NRA meeting draws 80,000 to Atlanta

ATLANTA — The National Rifle Association’s annual convention, today through Sunday in downtown Atlanta, features an address by President Donald Trump, a concert by Hank Williams Jr. and 10 acres of firearms and shooting and hunting gear.

Supporters are looking forward to embracing their Second Amendment rights while protesters plan to exercise their First Amendment ones. The convention is expected to draw 80,000 people.

Trump is scheduled to address the 146th NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits on Friday.

Other scheduled speakers include U.S. Sen. David Perdue, Georgia’s junior senator, along with Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, Florida Gov. Rick Scott and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz.

“Our Constitution is precious,” celebrity hunting and shooting instructor Kristy Titus, a brand ambassador for Cabela’s and a number of other outfits, said during a quick interview Wednesday morning before she hopped a plane from Oregon. “Preserving the right to keep and bear arms is of first and foremost importance. I’m a strong believer in the Second Amendment.”

She’ll lead a shooting seminar and plans to hit a number of sessions this weekend. A key part of her focus is helping women learn to handle firearms safely.

“Women are the leaders in homes. Getting women comfortable with firearms is important,” said Titus, who is aware of protest efforts planned to coincide with the convention. “If they have a problem with criminals having firearms, we need to address criminal sentencing and getting gangs and thugs off the streets and not criminalizing legal owners.”