Attending the NRA Annual Meeting in Pittsburgh? (T-Shirts?)

[Hobie]

Apr 29 - May 1

[RIHMFIRE]

wish i could...

[stew71]

Nope. Saving money and vacation time for hunting trips to Alaska and Idaho.

Now if the NRA were ever to hold the meeting in Reno, then I'd go. Just a quick ride over the hill.

[Hobie]

Nope. Saving money and vacation time for hunting trips to Alaska and Idaho.

Now if the NRA were ever to hold the meeting in Reno, then I'd go. Just a quick ride over the hill.

Which is why I went to Charlotte.

[Irelander]

I sure am. I'm just about an hour north of Pitt.

[Hobie]

That's good. Maybe we ought to make up a T-Shirt...

[Ysabel Kid]

Considering it. Just don't know with my work schedule. Still got a ton of family in the area, but I haven't seen them in a decade or so. Might be a bit peeved at me if I go and spend all day at the show (or worse, just come in for the day and not tell them!).

I like the idea of a "Leverguns" t-shirt! I say Jeff Quinn a few years back at one of the shows sporting a "Gun Blasts" shirt. Good idea!

[Hobie]

Actually trying the T-shirt thing via Cafe Press. The color? Kelly green of course. I hope this is how it turns out (delivery about 3 Feb)...

Might have to tweak the logo. If it works we'll set up so that members can order and the money will go to the site. I think they have shirts from small up to 2X-Large.

[Hobie]

btt

[Rimfire McNutjob]

That's good. Maybe we ought to make up a T-Shirt...

How about "I went to the NRA meeting in Pittsburgh and all I got was this lousy Leverguns shirt."

[damienph]

That's good. Maybe we ought to make up a T-Shirt...

How about "I went to the NRA meeting in Pittsburgh and all I got was this lousy Leverguns shirt."

Or, "I couldn't make it to Pittsburg, but I got this really cool Leverguns T-Shirt!"

[Sixgun]

Its a five hour drive but I'll most likely be there. Me and Gunny were talking about it last night.------------Sixgun

[Hobie]

Its a five hour drive but I'll most likely be there. Me and Gunny were talking about it last night.------------Sixgun

I'd like to meet y'all. It is a 5 hour drive for me, too.

[41 Redhawk]

Hmmm, it's a 15 minute "T" ride for me.

Hobie, isn't Charlotte more than 5 hours for you?

[Hobie]

Hmmm, it's a 15 minute "T" ride for me.

Hobie, isn't Charlotte more than 5 hours for you?

Yep.

You might clue us in on the tricks to moving around Pittsburgh. Looking at the map I didn't see a "T" station at the venue, which surprised me. I'm hoping to stop at Fort Necessity on the way home (a different route but still, about 5 hours). It seems the hotels next to the venue for the NRA Annual Meeting are booked up.

[jnyork]

Too far for me, anyone have any idea if and when there will be another somewhere in the western states?

[Hobie]

Too far for me, anyone have any idea if and when there will be another somewhere in the western states?

I imagine that it will move west next year. They probably already know where but I haven't seen anything.

[Sixgun]

Hobie,
Here's the plan---About a week before the show, lets get a post and have everyone who is going, to sign up. We can all meet at a certain time. What is it, April 2? You will have to remember this as I already forgot what I had for lunch a couple of hours ago.

We can have some laughs, swap lies or even guns if need be. I know you like Civil War stuff and my buddy Tom has a wall full of it. Let me know your wants and I'll bring it:D --------------Sixgun

[Hobie]

The meeting is April 29-May 1. I will be there the evening of the 28th. Actually the foundation dinner is the evening of the 28th. I haven't gotten tickets yet, not a fan of dress up. I want to attend the leadership forum but the schedule isn't out and tickets not available (unless as part of the package for the freedom experience). Details are pretty scarce but apparently not scarce enough for a bunch of folks to suck up all the hotel rooms in the immediate vicinity of the venue.

