Carrying Concealed at the NRA 2005 Annual Meeting.

Some freinds of mine have been kicking up dirt over the fact that the NRA had sent out the following memo, back around March 15th or so, regarding the NRA 2005 Annual Meeting at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston next week:

Originally Posted by AMResponse@nrahq.org

Thank you for contacting us. I apologize for the delay replying to your E-mail.
Firearms are not allowed at the George R. Brown Convention Center, concealed or not.
The NRA tries to find locations that are firearm friendly and can handle the extremely large numbers of Members that will attend the Annual Meeting.
Unfortunately, these locations are located in major metropolitan areas and many (if not all) do not allow weapons of any kind. Sometimes it is the policy of the convention center, however in this case the City of Houston making and enforcing the rules.
Thank you very much for your support and please feel free to contact us if you ever need anything else!
Best Regards,
NRA Member Communications

The entire High Road thread can be read here, and well, this just teed-off these men, and they started to raise a ruckus.Two days ago, this was posted in the thread by Golden Saber:

"For those of you that have inquired about concealed carry at the Convention Center in Houston:
The convention center prohibits concealed carry. HOWEVER NRA has negotiated through our attorneys a provision for concealed carry in our contract. Therefore, you may carry concealed in the convention center if you are in accordance with Texas state law. Please note: the firearm MUST be completely concealed at ALL times! Our security staff is working to cover the signs that prohibit firearms in the convention center, so hopefully there will be no confusion on site."

Another friend called them yesterday and raised cain about the word negotiate because the NRA had nothing to negotiate as S.B. 501, which passed in the 2003 Texas legislative session passed and became law on September 1, 2003.

Very curious timing by the NRA if you ask me, however, still one more friend contacted the George R. Brown Convention Center yesterday regarding this:

14. CONCEALED HANDGUNS

In accordance with provisions of the Texas Concealed Handgun Law, it is the policy of the City of Houston and the Houston Police Department that handguns and other weapons are strictly prohibited in the Convention Center. Individuals who fail to comply with this prohibition, or otherwise violate penal laws with respect to carrying a handgun or other weapon, are subject to immediate arrest and prosecution under Chapter 30.05 or Chapter 46 of the Texas Penal Code or applicable City Ordinance.

This prohibition applies to all persons including concealed handgun Licensees, but does not apply to licensed police officers and/or licensed honorably discharged retired police officers.

Well, Stephen W. Lewis, Deputy Director Convention & Entertainment Facilities Department responded via E-mail with the following to my friend:

Mr. Xxxxxxxxxxxxx,

Thank you for spotting the error on our web site regarding handguns. We
modified our rules regarding handguns when the law you cite became
effective. Unfortunately, those that maintain our web site inserted the old
version of our rules and regulations. The provision which we include in our
standard rules and regulations for those using the convention center is as
follows:

18. CONCEALED HANDGUNS.
Possession of firearms is forbidden in the Facility with the exception of
the following: (i) licensed peace officers and licensed honorably retired
peace officers and (ii) exhibitors and patrons during duly licensed gun
shows and (iii) individuals licensed by the State of Texas to carry
concealed handguns.

We will undertake to correct our web information ASAP. Please feel free to
contact me if you have questions.

So my Paranoids, if you go here, as of right now, this is what you will see:

So, what does all of this mean? If you have a Texas CHL or a CHL/CCW from a state that has reciprocity with Texas, you can carry at the NRA 2005 Annual Meeting.

Now, most folks that have a Texas CHL are aware of the laws, but those that need a refresher, and those from states that have reciprocity with Texas and are not familar with the laws, go here to learn.

Interestingly enough, something that most folks will overlook, is that this now puts the city of Houston in complaince with Texas state law regarding the banning of CHL in government owned facilities- I think.

So, if you are attending, and the NRA tells you that they NEGOTIATED Concealed Carry for the NRA 2005 Annual Meeting, you can say, bullshit, and should tell them that they should have said:

"Thanks to our great membership, which pointed out the NRA was wrong, we have told the city of Houston that it cannot prohibit us from allowing concealed carry because of Texas State Law."

However, the point, in my mind, is that it just takes a few good men to get something done...

--WP