NRA Convention Advice 2019 | Dallas Observer

Dear Indianapolis,Welcome to NRA convention week. About a year ago, we, and by we, we mean Dallas' feisty alt-weekly, were sitting in the same spot you are now, wondering what to expect from Wayne LaPierre and his merry band of misfits. Given that we've already seen the other side, we figured sharing some of our experiences, and a little advice, might be helpful.The most important thing to remember, whether you're a member of the local media or any other Indianapolis resident, is that it will all be over soon. No matter how dystopian the vibe[1] or the rhetoric, come seven days from now, the open-carriers, national politicians and "15 acres of guns and gear" will have left your fine city. Until then, though, here's what we learned last year.1. The area around the Indianapolis Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium will be a nightmare. —  Avoid it if you can, especially Friday, when President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence descend on downtown Indianapolis for their speeches to the NRA Institute for Legislative Action's Leadership Forum. Traffic will grind to an inevitable halt if you're trying to get around in your car. If you're on foot, let's just say Secret Service agents are particularly antsy when they have to do their jobs around thousands of firearms. 2. Expect protests. — While the number of protesters demonstrating against the NRA probably won't be as high this year as it was in Dallas — last year's NRA convention came in the aftermath of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida — activists will dot the area around the convention center, arguing for gun control and more research into gun violence. Convention attendees and NRA officials will cite the protesters as proof that socialism is creeping into America's

Read more from our friends at the NRA...