[41 Redhawk]

Hmmm, it's a 15 minute "T" ride for me.

Hobie, isn't Charlotte more than 5 hours for you?

Yep.

You might clue us in on the tricks to moving around Pittsburgh. Looking at the map I didn't see a "T" station at the venue, which surprised me. I'm hoping to stop at Fort Necessity on the way home (a different route but still, about 5 hours). It seems the hotels next to the venue for the NRA Annual Meeting are booked up.

Hobie,

I can do that. I will also offer to answer any questions that I can via the forum, PM or e-mail. I will also give my phone number to anyone that requests it via email or PM. I work for one of the City Authorities and my office is about 5 blocks from the convention center.

The David L Lawrence convention center sits at the northwest corner of downtown Pittsburgh on the southern bank of the Allegheny river. The downtown area is very compact and I can walk from one end to the other in about 15 minutes. The “T” I referred to is Pittsburgh’s version of the subway and services Downtown and points south. In downtown it and buses are free. There are two stops within 3 to 4 blocks of the convention center; Steel Plaza and Wood St. This link http://www.downtownpittsburgh.com/accommodations is a list of accommodation that are downtown, the north shore and Station Square/Southside. I can walk from Station Square to the convention center in about 30 minutes. The North shore is even closer. All the bridges are open to pedestrian travel. From that list Sheraton Station Square is in (you guessed it) Station Square. Spring Hill Suites North, Residence Inn Marriott North Shore, and Hyatt Place Pittsburgh North Shore are on the north shore (northern bank of the Allegheny) close to PNC Park; home of the Pirates. I’m guessing that most of these hotel have a shuttle service. There are many other hotels south, east and north of Pittsburgh; all within about a half of an hour drive from downtown.

On Friday parking will be a bit problematic as it is a work day. There is a garage attached to the convention center and another one at the bus station (Ross St. and Liberty Ave.). Driving in Pittsburgh can be interesting. Because of the three rivers and a bunch of hills, street layout looks like it was done by a drunken surveyor on a Friday afternoon just before happy hour. There are a lot of one way streets they seem like they are always the wrong way from where you are and where you want to be!

Pennsylvania honors permits/licenses from the following states: http://www.pafoa.org/law/carrying-firea ... eciprocity. PA is also an open carry state. You may open carry your handgun while on foot without a license. Keep in mind however that you may not have a handgun in a vehicle unless you have a license, are carrying between your house and your business, or are carrying between your house or your business to a gun shop or range. Pittsburgh Police are pretty much aware of the legality of open carry although an individual officer may give you some grief. Some of the outer municipalities my be less knowledgeable even though it was included in their yearly training a couple of years ago. http://www.papoa.org has a ton of information on PA firearms law and they have a forum at http://forum.pafoa.org/. While a good source for information, be advised they are not as genteel as we are here. Here is a thread on that forum discussing the NRA convention http://forum.pafoa.org/political-138/10 ... eting.html. The current belief is that firearms carry is allowed in the convention center. It is owned by the Sports and Exhibition Authority and being a governmental agency can not have rules or regulations beyond what is laid out in state law because of preemption.

Sorry for the length but I hope it is helpful.

[41 Redhawk]

The Pirates have a home game on the 28th then they are away until after the convention. By this time they will be out of the playoffs! The Rivers Casino is on the north shore down the Ohio river a bit. It is a pretty good walk. Just after you pass Heinz Field (Home of the 7 time Super Bowls champs!) but before you get to the Casino is the Carnegie Science Center. It is interesting. They have an old submarine floating in the river you can tour.

[Hobie]

All this is very helpful. I'm sure we'll appreciate all the info!

We'll be staying in the Sheraton at Station Square but my wife isn't going to be walking 30 minutes one way! Thank goodness for the various public transportation. I'm hoping to drive in and out of the hotel parking and that's it.

