Calling NRA members....

[HexHead]

The Tennessean today ran an article about the new convention center the city intends to build and I was HORRIFIED to see that the NRA is considering bringing their convention here in 2015. I just sent this message to the NRA...

I read in The Tennessean today the NRA is considering holding their national convention in Nashville in 2015.
As my wife and I are both Life Members of the NRA, I must insist you not hold any conventions in downtown Nashville. We have an anti-gun Mayor and Council. The council, with the mayor's blessing tried to stop the restaurant carry rule in Nashville by threatening to prohibit it in any establishment with a beer license until Metro Law Dept. told them they couldn't do it. We have anti-gun restauranteurs that succeeded in bringing a lawsuit to get the restaurant carry law overturned and many establishments in the downtown convention district posted.
The Nashville Tourist Board is fighting attempts to reinstate the restaurant carry law, saying that conventions were refusing to come to Nashville because we allowed "guns in bars".
You can also bet that the convention center will be posted.
It's ridiculous that the NRA would even consider rewarding this anti-gun city with a convention.

I urge all the NRA members here to contact the NRA and let them know you have no interest in attending a convention in as gun-unfriendly a city as Nashville. They might as well just hold one in Chicago. Or NYC and have Bloomberg as the keynote speaker.

 

[Yo Mama]

Actually, I think this is a good thing for you. It will bring a spotlight on the problems you are facing, and the NRA has alot of clout. If anything, I would contact them with your concerns, and try to have them help work on it during the convention.

 

[HexHead]

They can best use their "clout" by letting the city know their convention won't be coming to downtown Nashville because of the anti-gun attitude of those in power. Why reward the same restauranteurs and malls that post "no guns" with the business of tens of thousands of gun enthusiasts and those that support the 2nd amendment?

 

[Yo Mama]

It's not rewarding them, it's pressuring them. It's kinda like when you open carry (if legal where you are), and someone asks about your gun and the right to carry. You open minds, and get people on your side.

In Phoenix, when the NRA came, we had a big problem with the convention center not allowing guns due to the booze sold at night for the dinners. They worked hard to make it so we could carry to the event.

In the end, do you think the anti gun folks care if they cancel the event? They would be thrilled. You want them to be uncomfortable, and force them to see a gun, and know that people want to own and carry them.

 

[gossamer]

Seems pretty short-sighted to me

Why reward the same restauranteurs and malls that post "no guns" with the business of tens of thousands of gun enthusiasts and those that support the 2nd amendment?

Why not have the convention there and ONLY reward the businesses that DO NOT post "no gun" signs?

Why not hold the convention there and make a concerted effort to notify ALL the businesses in Nashville ahead of time that the NRA will be encouraging members to ONLY patronize business that respect the right to carry?

Why not hold the convention there, effect these steps, and then afterwards make a very public, national educational effort illustrating the dispirit economic impact that RKBA supporters can have by showing how much more money the "pro gun" businesses made during the convention vs. the "anti gun" businesses?

The short-signted tactic of outright dismissing a locale because of an "anit-gun" climate misses a pretty big opportunity. Why not make a very public example of the economic impact that RKBA supporters can have on local businesses? Given the current economic climate, it seems like a perfect time to demonstrate this.

If the NRA handled things this way, I would seriously consider becoming a member.

 

[kingpin008]

I think Gossamer pretty much nailed it. Given Nashville's outlook on guns, the perfect thing to do to reinforce them would be to never challenge it.

By bringing the NRA in and doing exactly what he mentioned, there's a huge possibility for change. I'm in the restaurant industry, and I can tell you that restaurants are constantly battling each other for business. If there was a huge influx of big-spending tourist customers coming in, I'd do my damndest to snag every red cent of their cash as I could.

So, how can we turn this around?

Let's start talking with the local 2A groups, and put together a list of all the restaurants who have signage and who don't. Let's then start calling, writing and emailing these businesses, letting the ones who don't support us know that we'll be taking our dollars to the ones who do. And don't forget to contact the good guys as well, they need to know that we appreciate their support.

