same grey area as the post office)

There are NO restrictions on carrying in restaurants/bars/clubs/etc and, as far as I know, there is no legal restriction on carrying while intoxicated (though no responsible gunnie would actually do that, right?)

Open carry: legal WITHOUT a permit everywhere except Philadelphia (you need a permit to carry openly in Philly)

Concealed carry: legal with a PA-recongized permit. Getting a PA non-resident permit is pretty easy at the moment if your state is not on PA's reciprocity list

Vehicle carry: legal with a permit from any state - that state does not have to be on PA's reciprocity list

Anonymous said...

"they cost themselves a number of attendees"

Like what, two? This was the best attended NRA meeting in years, despite what all y'all haters say.