My 3X great-grandfather was Charles F. Bartberger. He and, more so, his son (Charles Mathias Bartberger) were noted Pittsburgh architects. So, I've a family connection to the city. His son's home (now a museum of sorts) is at 408 South Pacific Avenue and that's quite a ways from where we'll be.

Hmmm, it's a 15 minute "T" ride for me.

Hobie, isn't Charlotte more than 5 hours for you?

Yep.

You might clue us in on the tricks to moving around Pittsburgh. Looking at the map I didn't see a "T" station at the venue, which surprised me. I'm hoping to stop at Fort Necessity on the way home (a different route but still, about 5 hours). It seems the hotels next to the venue for the NRA Annual Meeting are booked up.

Hobie,

I can do that. I will also offer to answer any questions that I can via the forum, PM or e-mail. I will also give my phone number to anyone that requests it via email or PM. I work for one of the City Authorities and my office is about 5 blocks from the convention center.

The David L Lawrence convention center sits at the northwest corner of downtown Pittsburgh on the southern bank of the Allegheny river. The downtown area is very compact and I can walk from one end to the other in about 15 minutes. The “T” I referred to is Pittsburgh’s version of the subway and services Downtown and points south. In downtown it and buses are free. There are two stops within 3 to 4 blocks of the convention center; Steel Plaza and Wood St. This link http://www.downtownpittsburgh.com/accommodations is a list of accommodation that are downtown, the north shore and Station Square/Southside. I can walk from Station Square to the convention center in about 30 minutes. The North shore is even closer. All the bridges are open to pedestrian travel. From that list Sheraton Station Square is in (you guessed it) Station Square. Spring Hill Suites North, Residence Inn Marriott North Shore, and Hyatt Place Pittsburgh North Shore are on the north shore (northern bank of the Allegheny) close to PNC Park; home of the Pirates. I’m guessing that most of these hotel have a shuttle service. There are many other hotels south, east and north of Pittsburgh; all within about a half of an hour drive from downtown.

On Friday parking will be a bit problematic as it is a work day. There is a garage attached to the convention center and another one at the bus station (Ross St. and Liberty Ave.). Driving in Pittsburgh can be interesting. Because of the three rivers and a bunch of hills, street layout looks like it was done by a drunken surveyor on a Friday afternoon just before happy hour. There are a lot of one way streets they seem like they are always the wrong way from where you are and where you want to be!

Pennsylvania honors permits/licenses from the following states: http://www.pafoa.org/law/carrying-firea ... eciprocity. PA is also an open carry state. You may open carry your handgun while on foot without a license. Keep in mind however that you may not have a handgun in a vehicle unless you have a license, are carrying between your house and your business, or are carrying between your house or your business to a gun shop or range. Pittsburgh Police are pretty much aware of the legality of open carry although an individual officer may give you some grief. Some of the outer municipalities my be less knowledgeable even though it was included in their yearly training a couple of years ago. http://www.papoa.org has a ton of information on PA firearms law and they have a forum at http://forum.pafoa.org/. While a good source for information, be advised they are not as genteel as we are here. Here is a thread on that forum discussing the NRA convention http://forum.pafoa.org/political-138/10 ... eting.html. The current belief is that firearms carry is allowed in the convention center. It is owned by the Sports and Exhibition Authority and being a governmental agency can not have rules or regulations beyond what is laid out in state law because of preemption.

Sorry for the length but I hope it is helpful.

[41 Redhawk]

There is a T stop about 3 blocks from the Sheraton. Plenty of buses go across the Smithfield street bridge there as well. A lot of the walking from the Sheradon to the T or bus stops can be done inside. There is a little shopping mall between the two. You can go in one end, cover a couple of blocks and come out the other. Hang on to your wallet though, prices are a bit steep in there! Lots of good places to eat at station square too!

