by Glen I. Voorhees Jr.
Western Field Editor, and
Joseph P. Tartaro,
Executive Editor

The national media hovered over the National Rifle Association's annual meeting and convention in Charlotte, NC, hoping for big stories and possible confrontations between members and anti-gun demonstrators.

Even the city's police forces were turned out in platoons in front of the convention center from May 19-21 in the event of controversy and clashes.

The media got some juicy stories from the speeches of NRA President Charlton Heston, EVP Wayne LaPierre, NRA-ILA head James Jay Baker and banquet keynote speaker Rep. J. C. Watts (R-OK). They also got to write and talk about the more than 52,000 NRA members who set an overall attendance record, including 5,000 who joined during the convention weekend.

But they didn't get the confrontations they expected, and the Charlotte police had a boring three days. What few anti-gunners turned out to demonstrate did so at remote locations and parks, although one gutsy lady marched endlessly by herself with her sandwich board proclaiming that "We Don't Need More Guns and Moses."

What demonstrations did occur were the waves of orderly pro-gunners organized by Grass Roots North Carolina (GRNC) in support of the NRA and the right to keep and bear arms.

The GRNC rallies were formed up at First Ward Park, where crowds were addressed by pro-gun notables and then marched to the convention center in their green T-shirts and with green signs that said "Guns Save Lives."

Among the speakers were: Neal Knox a former NRA director; NC Libertarian candidate for governor Barbara Howe, Women & Guns editor Peggy Tartaro, NRA Director Dave Workman, Single Action Shooting Society President Judge Roy Bean, and GRNC directors Brian Yurke and Paul Vallone.

It was Heston, however, who wowed the members and the media when he raised a flintlock rifle over his head and declared, "from my cold dead hands!" at the conclusion of his speech at the NRA's 129th annual members meeting on May 20. Heston's remarks, following speeches from other officers of the Association, brought the record 5,000 members present to their feet on several occasions.

On Friday, May 19, the 129th NRA Annual Meetings opened to an enthusiastic crowd-exhibitors at the show were greeted by hoards of attendees from the moment of the 10 a.m. scheduled opening-and attendance throughout the three days brought smiles to the faces of commercial exhibitors.

While gun manufacturers who have opposed the government's deal with Smith & Wesson-especially Taurus International, Glock and Beretta USA-enjoyed standing-room only attention from attendees, even S&W's booth was well attended. More than one observer noted that people wearing "Boycott S&W" stickers were curiously spending time in the company's booth to examine the handguns on display.

The big news on May 19, however, was LaPierre's announcement that the NRA planned to open a shooting-sports theme restaurant in New York City's Times Square. The restaurant would have virtual trap, skeet and sporting clays electronic games, shooting and hunting themes, and serve a menu rich with wild game.

The restaurant announcement provided immediate indigestion for anti-gun politicians like Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY), Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY) and the Violence Policy Center's Josh Sugarmann. Apparently, positioning the NRA at street level for the general public is an idea that causes the antis great concern.

On May 20, NRA members attended the members meeting in record numbers.

After presentation of the colors, board member Susan Howard offered the opening prayer, followed by reports from the officers of the Association, many of whom linked their remarks to current news stories.

Zoo Shooting
For instance, Baker commented about the April shooting at the National Zoo in Washington, DC. He pointed out that, "the news media's attacks were not aimed at the perpetrator, but at you, at me, and at everyone in this room today." Al Gore, he said, took the opportunity at a fund-raising event in New York City to point out the importance of mandatory trigger locks. . . .
Trigger Locks?
Quoting Baker, "This shooting took place in a city where the sale, ownership and possession of handguns are already prohibited. If disarming Americans were a solution to anything, our nation's capitol would be a crime-free, gun controllers paradise. But instead, our nation's capital remains plagued by criminals like Antoine Jones, who pulled the trigger that sunny day at the zoo."

Later in his comments, Baker stated, "Trigger locks have become a political symbol-exalted on Bill Clinton's altar of spin, and imbued with magical powers. According to Clinton and Gore, they can make crack dealers into responsible parents. They can even keep violent juveniles from viciously attacking their classmates. Today, the hysteria has reached such ridiculous levels that the Massachusetts legislature actually ordered trigger locks to be placed on the Minutemen's historic flintlocks displayed in the State House."

Baker's comments focused on this year's elections. His plea to the membership is that they not only get out and vote but encourage friends to get out to vote as well. He concluded that the media elite will help Gore in this election.

