At the 2018 Gun Rights Policy Conference in Chicago

Gun Watch ^ | 26 September, 2018 | Dean Weingarten

[marktwain]

The 2018 Gun Rights Policy Conference was held at the Chicago O'Hare airport Hyatt Regency this year. I arrived after driving up from Dallas. As usual, the last 30 miles consisted of slow moving traffic. I used a GPS to make the proper turns. There wasn't any real choice of another hotel.

The conference rate at the Hyatt wasn't too terrible. $119 with parking included. I expect some state and local taxes will be added to the final bill.

The hotel had something new this year. A small "no guns" sign in red on the entrance doors. We were told the hotel coffee for the conference cost SAF $145 per gallon, once the taxes were added on.

One speaker said he had interacted with a doctor's conference attendee that was also being held at the Hyatt. The doctor's conference had warned the doctors that the GRPC conference would be there, and apologized for putting them, unknowingly, in the same hotel with gun people.

Chicago Guns Matter had a table outside the conference room, along with several others, including Knife Rights, The Illinois Rifle and Pistol Association, and several others.

On speaker from Detroit, I think it was Marcus Allen Weldon, author of "The Santa Shooter", suggested the GRPC be held in Detroit one year.

I thought it a fair request. I have always wanted to see Detroit. Detroit is a more gun friendly venue than Chicago.

We had a box lunch at the conference in the conference room, so that we did not waste time trying to find a place to eat. It is a nice touch at the GRPC. The food was acceptable, but I was told SAF was charged $40 a box.

Next year the GRPC will be in Phoenix.

There were several hundred attendees at the GRPC. Attendance seemed a little down from the last time we were in Chicago. There was some buzz about the Cody Wilson case, and surprise the U.S. government had been able to have him arrested in Taiwan, so quickly.  Taiwan is said not to have an extradition treaty with the United States.

Cody Wilson made many powerful enemies with his support for the right to be armed, Defense Distributed, and the 3D printing of guns and gun parts.

The arrest came within a month, as I recall, of Defense Distributed's lawsuit against numerous state attorney generals for deprivation of Constitutional rights under color of law.

Matthew Goldstein gave an informative presentation on the state of the ITAR regulation and settlement in the Defense Distributed case.

If you have time, I recommend attending a GRPC. SAF does an excellent job putting them on. They are informative, the speakers are approachable, and you will be able to rub elbows with well known names in the gun culture.

©2018 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

Gun Watch

[marktwain]

Always interesting to attend the GRPC. I reccommend it to anyone interested in defending the Second Amendment.

[cuban leaf]

In Chicago?

Why not just outside Cook County?

I drive to the area a few times a year to see the GrandKids (and the kids, of course). I’ve not been in the city itself for at least 15 years except for the one experiment I did with Megabus and lived the movie “Source Code” to get to Algonquin.

That city has zero to offer me other than being a pain in the neck.

[taxcontrol]

It strikes me as odd that a conference on gun rights would be held in a location that prohibits guns.

[Bonemaker]

Who the hell picked Chicago of all unchristly places?

“The conference rate at the Hyatt wasn’t too terrible. $119 with parking included. I expect some state and local taxes will be added to the final bill.”

It’ll probably be $219 after the Chicago gangsters get their skim.

[marktwain]

It strikes me as odd that a conference on gun rights would be held in a location that prohibits guns.

I believe they have had it twice in Chicago over the last 33 years.

Next year will be in Phoenix.

They move it all over the country.

[marktwain]

It’ll probably be $219 after the Chicago gangsters get their skim.

$19 a day was added in taxes.

Not as bad as I expected.

Major cities tend to tax travelers as much as they think they can get away with.

[\/\/ayne]

Arizona has Constitutional Carry and if you go to the Phoenix conference be sure to meet Charles Heller, AZ's Mr. Gun Rights. I'm sure he'll be there. In the meantime, listen to some podcasts of America Armed And Free, one of his radio shows.

[Bonemaker]

“Major cities tend to tax travelers as much as they think they can get away with.”

“Chicago hotel guests pay a combined 17.4 percent tax on their rooms. This includes a 6 percent state tax on lodging, a 1 percent Cook County hotel tax, and additional taxes levied by the city of Chicago, the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority and the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, or MPEA.”

[PBRCat]

Truth be told, I believe it would be more correct to say that the conference was held in the vicinity of Chicago. The suburb of Rosemont hosts many conventions due to its proximity to O’Hare Airport. The airport, itself, is at the edge of the city limits.

[marktwain]

Charles Heller is a friend of mine.

[real saxophonist]

I’ve seen a couple of clips of Rob Pincus speaking there.

[Bonemaker]

“Truth be told, I believe it would be more correct to say that the conference was held in the vicinity of Chicago. The suburb of Rosemont hosts many conventions due to its proximity to O’Hare Airport. The airport, itself, is at the edge of the city limits.”

Correct. That Hyatt is in Rosemont....which is mobbed up itself. O’hare is in Chicago city limits and connected to city proper by a narrow neck/corridor

[Big Red Badger]

Next Year,Phoenix!

I need to be There.

[bgill]

In Chicago, lol.

[marktwain]

Make a note of the Gun Rights Policy Conference web site by SAF.

GRPC web site

[1Old Pro]

It strikes me as odd that a conference on gun rights would be held in a location that prohibits guns.

Probably why it's never in NYC, Cuomo hates gun owners.

[Big Red Badger]

Looks like a Gathering of Patriots!
Thanks