26th Annual Gun Rights Conference Slated This Weekend in Chicago

BELLEVUE, Wash., Sept. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Gun rights activists from across the country will gather this weekend, Sept 23-25, at the Chicago O'Hare airport Hyatt Regency hotel for the 26th annual Gun Rights Policy Conference, sponsored by the Second Amendment Foundation and Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms.

SAF Executive Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb said pre-registration of over 700 for this weekend's events suggests there will be a great turnout, not only by Illinois activists, but also firearm owners from as far away as Hawaii and Puerto Rico, as well as neighboring Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin, Iowa and Missouri. This event is free, and includes a Saturday awards luncheon that will recognize the accomplishments of gun rights leaders from the national level down to the grassroots.

"Since last year's SAF victory in McDonald v. City of Chicago before the U.S. Supreme Court, we've been looking forward to this weekend's gathering," Gottlieb stated. "We are joined by members of the Illinois State Rifle Association, which joined us in the McDonald case, and by our expert legal team that made it happen.

"It is only fitting that we gather in the Windy City," he continued, "not only for this important conference, but also to celebrate the Supreme Court victory. This was a win for all gun owners, because the high court incorporated the Second Amendment to the states, thus paving the way for challenges to onerous state and local gun laws and regulations that have placed onerous restrictions on a fundamental civil right.

SAF is currently engaged in federal court challenges to restrictive gun regulations and statutes in New York, New Jersey, North Carolina, Maryland, Massachusetts and California, and elsewhere.

This year's jam-packed agenda features panel discussions covering current and possible future legal actions, the importance of election outcomes to the federal courts and Supreme Court, gun politics, legislative challenges and more. Experts from virtually all corners of the gun rights movement will be on hand, and the annual awards luncheon on Saturday promises to be a crowd pleaser.

"We look forward to a very active and productive weekend for firearms freedom," Gottlieb stated.

The Second Amendment Foundation is the nation's oldest and largest tax-exempt education, research, publishing and legal action group focusing on the Constitutional right and heritage to privately own and possess firearms.  Founded in 1974, The Foundation has grown to more than 650,000 members and supporters and conducts many programs designed to better inform the public about the consequences of gun control.  

2011 GRPC AGENDA LINK

SOURCE Second Amendment Foundation