This weekend is the NRA Annual Convention.
Of course, such an event attracts gun bloggers. Known attendees include Breda, Caleb, Countertop, Jay, Joe Huffman, Sebastian, Uncle, Weer’d and Xrlq. Known absentees include Robb, Roberta, Tam and of course, myself.
I had originally planned to attend, but I couldn’t fit it into my schedule– even by the shortest route, it was over 9 hours each way, and that involved going through Birmingham and Atlanta. (I personally doubt that estimate– I’ve driven the roads in Alabama that route goes over, and there’s no way you could do 55 all the way…)
Sebastian sat in on the law conference (a.k.a. “the room I’ll be the farthest from”) while Bitter sat in on the Leadership Forum. She points out that Charlotte greeted the event by asking the convention goers… to not shoot anybody. I would like to point out to the NRA that maybe instead of a 280,000 sq ft convention center, they might like to have 220,000 sq ft, 600,000 sq ft, 1,400,000 sq ft, or even 7,000,000 sq ft to play with. (The last one, the Orange County Convention Center, even has hotel rooms and food services on site. Plus, Orlando is a helluva lot nicer than Charlotte.)
Only problem with the tri-state area is that the Yankees amongst us might not be able to survive it. While 84 degrees might be tolerable, I don’t think summer temperatures in Montgomery or Orlando will be… which is why those convention centers are completely enclosed.
One event I sorely regret missing is the Gura V. Helmke debate. (Update here.) What I wouldn’t have given to have had Mike V. in the front row… “Why, Mr. Helmke, it’s your friend Mike!”
Also, quote of the event comes from Bitter:
We’re now on to Heath Shuler, one of those evil right wing Democrats [...] He believes he may be the member of Congress who buys the most ammunition. That would be an interesting debate to have.
I can actually see this debate going down in whispers during a State of the Union address…
Shuler: I buy the most ammunition of any of us.
Boehner: No way.
Ryan: Yeah, in just .223 I have at least 100 thousand.
Bachmann: Heck, I just count it by the ammo can now.
Paul: I count it by the pallet now.
Wilson: YOU LIE!
(uncomfortable silence)
Wilson: Sorry… you were saying, Mr. President?
And, of course, Jay and Weer’d in the same car is creating humor by the mile… sounds like something me and my friends would do. Which validates what my high school art teacher always said… “there’s rednecks everywhere.”
So, I missed a good debate, and speeches by Larry Potterfield, Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin. (sigh) Maybe next year…
(crosses fingers) Here’s to hoping for a video of Gura and Helmke.