"But we must rise above their tactics of deception to seize the greater objective," Baker said. "The 2000 election provides us the opportunity to define this issue well into the next decade, by electing a president, a Congress, and thousands of state legislators who all respect the Constitution and the Second Amendment. Then we can begin to take back what's ours-our freedom!"

Election Theme
LaPierre captured the members' attention when he focused his remarks on the "Moms" of the country. He equated Clinton's and Gore's attacks on firearms ownership with lying to your mom. That is something that moms recognize and you could never get away with.

LaPierre went on to say, "With the media's help, Al Gore paints a fictional nightmare of a non-existent world where a reckless population of stupid gunowners cause 13 innocent kids a day to die from guns."

"Well, it's all a big, stinking, dangerous, Al Gore lie," LaPierre continued.

He challenged ABC, NBC, CBS, Newsweek, Time, and any other news outlet to dispute the facts about firearms. He challenged the federal government to start prosecuting the 500,000 "criminals," that the instant-check has uncovered.

All of LaPierre's comments were centered on Gore and Clinton. In a continuing link to the so-called Million Mom March, he said: "You can't keep lying to our moms." His closing words brought the attendees to their feet, when he said, "And come November 7, freedom-loving moms will join all Americans to say 'we don't want you in our lives... we don't want you breathing down our necks we don't want you in our pockets we don't want you in our homes we don't want you in our bedrooms we don't want you in our closets and every mom I know, Mr. Gore, sure doesn't want you in the White House.' "

Heston's Report
The members were waiting for Heston's remarks. He said he was willing to continue as NRA President for a third year, and the board of directors re-elected him to a third year when the board meeting began on May 22.

Heston greeted the membership with, "It looks like I am back for one more encore. I've been asked to serve a third term as your president." He then stepped back from the podium and signaled the audience that he wanted their approval. The cheers and applause brought him back to the podium and he began a presentation that electrified the membership.

He stated that he had been asked to become president of the NRA:
First, to rebuild NRA membership, not by just a few thousand members, but by one million members.

Second, to rebuild the NRA war chest.

Third, to bring the NRA back to the table of mainstream political debate, and, "We have. You saw Wayne on that tape (shown to the members at the meeting). I'd say we're not just at the table. We're eating their lunch."

Heston stated, "I declare that mission accomplished."

While LaPierre based his comments on let's not lie or try to scare our moms, Heston centered his remarks on the comments made by actress Susan Sarandon at the "Million-Mom March." She stated, "We moms are really pissed off."

Heston questioned if you moms are "pissed off" at the failure of this Administration to prosecute gun-toting criminals?

"If so," he said, "you moms also might be pissed off at swimming pool owners, or stairway owners, or pick-up truck owners. Why aren't you pissed off that gun safety programs aren't in every elementary school?

"As a matter of fact," asked Heston, "why aren't you pissed off at parents who're oblivious that their kids are building bombs in their bedrooms?"

Finally, referring to those who stood on Concord Bridge, he spoke of the farmers who came from their simple homes to face the fire and fight. He concluded, "That's why those five words issue an irresistible call to us all, and we muster.

"From my cold dead hands!"
After the speeches, the nominating committee reported the results of the last election for directors.

General Business
Before the general business of the Association was started, NRA member John Hosford of Wyoming asked that the members be allowed to hear all of the resolutions that were presented to the Association.

"This would alter the agenda to accomplish a comprehensive discussion of business and resolutions members have waited a year to bring before the membership," Hosford said. He argued that such a parliamentary move would have granted the members the opportunity to participate in the decisions of the Association.

NRA past president Marion Hammer opposed the motion, saying that it wasn't necessary for the attendees to be told when they could or could not adjourn the meeting. Something as simple as a motion to hear all of the resolutions caused enough turmoil for the membership to vote the motion down.

But before they did, Doug Buchanan, a past member of the board from Alaska, spoke on the issue and told them that they, as members, have not heard all of the resolutions brought before the Association in over three years.

There were a few resolutions read and voted on, including one by Hammer, but before the meeting finished all the resolutions, board member Oliver North moved that the meeting be adjourned.

Watts Keynote
That evening, a record number of members attended the annual banquet, at which Watts delivered a stirring and thoughtful keynote address that focused heavily on the state of American society today.

Watts began with a salute to the NRA membership, and specifically a plaudit for the Second Amendment Sisters, who organized the counterpoint to the "million moms" on May 14.

