I'm back from the National Rifle Association's Annual Meetings and Convention in Louisville. I must say I came away from there with a good feeling about the NRA in spite of the leadership's embracing of an anti-freedom Presidential candidate.

The convention was really well run and the Kentucky Exposition Center is a very nice place to hold a convention.  There were literally tens of thousands of people there and most all of them were extremely friendly. I've been to a lot of big venues full of people and I can tell you that the NRA has the nicest, best behaved, friendliest and CLEANEST crowd going.  I guess an armed society is a polite society.

I met a lot of vendors and reps from several companies and picked up a boatload of catalogs, brochures and samples.  I also was able to handle a lot of different guns. While there was no shortage of high ticket dream guns available to peruse, and I assure you I did, I tried to spend the most time on guns that are reasonable candidates for my next carry gun.  I am think I came away with my selection—the SIG P250.  A close second is the Springfield Armory XD-M with the Smith & Wesson M&P bringing up third place.

I saw and met lots of famous people: Craig Boddington, R. Lee Emery and of course Ted Nugent and his pal Big Jim.  If you have never heard Ted Nugent speak, you are really missing something. Sure he has great concerts but his public speaking talents are incredible and his message is clear.

Going to the annual convention is just a blast and I will go again in two years. Next year is in Phoenix but 2010 is in Pittsburg which is about the same drive for me as Louisville.  The experience is not without cost though. While it is open free to members, you end up wanting to spend money you don't have on gear and guns.  I walked away with a new obsession that I do not know how to deal with on my salary—Africa!

I'll write more on the convention but life and work are getting in the way.