A Crowded Music City Center

The NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits and there are wall to wall people in the Music City Center.  The Wall of Guns Raffle is also very active in the hall way of the third floor.

Crime Prevention Research Center Event at NRA Annual Meetings

Dr. John Lott's Crime Prevention Research Center is holding two events in conjuction with the NRA Annual Meetings in Nashville on April 10 and 11th.  Confirmed special guests include Katie Pavlich and Dana Loesch, among others:

On Friday, April 10th, the Crime Prevention Research Center will be having Desserts and Coffee/Tea at the Hilton Nashville Downtown from 6 to 9 PM.  For those attending the Dessert and Coffee/Tea from 6:45 to 9, the cost is $50.  For those attending both the dessert and the much smaller stand up dinner, the cost is $200.  The Hilton is adjacent to the Nashville Convention Center, which will be hosting the NRA National Convention at that time.  On Saturday, April 11th, you have a chance to go shooting with your favorite celebrity at Tennessee’s 5-star range, The Nashville Armory (just a 12-minute car ride from the Hilton).  The event will go from 8:30 to 10 AM. Funds from the event will be used to finance the Crime Prevention Research Center.

If you plan to be in Nashville for the Annual meeting, you may want to RSVP for this event

New Poll Shows Majority of Americans Have Positive View of NRA, Self Defense Laws - #NRAAM

The NY Daily News reported yesterday that a new poll shows a majority of Americans not only have positive view of the National Rifle Association, they also have a positive view of self defense laws that allow "deadly force" to protect your self and your family.

The Reuters/Ipsos survey, released Friday, shows 68% of respondents back the powerful, pro-gun rights lobbying group. There was a division among party lines with 82% of GOPers seeing the NRA in a positive light, versus 55% of Democrats.

The poll also showed that a whopping 87% of surveyed also support self defense laws.  A large number of the respondents, 87%, said they don't believe police could stop all crime and 77% belive "regular" people had to "step up" to prevent crime.

To show just how unimformed average Americans, or possibly the pollsters who created the questions, are when it comes to current gun laws, the poll also asked those surveyed if they support a law limiting "automatic weapons."  There already is a law the limits the sale of automatice weapons.  So, one has to ask, is the the typical media (since Reuters commissioned the poll) tactic of confusing semi automatic firearms with automatic firearms?

@NYDailyNews Sets Up Ambush for NRA at #NRAAM

The New York Daily News extended an invitation to Jackie Rowe-Adams, a New York mother whose two sons were slain by criminals using firearms and the founder of Harlem Mothers S.A.V.E, to attend the NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits. One can only gather from this that the intent was to put her face to face with one or more officials of the organization and plead her case for strict gun control.  And that is exactly what happened.

Rowe-Adams, one of the founders of the group Harlem Mothers S.A.V.E., stood in front of the stage where LaPierre appeared to ask for his support on background checks for gun buyers and microstamping.

Mrs. Rowe-Adams' husband had to buy a membership (the article said $25 but advertising for the event said non members could enter for $10) to get into the meeting.  The couple expressed "shock" at the number of families attending the show. 

“You see little babies asking questions about the guns,” she said. “It’s eerie. It’s not a good feeling, and it breaks my heart."

What gun ban advocates either do not understand or don't want to accept, is that the shooting sport is a family activity.  VSSA interviewed a number of the shooters signing autographs at the various manufacturer booths this weekend and there was a common theme - they all started shooting with their parents (all of the female shooters interviewed told similar stories).

So, while the mainstream media take every opportunity to present NRA leaders and members in a negative light, and gun control advocates push for more and more restrictions on freedom, the vast majority of Americans have positive views of the NRA and the right to keep and bear arms.

Day Two of the #NRAAM

As expected, day two has been busier than the first.  The exhibit floor has been packed since the doors opened.  A rainy day in St. Louis has likely helped drive people into the show.  Wayne LaPierre brought the crowd to its feet during the members meeting.  He hit familiar themes but he is always well received by NRA crowds.  Later on the exhibit floor, people crowded around to get a photo with LaPierre.

It wasn't hard to also spot constestants from History Channel's Top Shot taking in the the sights of the show.  Chris Reed from Season 2, as well as Eric "Izzy" Keyes, Greg Littlejohn, and Gabby Franco from Season 4.

Team shooters have been doing mini clinics at various firearm manufacturer booths.  Videos of these will be in upcoming issues of The Bullet.

It's back to the floor for the last few hours of the show.  VSSA coverages ends tonight as I have to return to Virginia tomorrow morning.  All of the interviews will be in The Bullet, as well as here on the blog in coming days.

Huge Crowds on First Day of #NRAAM

People have flooded into the exhibit hall on this first day of the NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits.  I have attend 10 of the last 12 meetings and I can't remember seeing such a large crowd on the first day.  It could be the weather, which is currently a thunderstorm (the Cardinals' opener was canceled), or it may be the election year.

Interviews have been conducted with two USA Shooting Team shooters; Janessa Beaman and Caitlan Connor and Bass Pro Shop pro Allen Treadwell.

Janessa Beaman (left), Allen Treadwell (center), and Caitlin Conner (right)

VSSA also spent a few minutes with World and National Champion shooter and author, Julie Golob.

VSSA Legislative Chariman with World and National Champion Shooter Julie Golob

Julie recently wrote and published Shoot: Your Guide to Shooting and Competition.  Shoot is now in its 2nd printing.

The exhibit hall is full of world champion shooters.

Doug Koenig (left), Carl Bernosky (center), and Rob Leatham

For immediate updates, follow VSSA's Twitter feed.  Check the blog for more detailed information late in the day or evening.  Full coverage will be in the next edition of VSSA's member publication, The Bullet.