By Jim Irvine

The NRA held its annual meetings in St. Louis, Missouri this weekend. I have come to have high expectations of these events, and this one did not disappoint.

My personal highlight was Missouri Governor Matt Blunt signing the Emergency Powers Protection into law to officially open the weekend. On stage with him were many of the law makers and NRA executives who helped move this bill to his desk. He also stated that he will be signing Castle Doctrine soon. What a stark contrast to Ohio where we needed to override prior Governor Taft to pass good laws. Thankfully our new Governor Strickland has already proven to be friendly to gun owners.

On Thursday, Cam Edwards read a talk-back from someone saying that every NRA member should go to the annual meetings once. The first meetings were the 2002 meetings in Reno, Nevada. I remember meeting a couple in the first hour who asked my wife and I if it was our first meetings. When asked if it was their first, they said they had been to every one for the last 35 years! I didn’t understand why anyone would want to do that, but as the weekend unfolded, I figured it out. It is now an annual priority in our home too.

Maybe the most impressive part of the weekend is the people. NRA members are the friendliest, most courteous, interesting, and just overall nicest 60,000 people you will ever find. It’s normal for the stranger in front of you to wait those few seconds to hold the door for you. Friendly smiles and “Hi’s” from strangers on the sidewalk and hotel hallway are standard. You share pictures and stories of family with others seated at your table. As always, I have more friends than I did when the meetings started.

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