"As is true of each of you," Watts said, "I make it a habit of citizenship to honor the entire Bill of Rights, not just the Amendments that happen to suit me. And let me restate once again that I stand completely and forever opposed to allowing the criminal element to destroy our liberties.

"These liberties, ensured by our Bill Of Rights, were properly recognized by our Founders as divine in origin, transcendent in nature, and beyond the political manipulations of beings even so powerful as talk show hostesses.

"My hope tonight is to talk about what I believe lies at the heart of our national violence problem, especially among our young people, and I also want to say a few words about the political debate raging over the issue of gun control. A debate that too often gets mired in superficial, simplistic arguments.

Cultural Issues
"But first, I want to address the cultural issues," Watts said. "In a word, I believe our problem stems from a bizarre mentality that breeds anger, hopelessness, despair, and sometimes murder.

"It is a bizarre mentality, but it is not an alien one. Quite the contrary. It is omnipresent and has, for many young people, replaced the mentality on which this nation was founded-a mentality that honored transcendent truth, personal responsibility, and duty to others."

Watts then discussed what he believes are the most important contributors to the bizarre mentality that affects so many children, a mentality that is robbing them of the ability to develop into self-governing individuals.

"Let me be blunt," he said, "The first step we can take toward restoring our nation is for each of us to recognize that we, as individual citizens, have all too often drifted with the cultural tide that has brought us to this unhappy place.

"We have not, for example, reached out to the many lonely and direction-less kids in our communities, or even to our own kids.

"We have left the television on in order to entertain and babysit our children.

"We have succumbed to the easy role of trumpeting our beliefs at the expense of listening to others.

"We have fallen for the sound bite mentality, which is a poor substitute for personal reflection and responsible action."

We shouldn't be surprised that we are reaping what we have sowed, the Oklahoma representative said.

"I am not saying that all our kids are bad. Far from it. For every bad kid who gets his picture on the cover of a national magazine, there are millions more trying to make their way in this world in a decent and positive way. They are working in school, and they are getting up in the morning wondering what they can do to make mom and dad proud of them.

"But it only takes a relative few to cause an immense amount of damage.

"It is also very clear kids aren't the only ones affected and infected by this bizarre mentality.

Parents
"In fact, gun control consistently finishes at or near the bottom of the list of solutions to youth violence. Eighty-four percent of those polled believe that greater involvement by parents in the lives of their children would have the greatest impact on reducing gun violence in our schools.

"Over the last 30 years, we have slowly become a culture that says the only thing right is to get by, the only thing wrong is to get caught; if it feels good, do it; if you don't want to do it, don't; if you don't like it anymore, divorce it; if it's inconvenient, abort it; and, if you can't handle it, drink it or drug it."

Then Watts made his recommendations for putting America back on the right track of preserving the Constitution and away from the cultural decay.

"First, we must work toward stronger enforcement of our current gun laws," he said. "Our current Administration has a dismal record of gun enforcement and has shown little in way of making it a priority.

"Under the Gun-Free School Zones Act, for example, the 6,000 students caught at school with a weapon in the past two years could have all been prosecuted. How many did the Administration actually prosecute? Just 13.

"There are some ideas that we must pursue legislatively if we are to reverse the direction toward cultural renewal. We must work to return control of our schools to parents and communities, helping parents make the right decisions about what's best for their children's education, and provide for the inclusion of faith-based schools.

"Secondly, we must provide for real pro-family tax relief and letting families keep more of their own money. It is wrong for both parents to have to work, spending less time with their children, purely to pay the family's tax bill.

Election Theme
Then Watts also touched on the presidential election.

"And lastly, we must send a clear message to Al Gore and all politicians that they do not hold all of the answers to solving all of the problems within our society. We must tell them to stop looking for the 'quick fix,' and pointing their finger at the easy target.

"I have said before: I am a man of faith, and a man of hope. I believe we know the way back. And I am convinced that our journey begins in our own hearts and homes," Watts said.

"But I am convinced that if we do not take those steps, and the others that naturally follow, then the people who are all willing to exchange their liberty for security will win the day. And to be quite frank, they will deserve to. We must run with perseverance the race that is set before us.

"I am convinced that we can prevail. If we do our best, our best will suffice. The strength of America is not our guns or Hollywood or government-the strength of America is our people-you, me, us, other Americans, our hopes, dreams ambitions, our ideas and, most important, our goodness," Watts concluded.