I’m at the NRA convention in Houston, and one of the many dumb criticisms leveled at the organization (Why? When there are so many real criticisms?) is that the NRA is hypocritical for banning firearms at its own convention.
Except — pay attention, now, Sunshine! — the NRA doesn’t ban firearms at its convention.
In fact, there are a few people walking around with guns on their hips, and I suspect that the number of concealed-carry weapons exceeds the number of open-carry weapons by at least ten to one. (I know for a fact there’s at least one concealed firearm in the venue.) There’s no metal detector, no airport-style security, nothing like that. The only real security for the venue are the police deployed to keep the screaming idiot rabble out.
That being said, the Secret Service prohibits weapons from being carried into public appearances by people under its protection, so you couldn’t carry a gun into the room where Donald Trump was giving his speech. I know that many of our Democratic friends believe that the NRA is somehow omnipotent, but I am pretty sure the Secret Service sets its own policies.
As usual when it comes to the gun debate, our progressive friends could do themselves a favor by learning something about their subject.