NRA Moves Convention From Columbus, Ohio - Yahoo! News
NRA Moves Convention From Columbus, Ohio
Lessee...
Columbus. Rifles. Highway sniper.
And the NRA didn't see this coming? I have to say that the councilman's suspicions that the whole initial scheduling of the convention there knowing that the council was considerig a ban on certain weapons was simplicity a publicity stunt seem right on target to me.
posted by Suerreal @ 6:31 PM
2 Comments:
By JOHN McCARTHY, Associated Press Writer Tue Jul 19, 6:28 AM ET
COLUMBUS, Ohio - The National Rifle Association has abandoned plans to hold its 2007 convention in Columbus following the passage of a ban on assault weapons by city officials.
The ban, passed earlier this month, outlaws the sale or possession of semiautomatic rifles with pistol grips and detachable magazines. Mayor Michael Coleman said that the NRA and other groups will not dictate city policy and that the ban will make Columbus safer, which will attract other convention business.
The NRA, however, was clear about its decision Monday.
"When freedom comes back to Columbus, we will come back to Columbus," NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre said in a statement posted on the group's Web site.
The gun organization had planned to hold its annual three-day event, expected to draw as many as 60,000 people, at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. The convention was expected to generate $15 million to $20 million for local businesses, but other groups have shown interest, said Paul Astleford, president of the city's convention and visitors bureau.
Federal lawsuits have overturned two previous attempts by Columbus to ban assault weapons. The latest law attempts to avoid that by spelling out a distinction between legal sporting weapons and military-style assault weapons.
"The party is canceled because last week your City Council unanimously voted to revoke the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens in Columbus by banning perfectly legal firearms," according to LaPierre.
The NRA would return if lawmakers pass a measure overriding the new ban, he said. The group also considered Portland, Ore., and Reno, Nev., for the 2007 event.
The convention is used as a forum for addressing gun-related issues, and guns and accessories are displayed. No guns are sold, but orders can be placed on the exhibit-hall floor.
Councilman Michael Mentel said the NRA knew when it scheduled the convention that the city was considering a weapons ban and used the Columbus law to seek publicity.
"I do think it is a ruse," he said. "They knew exactly what was going on in Columbus."
Coleman, who signed the ban into law on Thursday, is running for the Democratic nomination for governor next year. He is opposed in the primary by U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland (news, bio, voting record), a frequent recipient of NRA endorsements.
Strickland said he believes talking about gun bans diverts attention from other issues of importance to Ohioans such as job creation and education funding.
"The issue of banning a particular weapon, I don't think it accomplishes much and I think it results in a divided, polarized response on the part of the people," said Strickland.
From NBC News in Columbus:
http://www.nbc4i.com/news/4735086/detail.html
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