 

[general]

Now -as far as Nashville goes... I would also approach it in the fashion that gossamer suggested...
Go ahead - hold it there -notify attendees of the pro and anti gun businesses and urge them to not patronize the anti's.

BTW- I'm back.

 

[Superlite27]

I attended my first national NRA convention for the first time this year, and had a very memorable time.

I will definately attend next year.

I fully agree with HexHead. If we take note of the people and places that willingly fight against us, and continue to support them by ignoring this and continuing to perform actions that have no adverse consequences (buying their products, patronizing their businesses, holding conferences that bring revenue into their communities, there is no reason whatsoever for them to stop fighting against us.

Who here wants to donate to the VPC or Brady Campaign?

Then why do we feel that bringing revenue to anti-gun communities is any different?

I will attend any future NRA conferences. NOT if they are in a city that votes anti-gun. I refuse to spend my money in restaraunts, hotels, and other establishments that empower politicians that actively fight against my freedom.

We all should be actively participating in writing businesses, politicians, and others who fight to remove our rights.

Should the NRA be any different? They cannot fight for our rights in a manner we like if we do not inform them of our desires. I am not condoning "bad mouthing" or writing "nasties" to the NRA, I'm merely saying that we should inform the NRA of our desire that they should decline to hold their national convention in Memphis and let the businesses and political powers of Memphis know why they won't be getting the benefit of any NRA member's money. (This is key)

I'm going to write a respectful letter to the NRA letting them know my feelings. How else are they supposed to know?

 

[Yo Mama]

NOT if they are in a city that votes anti-gun.

So let me get this straight, you have given up on the cities that are anti-gun, and have no hope for their redemption. Just move and it'll be over. THIS MAKES NO SENSE. We need to show them that we are good people, and that we have money. That is all they care about anyway, money and power.

 

[miamivicedade]

I wish they'd come to chicago and s--- on daley

 

[Yo Mama]

So let me get this straight, you have completely ignored the record of cities that are anti-gun, and believe they will "see the light" of their own accord.

No, and you missed the point of my post. Re-read it. :banghead:

They won't see the light unless you show them. The NRA not showing up won't get the point across.

So, please explain how giving them the only thing they want without them having to compromise......one....single....thing....will suddenly make them feel all "warm and fuzzy" about gun owners?

You think they won't have to compromise to have the convention? Do you understand the size and scope of this meeting? Believe me, they will have to fully staff this from the bottom up.

According to your logic, maybe if we start giving all our money to the Brady Campaign, they'll see how generous we are and stop trying to take our rights away, huh?

Give it to the Brady's and see what happens bud. Give a city a chance instead, and you may see some great things happen. Do it in a city that loves you who cares? Nothing changes!

 

[kingpin008]

Superlite - you understand that the entire plan here is to identify the pro-gun businesses in the area and make a point of supporting them and not the rest, right?

Because that is the plan. And it's a plan that works.

You seem to think that the plan is to come into town throwing dollars at everyone and everything in sight, which is not the idea at all. As mentioned above, business owners and politicians pay attention to dollars. When these anti-gun restaurant owners see the cash their fellow business owners are raking in by allowing gun owners in their establishments, they're going to change their minds, and the politicos will notice.

 

[HexHead]

They won't see the light unless you show them. The NRA not showing up won't get the point across.



You think they won't have to compromise to have the convention? Do you understand the size and scope of this meeting? Believe me, they will have to fully staff this from the bottom up.

Superlight, I'm glad you "get it". Yo Mama, not so much.

