Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Setting the Record Straight...

ASM826 points out that the prohibition against CCW at convention centers in North Carolina has an exception:
§ 14‑269.3. Carrying weapons into assemblies and establishments where alcoholic beverages are sold and consumed.

(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to carry any gun, rifle, or pistol into any assembly where a fee has been charged for admission thereto, or into any establishment in which alcoholic beverages are sold and consumed. Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

(b) This section shall not apply to the following:

(1) A person exempted from the provisions of G.S. 14‑269;

(2) The owner or lessee of the premises or business establishment;

(3) A person participating in the event, if he is carrying a gun, rifle, or pistol with the permission of the owner, lessee, or person or organization sponsoring the event;
(emphasis by ASM826 and continued here)

So, basically, where we previously thought that the NRA merely chose their convention site poorly - in a state that doesn't allow CCW in places where people pay money to enter - the truth is even uglier.

The NRA chose their convention site in a state that only allows CCW in places where people pay money to enter... IF the sponsoring organization allows attendees to do so.

And the NRA is declining to let its attendees - NRA members, people who have paid good money to be members of their organization - carry at the convention. The truth is worse than the rumor. Before, when we thought that it was simply a poor choice of convention site, it was just that the NRA was tone-deaf to its active CCW community. Now we see that the NRA - like so many other organizations - simply doesn't want people armed at its events.

At a gathering of firearm enthusiasts, CCW is not welcome. Welcome to Planet NRA.

I will have some choice words for the folks at the convention, count on it...

That is all.

Link sent to me by my blogson, who closed his e-mail with this pithy statement:
I'm pinging you because Uncle has a post up basically saying "Nothing to be done; it's the law" and that doesn't seem to be the case. There seems to be a "don't rock the boat" culture at the NRA, and that needs to change - especially if there are no laws that need to be changed.
I love rocking boats. And in a week's time, I'll get to do just that...

9 comments:

Patrick said...

In that case, I take back what I said. You absolutely should go if for nothing more to give them a piece of your mind. Showing up in person will be a lot more effective than a letter (pithy as you are) so it will be good money spent. Otherwise, I wouldn't give them a dime.

I can no longer encourage anyone to give the NRA any money. GOA or another fine association, but NRA no longer fits the bill.

Wally said...

It kills me when I have to join NRA for one year every ten to keep my instructor credentials.

It has been decades since the NRA has cared for the little guy.

Something tells me they picked a state that had a plausible no guns rule just so they wouldn't have to deal with it themselves.

Ed Skinner said...

At the NRA Convention in Arizona (last year?), it was estimated that 25-40% of attendees were armed, visibly or concealed, and all legal. What was forbidden was by Arizona law, and that was the consumption of alcohol while carrying. Since no alcohol was available in the majority of areas of the convention, and the alcohol-serving areas were well marked to this end, the convention was a very law-abiding event. (No one was shot, stabbed, beaten or robbed.)

The Packetman said...

Kinda makes me wonder why you're still giving them money .... I mean it's not like MA is a Mecca for gun owners!

Jay G said...

The short answer is my gun club requires NRA membership...

ZerCool said...

I've been chewing on this one for a while, and going back and forth about whether this was intentionally nefarious on the NRA's part, or just the usual buffoonery I've come to expect from them.

In this case, I'm leaning towards "usual buffoonery".

NC has "binding signage". The Convention Center's "rules & regs specifically forbids "the possession of a dangerous weapon". I have to assume that the Center is properly signaged ... meaning that the state law about carrying in assemblies would be the SECOND step.

By all means, tell the NRA to choose their venue more carefully - but I don't buy the "evil" bit myself.

Weer'd Beard said...

I certainly plan to raise a bit of a stink m'self.

Also, Jay would you mind printing out a few copies of the regs, might be worthwhile to have hard copies to hand out or show when relevant.

Stuff like this is actually a bit part of WHY the NRA has a meeting/convention.

Geodkyt said...

There's another aspect.

NC law also prohibits carrying oin a government building (including a convention hall).

This venue is run by a management board on behalf of the city.

Sounds like it's a "government building" -- thus the exemptions allowed for private poroperty do not apply.

Keads said...

@ Geodkyt,

I am in the next county over from Charlotte, and you are correct. The convention center is a government building. Does not make me any happier, but our CCW laws are a bit restrictive.