I often pass by this building http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsbu ... 21289.html

[Hobie]

There is a T stop about 3 blocks from the Sheraton. Plenty of buses go across the Smithfield street bridge there as well. A lot of the walking from the Sheraton to the T or bus stops can be done inside. There is a little shopping mall between the two. You can go in one end, cover a couple of blocks and come out the other. Hang on to your wallet though, prices are a bit steep in there! Lots of good places to eat at station square too!

I often pass by this building http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsbu ... 21289.html

That's good, the wife and I enjoy good places to eat!

[41 Redhawk]

Hobie,

Since you are staying in station square time permitting, you might want to take a ride on the Monongahela incline. It leaves station square and goes up to Mount Washington. You will get great views of the city from up there and there are some really nice restaurants up there as well

http://www.stationsquare.com/info/inclines.cfm
http://www.portauthority.org/PAAC/Custo ... fault.aspx

[Hobie]

I noticed the incline. We love to ride such things and it is a bit of what we do when we travel. There is a Robert Griffing print... "In the Shadow of the King" I'm hoping there won't be snow that late in April...

[41 Redhawk]

I'm hoping there won't be snow that late in April

Likely not but I wouldn't leave my jacket at home either. It still can be cool around here that time of the year!

[w30wcf]

I will be there Saturday.
Anybody else?

w30wcf

[41 Redhawk]

I was there for about a hour and a half and got maybe halfway through the exhibition hall. Don't know if I'll make it back or not.

[41 Redhawk]

So Hobie, did you enjoy your time in da 'burgh? I sure hope you remembered your jacket and umbrella!

[DixieBoy]

I went. Didn't decide to go until about a week before the event. I had a different motivation than most I suppose, I was job shopping. Done with teaching here and wanting to work in the shooting industry. Looking for sales or marketing work, but I'm open to working in a production facility too. So, I was the pesky guy with a resume in my hand.

Friday was horrendous if you were coming into the city from anywhere that you couldn't walk to the convention. Once on the Convention Center ramp, off of 376, it took just about 3 hours to get parked. That stretch is less than a mile. Yikes ! I was cursing the NRA for doing this thing in Pittsburgh at that moment, but I understand that alot of the membership is up that way. Still, I saw what must have hundreds of cars just turning around, in the rear view mirror, when it became obvious that many of us were going to spend half of Friday's convention in our cars, stuck in traffic.

For what it's worth, I went to the last one NRA had in Orlando, Florida. Drove over, parked in five minutes, and was in the doors in another five minutes. THAT'S the way it ought to be. I heard Charlotte was good last year, but I was looking after Dad back then, so it was an impossibility. Sure would like to see another event held closer, and with better access.

Not working in the trade - yet - I have never been to SHOT shows, but the displays the manufacturers put together are absolutely top notch. Alot of time, effort, and money goes into the displays of outfits like Ruger, S&W, Glock, and all of the "bigs." Glock had The Gunny signing pictures and there must have been a line 150 feet long ! No offense to The Gunny, but I passed on that.

One thing which was apparent to anyone taking in all of the manufacturers' and vendors' displays: the shooting sports are healthy now. I needed to see that, to encourage me when I get down about being among the job-hunters now.

Don't know if I'll land anything due to contacts made at the convention, but one thing's for sure. My list of "must have" firearms just grew by about 20. Gonna have to find work fast if I'm going to continue to indulge the shooting passion. - DixieBoy

[Hobie]

I had a great time but not enough time and you guys know what I mean. Didn't get to ride the incline, meet the gun bloggers or enough other people from on-line. Wish I'd gotten to meet John and DixieBoy. Did see another fellow talking up a senior company rep for a job and he was encouraged to send in a resumé.

PS - Wife says we will be going to St. Louis next year. Likely going to arrive a full day early and maybe stay through Monday.

[DixieBoy]

Hobie - I'd like to have met you and any of the other levergun gang who went. Definitely made things a lot more challenging for myself by making arrangements just a week before the event.

Never did get my hands on a good map, and I was lost three times in just as many days. For me, that was particularly embarrassing, as I am usually a solid navigator.