As big of a convention as the NRA holds, they would definitely get the point across that they aren't going to pump $millions into the local anti-gun economy. There currently is NO take the business to the gun friendly establishments to show the anti ones how much they missed out on, as the anti's got our carry in restaurants that serve alcohol law declared unconstitutional and void after just 4 months. Downtown Nashville businesses have done everything in their power to keep guns out of establishments there. Why in the hell should we reward them by enriching them for their bad behavior. And the cries of "use this to educate them" is just nuts. You can't enlighten those that disregard logic and facts and make decisions on pure emotion.

 

[gossamer]

You can't enlighten those that disregard logic and facts and make decisions on pure emotion.

Feeling the pinch when the restaurant down the street make 10-times your take for the night because he allows guns is not emotion -- believe me.

If it were handled right, I can tell you from first hand experience here that the businesses and restaurants would get the message. We've had a huge reduction in the number of businesses that have the "no guns" signs in their windows here in our urban areas. When the law first went into effect a bunch had them, now, VERY few do. It has a lot to do with very savvy and reasonable CCW and RKBA folks telling these businesses, respectfully, that they were not going to patronize them in light of this policy.

One of the restaurant owners even signed up for a CCW class after taking down his signs in multiple establishments.

 

[HexHead]

Superlite - you understand that the entire plan here is to identify the pro-gun businesses in the area and make a point of supporting them and not the rest, right?

Because that is the plan. And it's a plan that works.

You seem to think that the plan is to come into town throwing dollars at everyone and everything in sight, which is not the idea at all. As mentioned above, business owners and politicians pay attention to dollars. When these anti-gun restaurant owners see the cash their fellow business owners are raking in by allowing gun owners in their establishments, they're going to change their minds, and the politicos will notice.

Your missing the point as well. They've already pulled our ability to support the indifferent places that didn't post, so there won't be anything for the anti-gun owners to notice. Here's where we stand today....

Restaurant carry law was declared unconstitutional after four months.

The State says they are going to appeal, with no target date in sight.

The State legislature originally said they would "fix the bill" this month, but the Speaker of the House says they won't do anything until they see what happens with the appeal.

Last year they filed the bill in Feb., and after three sessions of committee, a Governor's veto and a total of 6 votes, the bill passed on the last day of legislature's business before summer break and we still had to wait two months for the bill to become law, in July. It's not going to happen in this legislative session now, and who knows what the legislature is going to look like next year? We here in TN have been completely screwed over, first by the restauranteur plaintiffs and the judge, and now by the politicians. And you think we should reward them with a $millions NRA convention? That's just nuts.

 

[hso]

Folks, don't hijack the thread with arguments over joining, or not joining, the NRA.

Start your own thread if you care about it so much, but let the people that actually care about whether the NRA should have a convention in Nashville carry on their discussion without the sideline fights.

 

[Sav .250]

"........the NRA is considering bring their convention here in 2015."

That`s a ways down the road. Who knows, maybe the current Mayor and Council will be long gone by then. Don`t forget..............vote in your city elections.

 

[BaltimoreBoy]

The Mayor and City council of St. Louis are also not pro-gun.

BUT - State law basically hog ties them.

It was entirely appropriate for the NRA to come to St. Louis a few years back. And the business of the convention made an impression on the community.

As long as the citizens of Nashville are not denied the rights enjoyed by other residents of Tennessee there is no reason that Nashville should not be a destination.

Chicago though, should not be a destination - not because the mayor is an anti-gun hypocrite but because the citizens of Chicago suffer second amendment disabilities.

 

[308win]

We went through this in Columbus Ohio a couple of years ago. Columbus Council with mayor's backing passed an assault weapon ban. The NRA had already scheduled and sent out information about its annual meeting. The NRA moved the meeing in protest (held in Louisville I believe). The move had zero impact on the mayor or council and got little play in the press or reaction from the business community.

 

[Superlite27]

From Kingpin008:

Superlite - you understand that the entire plan here is to identify the pro-gun businesses in the area and make a point of supporting them and not the rest, right?

From HexHead:

They've already pulled our ability to support the indifferent places that didn't post, so there won't be anything for the anti-gun owners to notice.

