The National Rifle Association came to Charlotte this past weekend for its 139th annual meeting, bringing some 70,000 plus gun owners, enthusiasts and members of the media to the Queen City.

Now you would think that in a Southern state like North Carolina, where guns are not only legal but where gun owners can also obtain a concealed carry permit, holding an NRA convention would be welcomed while they are still suffering from the effects of the recession.  And for the most part that was the case except for the editorial board of the Charlotte Observer.

The Observer had the following to say about the NRA in their editorial titled, ‘Welcome, NRA–and please don’t shoot!

First things first. Welcome to Charlotte, NRA conventioneers. We hope you have a fun visit to the Queen City, and we sincerely hope all 70,000 of you have only happy experiences and nothing upsets you. Especially if you are packing heat. We know not all of you are, but it does give a body pause.

But seriously, the NRA convention through Sunday will be a shot in the arm, if you’ll pardon the saying, for many suffering hotels, restaurants and stores.

While we don’t want to sound churlish in our welcome, we must note that this editorial board and the NRA tend to differ on many gun-related issues. For instance, we don’t believe the Second Amendment grants unlimited freedom of gun-ownership any more than the First Amendment grants free speech rights so absolute they include the right to wrongly shout “fire” in a crowded theater.

For instance, after the failed Times Square bombing, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg asked Congress to support a measure to stop anyone on terrorist watch lists from legally buying guns and explosives. The NRA opposed the ban.

This week, in an incident that shocked many, an 8-year-old Charlotte third-grader took a loaded handgun to school Tuesday and fired it in a room full of students.

The National Rifle Association was founded in 1871 by Union Army veterans dismayed by the lack of marksmanship shown by their troops. Its goal was to “promote and encourage rifle shooting on a scientific basis.” But by 1975 things had changed. The political lobbying arm, founded that year, now has a staff of 80. Because of its robust lobbying and politicking, the NRA has become synonymous, in many eyes, with extreme right-wing Republicans.

The conference schedule does not belie that impression: Speakers include Sarah Palin, Fox entertainer Glenn Beck and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

We think there’s a need for a group devoted to gun-fanciers, but one which sees that Second Amendment freedoms come with responsibility and that reasonable limits, such as denying guns to insane criminals, are OK. And while the NRA does offer gun-safety programs for kids – and offered some in Gaston County this week – we’d prefer a group that puts far more of its muscle into that admirable effort and less into fighting reasonable laws to make it harder for 8-year-olds to shoot up their classrooms. The NRA’s leadership has cast itself, instead, as a highly partisan lobbying group. And that’s a shame.

The Observer may have thought they were being cheeky but in reality they were just using the NRA convention as another opportunity to criticize law abiding gun owners for the actions of those who are irresponsible and misuse firearms.

I doubt that the editiorial writers took the time to walk the nearly ten acres of the exhibit floor or to talk with any of the attendees who came from all over the country to attend and are average law abiding citizens who either own guns or want to see the rights of gun owners preserved.

 

As for the charge of being aligned with right-wing Republicans, yes, the NRA members for the most part would identify themsleves as Republicans but more likely would prefer to be called conservative as the NRA has endorsed candidates on both sides of the aisle.

For instance on Saturday the members heard from Rep. Dan Boren (D-Ok) who is a member of the NRA board and Rep. Heath Shuler (D-NC) who told the audience that he probably buys more ammunition than any member of Congress. 

At least the Observer got one wish granted and that was a shot in the arm to the local economy with hotels filled to the gills and attendees spending money on food, drink and souvenirs throughout the weekend. 

So yes, the NRA was good for Charlotte in more than one way.

 

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