As I touched down in the green hills of Tennessee for my first NRA Annual Meeting, I quickly discovered that they don’t call Nashville “music city” for nothing. Scarcely after exiting my plane and entering the Nashville airport I heard country music, electric and amplified rippling through the terminal. I found the source of my warm southern welcome in a young man with a guitar and a twang in his voice entertaining diners at one of the airports many BBQ joints.
I soon discovered that not only were the people of Nashville warm and welcoming, but so were the exhibitors and the attendees at the NRA Annual Meeting. In fact, the people of the NRA are quite different than the images so often touted by the media. They are normal, friendly folks who love their families, value their freedom and quite simply want to be able to continue to be able protect their families with firearms if needs be and happen to enjoy going to the range or going hunting.
In order to attend the NRA Annual Meeting I had to become a member of the NRA, which is something that hadn’t ever crossed my mind as a thing that I would end up doing during the course of my life. Now mind you, I’ve shot plenty of guns growing up and recently bought my first one (a Bersa Thunder Pro HC), but joining the NRA wasn’t something I’d put a lot of thought into. However, I’m glad I did it and upon joining I felt proud. I was proud that I was taking a stand in defending the right to bear arms and proud that the NRA was giving me an opportunity to stand with others and have our voice heard.
Upon entering the show I was greeted by rows upon rows of every type of gun you could imagine. It was a swirl of color mixed with the music of people’s voices. I was especially impressed with the Barrett 50 caliber sniper rifle. I’ve seen a lot of guns in my lifetime, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen a gun quite that big. I got a chance to look through the optic on top and hold it in my hands. The only thing that stopped from buying one for myself was the $10,000 price tag. Don’t get me wrong, I liked the gun, but not at $10,000. Don’t worry though, I have a strategy: 1. make friends with someone who owns one, 2. steal it… I mean borrow it and go out in the desert for a day and make things go boom.
In addition to hosting big and powerful guns like the Barrett 50 BMG, the NRA hosted some of the nation’s most powerful and influential people. Almost all of the Republican Presidential Candidates were there including Scott Walker, Ted Cruz, Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio. I’m told that even “the Donald,” or his hairness, as I like to call him(aka. Donald Trump), was there. In fact according to my boss Eric, he was standing right behind me. However, I didn’t notice at the time since I was filming one of our clients and I missed a chance to take the most “epic” of selfies with “the Donald.” It was probably for the better. I imagine that upon me attempting to take a selfie with Mr. Trump, a massive security guard with black shades and an earpiece would have slung me over his shoulder and carted me out of the NRA Annual Meeting while Mr. Trump bellowed “You’re Fired.” I’ll keep my job thank you very much.
Remember when I said they didn’t call Nashville “music city” for nothing? Well this year the NRA Annual Meeting did not disappoint and featured country music stars like Alan Jackson and Hank Williams Jr. who I’m told got the place really swinging. We didn’t end up going to these headliners since our feet felt like they were going to fall off at any moment. I think we logged something like 10 plus miles on Friday, according to Eric and his pedometer. Although we didn’t see any headliners, the special thing about Nashville is that you don’t even need to go to a concert to experience the music. It seemed like every store, restaurant and gas station had some sort of a band playing live music. Walking down the street you got the feeling that the entire city was alive with the sounds of America, family and freedom. It was quite the sight and sound to behold.
Well folks, I’m now a card carrying member of the NRA and I’ve got to say I was impressed with the NRA Annual Meeting, the city of Nashville and most importantly, the down to earth and friendly people that I met.
I’m excited to go again next year. All I’ve got to say is, Louisville you’ve got a high bar to clear because Nashville was a show to remember.