It's About Freedom
by Paul Spinola
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"...[T]he experience I took away from these Annual Meetings left
me no doubt about our fight for freedom..." |
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Paul Spinola |
I had quite an interesting weekend at the NRA Annual Meeting last month, to
say the least. Leaving California temporarily was itself a freeing
experience, but when I arrived at the Convention Center and placed myself
among other freedom-loving Americans, a sense of purpose began to emerge.
Before entering the Complex, myself and other
Members Council volunteers
gathered to collect
signatures as a show of gratitude for the help that
Wayne LaPierre and our
NRA has given us fighting the battles in California. Meeting fellow
California members with the full intent of fighting for our freedoms was a
positive experience indeed!
2002 Meeting of Members |
At 10AM, the Meeting of Members, wrought with patriotic and
invigorating addresses, brought us to our feet with ovations of approval,
time and time again. To not feel a sense of
patriotism, honor, and duty swell up inside of you would seem almost
impossible!
Members' Banquet |
When the meeting adjourned, we were able to make a brief pass
through the exhibit hall and I must say that I have been to a good many
shows in my time, but my senses were treated to an exposition for all
others to aspire to. First rate, top of its class, bar none!
Vince Gill |
My Saturday flew by only to be capped off by the Members Banquet that
featured good food and friends, engaging commentary, and entertainment
featuring Vince Gill and a comedian by the
name of "T. Bubba Bechtol", who
enlightened us on a new bumper sticker in the state of Florida that reads
as follows: "Honk if you voted for Al Gore. It's the big round button in
the center of your steering wheel!"
T. 'Bubba' Bechtol |
The following morning in very casual dress, I attended the
Women on Target
NRA Breakfast. After finishing my cup of coffee, I began to make my way to
exposition hall only to find none other than
Wayne LaPierre chatting with a
female member. Next to her was a gentleman with an Endowment ribbon on his
credentials awaiting his turn. Standing politely to the side, I awaited my
turn only to be caught off guard as he turned abruptly, thrust out his hand
and thanked me for attending!
With a few souvenirs in hand, I made my way
leisurely through the exposition hall one last time before making the
transition from the smooth roads of Nevada to the bumpy roads of California.
All in all, the experience I took away from these Annual Meetings left
me no doubt about our fight for freedom. It's even more comforting to know
that with fellow members we can stand shoulder to shoulder and fight this
war. So when someone asks what it's all about, you can stand tall and say,
"It's about freedom!"
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