NRA Convention Opens, Draws Young People (WI)

JSOnline via AP ^ | May 20, 2006 | John Hartzell

[Diana in Wisconsin]

MILWAUKEE, WI (AP) -- Andrew Pauley got the day off school to learn more about firearms with his father at the opening day of the National Rifle Association's annual convention on Friday.

"When I was little I got a BB gun for Christmas one year, and I've had a fascination with firearms every since," the 12-year-old from Aurora, Ill., said at the 135th annual event. "I can't wait."

His father, Bill Pauley, also brought his three nephews - Michael Wagner, 18, Patrick Wagner, 16, and Peter Wagner, 14, also of Aurora.

"This is the Detroit auto show for firearms manufacturers," said Pauley, 43. "If I didn't think that the Second Amendment (guaranteeing the right to bear arms) wasn't important, I wouldn't be here."

The family was among up to 60,000 people expected to attend the three-day convention in downtown Milwaukee, said Wayne LaPierre, NRA's executive vice president. About 700,000 of the group's 4 million members live within 300 miles of the city.

Rock musician and gun-rights advocate Ted Nugent, an NRA board member, helped open the convention Friday by playing the national anthem on his guitar. Retired Gen. Tommy Franks, an architect of the 2003 Iraq invasion, is scheduled to deliver the keynote address Saturday night.

People can sign their children up for lifetime NRA memberships as soon as they are born, said Andrew Arulanandam, an NRA spokesman.

Jackilinne Wilson, 9, of Rockford, Ill., browsed through some of the 350 exhibits at the convention hall with her father, Tom Wilson, 39.

She hopes to start target shooting soon, and her father said they were looking forward to going deer hunting some day.

Phil Pryby, 75, of Northbrook, Ill., came to the convention with his 12-year-old grandsons, Josh and Jacob Pryby, of Kenosha. He said he and the boys' parents bought them their first shotguns last year, and they believed it was important for the children to learn firearms safety through the NRA.

"That's most important, because they're going to be inheriting my equipment," he said.

Josh Pryby said he went deer hunting last fall for the first time and was eager to learn at the convention about how firearms worked.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Sounds like a good time was had by all. :)

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Ping!

[Ladysmith]

Don't remind me, I'm so bummed over this. One of the biggest events of the year in Wisconsin and I simply can't get to it.

[rabidralph]

You and me both! I was busy with work this weekend and I couldn't find the time to get down there. I have my souvenir badge, though.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

I wanted to go, too...but life revolves (no pun intended) around The Farm(s) this time of year, and I am pretty much chained here, doing what needs to be done to make a future buck come Fall. ;)

I will definately attend an NRA Convention in the future. DH & I got our fix watching that "Mail Call" guy tour a big gun convention on TV the other night, LOL!

And DH got a 23 pound Turkey last week with his bow & arrow, as he can't shoot like he used to, due to his disability. But, dang! I was impressed that he got one...since he's NEVER gotten one with a shotgun, LOL!


Ralph? How was your Turkey Hunt? Successful, I hope? :)

[Perdogg]

John Kasich is on FNC talking about the importance of the NRA yet he lied when he said he opposed the "assault weapons" ban.

[MarkL]

Don't remind me, I'm so bummed over this. One of the biggest events of the year in Wisconsin and I simply can't get to it.

The same thing happened to me during the NRA's Kansas City convention! I had some serious back problems, and couldn't get out of my house.

Mark

[Watery Tart]

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'Dump Doyle' resounding cry as convention opens

NRA rallies support for conceal-carry law governor has vetoed

By DARRYL ENRIQUEZ
denriquez@journalsentinel.com

Posted: May 19, 2006

The National Rifle Association wants Wisconsin to be the 49th state to legalize carrying concealed weapons, and Gov. Jim Doyle is squarely in the group's cross hairs after twice vetoing the legislation.

Acclamations to "Dump Doyle" are everywhere at the 135th annual NRA meeting this weekend at the Midwest Airlines Center and U.S. Cellular Arena.

From a simple seminar on grassroots organizing to a gala opening ceremony with national music acts, Doyle's name never got a rest Friday. Placed around the convention were orange posters saying "DUMP" on the left and "DOYLE" spilling from a dump truck on the right.

"Your governor spent as much time defending your Second Amendment freedoms as O.J. (Simpson) did searching for the real killers," Chris Cox, the NRA's chief lobbyist, said at the convention's opening ceremonies. "Forty-eight other states trust their citizens in this way. Why don't we? We need to get rid of this anti-gun governor."

A rousing guitar solo of "The Star Spangled Banner" from rocker, hunter and NRA board member Ted Nugent stoked the crowd, who also heard Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker say, "I'm a proud member of the NRA and one of the few urban leaders to support the right to carry arms."

Walker hoisted an NRA card over his head as he addressed the crowd.

Doyle responded to the attacks by saying in an interview that the NRA was stirring up its members with pro-gun rhetoric.

"If I have to listen to experts on public safety who are against carrying concealed weapons or the NRA rhetoric, I'll put my trust in law enforcement," Doyle said. "If I have a choice of listening to Ted Nugent or the police officers of Wisconsin, I'm going to listen to police officers of Wisconsin."

Doyle argues that the safety of state residents is not improved by carrying "loaded guns in their pockets."

"It's hardly a radical notion of mine," Doyle said of preserving the illegality of carrying concealed weapons. "It's been a law since 1870."

He added: "I have to consider the safety of the people of Wisconsin. I can't waver when some interest group comes in and yells loud about it."

Mustering votes

During a Friday seminar on grass-roots organizing, the mantra was voter registration among NRA members and supporters of the group's initiatives.

Glen Caroline, director of the group's Institute for Legislative Action, said the strength of the NRA comes from its membership and supporters and their collective ability to swing issues at voting booths.

Caroline stressed that a single vote can make a difference.

As an example, he said the Legislature's effort to overturn Doyle's last veto of the concealed-carry law fell only two votes short.

From the May 20, 2006 editions of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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[Diana in Wisconsin]

Thanks, Tart! That was awesome! :)

[Ladysmith]

Hey, thanks for the ping! :o)

[rabidralph]

Congrats, to DH and his successful turkey hunt. I know it will be tasty. I did not get to go out. I suddenly had some work projects from clients that week and I was busy through the weekend. I will take work over hunting any day but it was unfortunate timing.