Republicans say they love gun rights and now supporters of allowing open firearms at the upcoming Republican National Convention in Cleveland have gathered almost 40,000 petition signatures in just a few days.
The petition calls for:
• Quicken Loans Arena (home of the convention) to suspend its open-carry ban during the convention.
• The National Rifle Association to make “an immediate condemnation of the egregious affront to the Second Amendment,” referring to Ohio law that allows for guns in many but not all public places.
• Ohio Gov. John Kasich to exercise his executive authority to override the “gun-free zone” loophole in state law.
• Chairman Reince Priebus and the Republican National Committee to explain how “a venue so unfriendly to Second Amendment rights was chosen for the Republican Convention” and create a backup plan to move the convention to another city should demands not be met.
• The three remaining Republican candidates for president to continue their pledge to protect the Second Amendment by pressuring the RNC and Quicken Loans Arena.
One of the petition signers, Bryan Finch of San Luis Obispo, California commented, “I’m signing this because they hate our freedom, also I’m kinda hoping there’ll be a bloodbath at the RNC.”
Ed Bott tweeted, “This seems like a very good idea and nothing could possibly go wrong.”
The petition language commends “all three remaining Republican presidential candidates” who “have spoken out on the issue and are unified in their opposition to Barack HUSSEIN Obama’s ‘gun-free zones.'”
The Republican National Committee and the National Rifle Association have not commented on the petition according to the Akron Beacon Journal.
The host committee in Cleveland says the decision would rest with law enforcement agencies including the Secret Service.
“Cleveland, Ohio is consistently ranked as one of the top ten most dangerous cities in America,” the petition states. “By forcing attendees to leave their firearms at home, the RNC and Quicken Loans Arena are putting tens of thousands of people at risk both inside and outside of the convention site.”
According to financial campaign records, the NRA in 2014 donated roughly $812,460 to 222 national contenders, 95 percent of which were Republican.
Republican lawmakers across the country have been pushing for laws allowing open carry on college campuses, government buildings and churches. Makes you wonder why they wouldn’t want guns at their own national convention?