How do we support businesses that support us when it has been mandated that NO businesses can support us?

I agree with the tactic that we need to show a HUGE difference in the money a pro-gun business receives and the money an anti-gun business receives. I agree with Kingpin008's idea.

But, using his idea, why is it a good tactic to support a progun business, and not an anti-gun business.....but this isn't valid for entire communities?

Do you honestly think that the $dollars$ we spend in the pro-gun businesses stay in those businesses?

NO! It reflects in the economy of the entire community! In this case, an ANTI-GUN community! Do you honestly think that 50,000 NRA members are going to converge on Nashville and the only people who are going to profit from it is Joe and Hilda's Good Eats?
I guess Bob and Linda's Pancake Heaven is going to see the light when Joe and Hilda are packed that weekend.

By the way, how can we tell which is pro-gun when it's illegal to carry in both?

I guess we'll all have to fuel up our cars and carry gas tanks in the trunk. Since we're only supporting pro-gun businesses (not the community, right?) How do we identify pro-gun gas stations as opposed to anti-gun gas stations? Which pro-gun hotels do we stay at? Is there a way to tell the difference between the pro-gun souvenir shops and the anti ones? If I decide to purchase a book there, is there a ProBarnes and Noble I could visit instead of the AntiBarnes and Nobel? What if my car needs repair? Maybe I could visit the ProChevy dealer instead of the AntiChevy dealer. I guess all 50,000 of us could keep a close eye on it. After all, our money doesn't support the entire community, right?

Or does it?

Why is choosing between pro and anti businesses a good way to fight for gun rights, but choosing between pro and anti communities not?

Especially since the communities, not just the individual businesses, are going to be the real winners?

Now, I can see the benefit of having a convention there. Maybe, if all the pro-gun community goes there, it will show everyone there how wonderful we are and how unfounded their anti-gun mentality is.

But, I doubt it. Many of you have already said, "The only thing they care about is money". When I think about the opposite, I can see the benefit those who have a different perspective are talking about. I'm not blind to the argument others are bringing up here. If the Brady Bunch had a conference in such and such a town, would this encourage more gun control there? Possibly. I can see the argument that if the NRA had a conference there, would it encourage less gun control? Possibly.

This is a very thin decision. I can see the merits of both. The carrot, or the stick?

I vote "stick". I don't think the carrot is as valid. We'd be giving a carrot to someone who hasn't been going the direction we want. This gives them no incentive to change anything.

Maybe if we explain to them why were not going to give them the carrot, and poke them in the eye with the stick, it might cause them to think about it. At the least, it will save us on carrots that we could use as a reward for a community that has offered us gun owners some benefits.

 

[Superlite27]

The move had zero impact on the mayor or council and got little play in the press or reaction from the business community.

Maybe it will be cumulative. Hopefully, if we keep doing it, they'll get the idea. Something tells me they won't either way, though.

 

[Yo Mama]

Maybe it will be cumulative. Hopefully, if we keep doing it, they'll get the idea. Something tells me they won't either way, though.

This is the definition of insanity, doing the same thing expecting different results.

 

[hso]

By 2015 when the event is nominally scheduled conditions will different and the discussion will be more timely.

If you want you can check with TN Gunowners. They had a list of the places that had no gun postings that could be used to parse friend from foe.

 

[IllHunter]

My song...

When NRA came to Milwaukee ('06) I helped, when they went to St. Louis ('07) I wrote and told them to adjust windage and elevation as they were missing the mark. The target was and still is, Chicago. I say have the convention in Rosemont and stick it directly in Mayor Daley's eye. I think Tenn. may be "cutting off their nose to spite their face".

 

[TexasRifleman]

By 2015 when the event is nominally scheduled conditions will different and the discussion will be more timely.

Go back and read this again guys. By the time 2015 is here we will be living in a post Heller, post MacDonald world.

It's entirely possible that it won't matter by then. Let's concentrate on that first.