Is that the smell of Cordite? Nope, just hypocrisy....

Preface: I love guns. I love to shoot for target practice, to learn patience, and hand eye coordination. I believe in the right to protect one's home and family from anyone that would try to do harm. I stand behind our military (brother included - Semper Fi!) and want them to have any firearm / equipment they need to get the job done and get home safe.

So, according to the NRA-ILA website it's primary function states:
'... efforts include enacting laws that recognize the right of honest citizens to carry firearms for self-protection; preemption bills to prevent attacks on gun owner rights by local anti-gun politicians, and fighting for legislation to prevent the bankrupting of America’s firearms industry through reckless lawsuits. '

Right of honest citizens to carry firearms for self-protection. I'm cool with that. In fact I only have two "beefs" with the NRA-ILA.

1) The the primary reason to form the NRA was to 'promote and encourage rifle shooting on a scientific basis' according to Col. William C. Church , not to focus on gun rights. (If you refute the current focus is gun rights. Look at the first line of the 'about' section of the NRA-ILA's website, it specifically talks about the 'lobbying' arm of the NRA, you don't lobby for marksmanship, you lobby for gun rights)

2)I don't believe they are in any way related, but is it just a wee bit crass to hold your meeting in Denver only eleven days after the Columbine shootings? I understand the majority of the events were canceled, however, you can't delay meetings for even 30 days after? I find it difficult to believe that couldn't be possible.

However, the subject of tonight's hypocrisy is the NRA's meeting in Charlotte North Carolina this past weekend. Why, oh why! I ask, do you hold an event for your organization that professes to fight for a citizen's right to carry firearms either concealed or openly, would you hold an event where FIREARMS ARE BANNED?

The NRA was fighting for the right for people in the great state of Tennessee to carry guns in to bars, where people drink. Sometimes those people drink in one of the following ways:
a) to excess
b) to get drunk
c) to fight off depression.
Is that a person you want sitting next to you with a loaded weapon in a bar?

However an NRA member can't walk into the organizations national conference with a gun.

Sorry, I find that hypocritical. The NRA is trying to make a law to make sure bar owners can't keep an armed person from coming on their property, but holds it's national conference in a location that says you can't exercise your 2nd Amendment right to bear arms. Oh, I'm sure it was a coincidence that guest speakers were...Glenn Beck, Newt Gingrich & Oliver North. Another day, speakers are former governors Mike Huckabee and Mitt Romney, current governor (and Pappy O'Daniel impersonator) Haley Barbour and former 1/2 term governor Sarah Palin. Oh, and musical guests Charlie Daniels and Ted Nugent.

But it couldn't be that MANY former politicians (with some still looking to further cash in on political careers) would take issue with talking to a crowd of armed citizens. It couldn't be that.....or could it?