I'm still going through notes I'd made to myself while I was meeting and talking with a bunch of the company reps, writing followup letters.

Hey, here's something that you guys might find interesting. I flew up from Melbourne on Thursday, April 28, and had a connector in Charlotte. Noticed a face I recognized in the airport, and said, "Dr. Scheuer ?" It was Dr. Michael Scheuer, the former CIA head of the Bin Laden unit. I've seen him interviewed alot on O'Reilly and recognized him instantly.

Then I get home Sunday at dinnertime, and that night we get the news that Bin Laden was toast. I can only imagine what Dr. Scheuer knew that the rest of the world didn't know yet on that Thursday night.

Back to next year - I'll be going to St. Louis, and I sure as heck won't wait like I did this year. I want IN to this shooting industry, and I'm committed to making a huge pain in the keister out of myself until somebody caves in.

I'll be sure to have just a bit more cash with me next time too. I could barely afford this trip, and was worrying that I might not have a dime in my pocket by the time I got home. Quite a few nice trinkets and goodies to bring home if you had the cash. Alot of the holster makers, for instance, were offering super deals right there at the convention. Lots more goodies too. I'd like to get to one of these events and be able to treat myself if I like. This year, I'll just call it "my austerity trip." haha - DixieBoy

[Hobie]

Hobie - I'd like to have met you and any of the other levergun gang who went. Definitely made things a lot more challenging for myself by making arrangements just a week before the event.

Never did get my hands on a good map, and I was lost three times in just as many days. For me, that was particularly embarrassing, as I am usually a solid navigator.

I'm still going through notes I'd made to myself while I was meeting and talking with a bunch of the company reps, writing followup letters.

Hey, here's something that you guys might find interesting. I flew up from Melbourne on Thursday, April 28, and had a connector in Charlotte. Noticed a face I recognized in the airport, and said, "Dr. Scheuer ?" It was Dr. Michael Scheuer, the former CIA head of the Bin Laden unit. I've seen him interviewed alot on O'Reilly and recognized him instantly.

Then I get home Sunday at dinnertime, and that night we get the news that Bin Laden was toast. I can only imagine what Dr. Scheuer knew that the rest of the world didn't know yet on that Thursday night.

Back to next year - I'll be going to St. Louis, and I sure as heck won't wait like I did this year. I want IN to this shooting industry, and I'm committed to making a huge pain in the keister out of myself until somebody caves in.

I'll be sure to have just a bit more cash with me next time too. I could barely afford this trip, and was worrying that I might not have a dime in my pocket by the time I got home. Quite a few nice trinkets and goodies to bring home if you had the cash. Alot of the holster makers, for instance, were offering super deals right there at the convention. Lots more goodies too. I'd like to get to one of these events and be able to treat myself if I like. This year, I'll just call it "my austerity trip." haha - DixieBoy

If there is a downside to attending it is that you can spend far too much money. I'm cheap which is why I'm comfortable now (with no debt). For me, this is an important necessary luxury.

[41 Redhawk]

Nice write up. I was really afraid we were really going to get some snow. I heard traffic was the pits Friday. They only had one traffic officer there in the morning rush hour. Apparently Chief (take your guns) Harper got alot of flack about because there were a bunch more in the afternoon rush hour. I just walked the 5 blocks from my office....no traffic problems at all!

I was also glad that the NRA was able to negotiate allowing firearms to be carried in the Consol Energy Center. As the major lease holder on the arena, the Penguins can set whatever firearms policy they want and typically none are allowed. The convention center on the other hand is owned by the Sports and Exhibition Authority with no lease holder and is therefore subject to out state's excellent preemption law. They can not regulate firearms. Unfortunately the Steelers would not budge and no firearms were allowed in Heinz field.

[Ysabel Kid]

I was hoping to make I could make it, but just couldn't work it into the schedule with all of my travel before and after.