Who’d have thought that the powerful National Rifle Association (NRA), that macho testosterone fueled organization that acts as if it’s unafraid of man, beast or former Mayor Michael Bloomberg would be terrified of a glasses-wearing, 60-something Black man from Indianapolis.
The NRA and their alleged 70,000 attendees arrived last week for an unofficial Republican National Convention as scores of conservative Republican politicians and Fox News alumni bowed down before the NRA altar devoted to the demigods of guns, bullets and amped-up rightwing rhetoric.
I visited the NRA convention on its opening day and was sadly surprised at the obscene amounts of money that drives the weapons business in America.
The NRA convention was an example of the civilian arms-industrial complex. Huge billboards outside our convention center bragging about “9 acres of guns and gear.” Billboards inside touting high power bullets, high-powered automatic weapons unfit for hunting animals, but fit for the streets of our neighborhoods.
It was ironic that the NRA gathered in a city that has the same per capita murder rate this year as Chicago. It was distressing that the NRA had nothing to say about urban violence.
Surprisingly, the NRA granted me a press credential. So, when I picked it up, I asked the folks in the NRA Media office for an interview opportunity with an NRA spokesperson. I wanted our African-American community to hear what ideas and/or suggestions the NRA had to reduce illegal guns in our Black community; curb the level of Black-on-Black violence, nearly all of it committed with weapons displayed by their manufacturers with lavish booths that crammed every square foot of the convention center.
My request was made to Catherine Mortensen, a media liaison at NRA’s national headquarters. The only thing I got back from her was an NRA press release blasting former Mayor Bloomberg’s billions.
It’s the third time I’d made a request, in writing, to the NRA asking for an interview to have the organization talk directly to our African-American community.
Meanwhile, city officials were happy the NRA spent their millions in Indianapolis, a city where our mayor’s seemingly proud he’s not a member of Mayors Against Illegal Guns. The only mayor of a city with rampant violence to have taken such a position.
But the secretiveness of the city’s efforts to land the NRA convention is in marked contrast to how quickly Mayor Ballard nixed even the thought of Indianapolis bidding for a national political convention in 2016.
The NRA is small potatoes compared to the millions of dollars and huge publicity a national political convention brings to a city.
The economic impact of the 2012 Democratic National Convention in Charlotte was $162 million. With some 13,000 media covering the convention and writing about Charlotte. Far more media that came for Super Bowl.
A couple of months ago, the Democratic National Committee sent out a feeler to Indianapolis convention officials saying Indy might be placed on the list to bid on their 2016 convention. The city didn’t nix the idea then.
But last week when the Democrats formally invited Indy and 14 other cities to submit bids, Mayor Ballard screamed bloody murder and virtually forbade Indy’s Convention and Visitors Association (which now has the cutesy name of Visit Indy) not to bid.
The lie Visit Indy officials gave for not wanting this major piece of convention business was, “We’d have to move or cancel 18 conventions that are already booked.”
In the convention business, folks know if a city lands a political convention, existing contracts with conventions and meetings already booked must be changed. The convention business folks understand that and are willing to make deals and accommodations.
In 1998, Indy was willing to move lots of meetings around in an effort to secure the 2000 Republican Convention (which Philadelphia ultimately got). But 16 years later, we’re not willing to do that?
What I’m hearing
in the streets
There’s seemingly more buzz among local Democrats about who might run for mayor next year than interest in this coming Tuesday’s primary election.
But there are a few races to watch.
Can incumbent Small Claims Judge Michelle Smith Scott, who angered township leaders by winning the fight to maintain her court in the more centrally located City-County Building, withstand a challenge by the township leaders who’re backing attorney Brenda Roper for the job?
Another primary battle is in Wayne Township. Former Democratic Trustee David Baird is trying to retake the post he lost four years ago. But he wasn’t endorsed by the party. Newcomer C. Renee Pack was.
Twelve individuals are running for eight spots in the Democratic primary battle for Marion County Superior Court Judge. Top eight vote getters win the primary and by default will already be winners in the general election.
Four of the endorsed Democratic candidates are newcomers and two; Shatrice Flowers and Marcel Pratt are Black. The other Black Democratic judge candidate is incumbent Judge Barbara Cook Crawford who was appointed to replace federal Judge Tanya Walton-Pratt.
Then there’s the three individuals, Curtis Gregory, Pierre Pullins and Rev. Muoja Ajabu running against Rep. André Carson in the 7th District Democratic primary.
What little talk there is in this race, centers around Rev. Ajabu’s unorthodox campaign strategy.
Or his unusual campaign ads that don’t seem to focus on issues people want to hear from candidates running for Congress.
The district’s Democratic voters will decide on Tuesday. Make sure you vote. And I’ll see ‘ya next week.
You can email comments to Amos Brown at acbrown@aol.com.
