President’s Column
Come Experience Freedom In
Pittsburgh! By Ronald L. Schmeits, NRA President
We’re about two months away from convening in Pittsburgh, April 29-May 1, for the most exciting event on NRA’s calendar, our Annual Meetings & Exhibits. As always, a cast of stars will be on hand to entertain and enlighten. This year, Mike Huckabee, Michael Reagan, Jeff Foxworthy and Ted Nugent will be taking the stage on Saturday and Sunday. That same stage, in years past, has brought you the president and vice president of the United States, senators, governors, military leaders, top policy makers and awardwinning musicians. It’s brought you “from my cold, dead hands.” And it’s brought many a sleepless night to freedom’s enemies. But perhaps what’s most important is what you’ve brought to the stage: a passion for freedom from the grassroots level that, even in America, knows no equal. That passion draws leaders from our nation’s highest levels year after year. They come to see you and pay their respects to a grassroots movement that predates us all—and they leave inspired. That’s not the expectation at most other stops on the speaking circuit. But anyone who stands behind our podium in Pittsburgh this year will look out at tens of thousands of freedom’s greatest allies and see this nation’s heartbeat, steady and stirring with pride. They’ll see exactly what the Founding Fathers envisioned: Americans from all walks of life and every corner of the country coming together to celebrate and protect the precious liberty that unites us. And they’ll be reminded that power in this nation is not confined to the White House or Capitol Hill—it’s ours, so long as we continue to exercise it. Because while freedom has a number of more overt enemies, its most dangerous is apathy. As long as American liberties are exercised, they’ll never fall prey to the pack of gunbanners and anti-freedom extremists.
And every year, NRA members do just that. That’s what makes the Annual Meetings so special to me, and it’s why our nation’s leaders always want to make an appearance. Because their audience is filled with America’s greatest patriots—people like you, who refuse to sit idly by and entrust our country to those who don’t respect it. Come join me in Pittsburgh. We’ll celebrate both our firearm freedom and those who’ve made an active commitment to its defense. And while you’re there, I think you’ll find much to enjoy. The Exhibit Hall will play host to acres of the absolute latest firearms and hunting equipment for you to browse and sample, and representatives from nearly every manufacturer will be available to answer your questions. Not only is it one of the year’s greatest gun shows, it’s free for NRA members to enter!
“... celebrate both our firearm freedom and those who’ve made an active commitment to its defense.” I strongly encourage you to attend the Annual Meeting of Members on Saturday morning, where you can participate in the official business of our Association. You’ll hear firsthand from our Association’s officers about the challenges that lie ahead, and we’ll discuss strategies to meet those assaults head-on. The Celebration of American Values Freedom Experience, truly the weekend’s can’t-miss event, takes place Saturday night. Following opening remarks by my friends Wayne LaPierre and Chris W. Cox, comedian Jeff Foxworthy will have you rolling in your seats, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee will continued on page 13 Volume 16, Number 1l CLUB CONNECTION l 3