At the NRA's Annual Meetings & Exhibits

Leaving early enough last Thursday morning, it took roughly thirteen hours to get down to Charlotte.  When I arrived at the Charlotte Convention Center on Friday, the first thing I had to do was get tickets for both the Leadership Forum and the Freedom Experience, then head straight to Time Warner Arena for the Leadership Forum.  (If you want to see more pictures, you can see them here.)

This year's list of speakers was impressive, featuring John Bolton, Michael Reagan, Indiana Congressman Mike Pence, Chuck Norris, North Carolina's own Senator Richard Burr and Congressman Heath Shuler, and of course:

Boy, did the audience go into an uproar when she appeared on stage!  Needless to say, Sarah Palin dominated the event.  Electrifying!

If you think the number here isn't much, don't be fooled.  Sebastian at Snowflakes In Hell has the number of attendants at the Exhibits at 72,128, the largest ever in the history of NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits.  The sight of the latest exhibits of shotguns, rifles, handguns, and related accessories as far as the eye can see is always an amazing sight to behold

As expected, Ted Nugent was there and spoke to Cam Edwards on NRA News.

Now that's what I call rifles!

There's nothing like a Glock...

...or a Taurus for that matter!  Now all I gotta do is get one of each!

Saturday night was when the Freedom Experience was held, also at the Time Warner Arena.  Newt Gingrich was the first keynote speaker, followed by...

the ever motivating and inspiring Glenn Beck, complete with chalk board...

and Oliver North, along with a surprise appearance by R. Lee Ermey.

The Randolph-Macon Academy Band and Chorus out of Front Royal, Virginia performed beautiful renditions of patriotic songs prior to the event beginning, and after the keynote speakers appeared...

The one and only Charlie Daniels Band performed, with The Devil Went Down To Georgia as their finale.

Sunday morning, I returned home, arriving late that night.  For me, it was my fifth straight trip to the NRA's Annual Meetings & Exhibits (sixth overall), and as always, it was an exciting experience.  Can't wait for next year, but until then...