Checking in from Charlotte

Wow. So Sebastian is in the Firearms Law Seminar with no power and no wifi, and I just sat down in the Leadership Forum with many of the other bloggers here at the Blog Bash.

This city has never seen an event so big. It’s a massive infusion of money into their economy. So how do they greet us? By asking us not to shoot them. Fan-freakin’-tastic. That makes me never want to even visit Charlotte again.

As Jim Geraghty (who is sitting in front of me), points out today, they also call it a massive right-wing convention while we have speakers like the Democratic governor, Congressman Heath Shuler, and my favorite Oklahoma Congressman Dan Boren.

As a matter of space, I’m not sure Charlotte could host the event again. They had to cancel the banquet this year because there is no space large enough. It’s now another speaking event. The arena is already packed, with a full floor and up the sides. There are huge lines outside. It’s a great day to be an NRA member, even if Charlotte is a little small for our needs.

13 thoughts on “Checking in from Charlotte”

  1. You know, Bitter, that article you linked to, which made you not want to ever visit Charlotte again was an op-ed piece written by one guy. You made it sound like it was the city of Charlotte speaking. Plus, the part that got your attention about his asking you not to shoot them, was followed by a paragraph starting with “But, seriously…” To me that sounds like the offending remark was at least partly tongue in cheek.

    I loved your proof that it’s not a right wing convention by pointing out the veritable unknowns who are speaking on the program with Palin, Beck and Gingrich.

    Keep spinnin’ it. That’s how you’ll win in the end.

    1. I don’t have time to argue with you tonight – I have too many pro-gun activists to entertain. But rest assured, I have arguments back.

  2. MikeB302000,

    Once again you completely ignore the obvious lies on the Antis side.

    Once again you completely ignore the fact that the editorial may have been written by one person but it was approved and published by the entire editorial board.

    Once again you completely ignore the Panty Soil Hysteria evident — tongue in cheek or not — that the paper pushes as part of a bias against gun owners.

    Of course, you’ve had months of practice of sticking your fingers in your ears and yelling “lalalalalala” I can’t hear you anytime something contradicts your world view.

  3. The Observer editorial reads like it was written by a 14 year old.
    I agree…it was really awesome seeing the Time Warner arena packed to the rafters with thousands of people celebrating freedom.

  4. Wow, I can’t believe how passive-agressive that editorial is.

    “Welcome, NRA! Please don’t shoot us, but also know that we disagree with you on everything and think you’re all a bunch of politically corrupting right-wing hacks, and did we mention that guns are bad? But again, welcome to Charlotte!”

  5. Maybe next time they’ll have in Virginia, we have open carry and our CCW is recognized by most states. I didn’t go to the confernce this year, I won’t go to one that doesn’t recognize my right to carry concealed.

  6. I hope you enjoy the convention, those of you who are there. I’m a bit surprised more of you didn’t take the Secesh position though.

  7. Keep spinnin’ it. That’s how you’ll win in the end.

    Actually, we’ll win in the end by having a logical foundation for our arguments and empowering our fellow citizens.

  8. Dixie Said :
    Actually, we’ll win in the end by having a logical foundation for our arguments and empowering our fellow citizens.

    Agreed. People always work harder to protect their rights than they work to take rights away from others. That is why the gun control groups are not fueled by millions of grassroots … they are run only by a relative few … wealthy funding groups, hired staff, sympathetic media (because this issue sells their news), and a number of politicians (mostly older Democrats who took their position when it was more politically attractive).

    The NRA as an organization is 140 years old. It’s steady in part because of committed, average members. On the contrary, where is the “Million” Mom March today? Where is the membership of the Brady Campaign, the nation’s foremost gun control group?

  9. Mikeb does have one valid point. It’s an op-ed article from a newspaper. BFD. I bet there’ll be far more sympathetic citizens of Charlotte than not.

    The AJC publishes stuff like that all the time, but in no way could it ever hope to be a representative of the metro area populace.

    I’ve only been to Charlotte once (overnight on a network maintenance trip), but I thought the downtown was nice and the people friendly. Good manners by the many convention attendees will go much farther than the local dead-tree news rag.

  10. The NRA as an organization is 140 years old. It’s steady in part because of committed, average members.

    This is why I like the NRA. Could they do more? Maybe. Are they highly effective at distracting the anti-rights crowd? Oh yes.

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