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I Just Spent a Week in America
Every year, the National Rifle Association holds the Great American Outdoor Show in Harrisburg, PA. Billed as the largest outdoor show in the world, it’s acres and acres of guns, boats, outfitters, power tools, camo, country music, and on and on. Pretty much the opposite of a Bernie Sanders rally.
I have been here a week now (we do NRA News live remotes from the show), and have to say, it was great to get out of Washington DC, and spend a week in real America. This is an America where the people are kind and generous. No matter how packed the aisles were (and they were packed), I never once saw someone push or shove or even say a cross word. There are huge families with kids everywhere. People stop and thank other people wearing something showing that they serve(d) in the Armed Forces. And dogs. There were dogs everywhere, many of which were PTSD or other military support dogs. I’m a sucker for dogs, especially service dogs.
The mayor of Harrisburg, Eric Papenfuse, has no use for the NRA, and no matter the incredibly positive economic impact for his city, worked against the show. He even went so far as to forbid Harrisburg Police from providing security.
The mayor of Harrisburg, Penn., ordered his police department on Friday not to provide security for an upcoming NRA-sponsored gun show after the association refused to meet a demand to pay a 60-percent increase in fees for the service.
Harrisburg police have provided security for the annual Great American Outdoors Show, scheduled this year for February 6-14, in the past. Mayor Eric Papenfuse said that the decision not to offer the department’s services this year was motivated in part by the NRA’s opposition to the city’s gun control policies.
“We have an epidemic of gun violence,” Papenfuse told WHTM. “It’s no secret that the NRA has worked against the city’s interests repeatedly over the past year causing us to spend tens of thousands of dollars to defend common sense gun ordinances. We don’t need to be doing them any favors.”
Papenfuse is the same man, who in 2010, before he was the mayor, invited domestic terrorist Bill Ayers to speak at the Harrisburg bookstore he still owns.
Enter Bill Ayers, distinguished professor of education at the University of Illinois at Chicago and one who has traded in the real bombs of his youth for the rhetorical firebrands of a college professor.
His revolution is no longer in the streets but rather in the classroom, and at 7 p.m. Friday at Midtown Scholar Bookstore, 1302 N. Third Street in Harrisburg, he will argue that no school district will ever succeed unless its curriculum emphasizes principles of social justice.
If, to paraphrase James Baldwin, the paradox of a good education is that it encourages those who receive it to question the very rules of the society that has given them voice, then political transformation and educational reform are inexorably linked.
Teaching is a political and moral act, and the goal of social justice theorists such as Baldwin and Ayers is to inspire a new generation of thinking revolutionaries, not simply to train soon-to-be graduates how best to become complacent capitalists.
I can pretty much guarantee you that no one attending the Great American Outdoor Show ever bombed anything. Considering who Papenfuse decides to associate himself with, I know I stand with the right side. With good, hard-working, kind Americans, who just want to live a fulfilling life, with as little government interference as possible.
President Obama recently gave his State of the Union Address. I am here to tell you that the State of Real America is strong. It was nice to visit for a week. I need to get out here more often.
The show continues through the weekend of February 13 and 14. If you’re within a few hours drive, it’s well worth the trip.
Published in General
No wonder Harrisburg is bankrupt.
Maybe the show should consider relocating to a more hospitable venue.
I first read that mayor’s last name as “Palpatine”. Can’t imagine why…
I second Eeyore. It is February. Perhaps the weather and local law enforcement would both be more hospitable in Texas.
Yes, indeed – or Tennessee, or Alabama, or Mississippi, or…
Texas is a good choice, if for no other reason than the Media to get their collective undies in a bundle. Try Austin, please.
I venture out into small business blue collar America every day and it is composed of a solid mix of good, smart, decent and helpful folks who still identify as “American”, fly the flag and respect their neighbors, in both English and Spanish.
I worked in Philadelphia for 16 years and the best part was the fact that once you got ten miles from the city, you were in a whole other country. Harrisburg suffers from being the state capitol. Too bad about that idiot mayor.
With all of the gun dealers and owners walking around, I bet you feel really safe there, even without police protection.
Anyway, next time give us some more advance notice on this. Sounds like a lot of fun.
We really have to develop shock collar rhetoric that makes every Democrat think twice before uttering “common sense” and “gun [anything]” in the same sentence.
“Common sense” to gun grabbing liberals means every time a mass-murdering terrorist kills Americans, they want to further restrict the right of self-defense (using guns) of law-abiding Americans!!! I don’t know about you, but to me that’s some uncommon nonsense.
I think you find another city for this event.
The people of Harrisburg elected him. They got what they deserve.
I agree that NRA should look for a more hospitable venue.
I bet NRA could collect Harrisburg crime statistics and show that the whole city is safer when the NRA is in town.
I can’t imagine any criminal or terrorist being dumb enough to attempt anything at an NRA convention where everyone is armed or within arms reach of a weapon. Who needs the Harrisburg Police in that setting? This just illustrates how little Liberals like this Mayor understand about real Americans.
I think Maine sent some game wardens? Keep an eye out for ’em, and say “hi” for me!
I nominate Kansas for the next show. I’d sacrifice one of my 2 weeks’ vacation to go!
Come to Louisville, KY. Welcoming to all outdoor enthusiasts.