NRA 130th Annual Meetings & Exhibits Kansas City, Mo, May 18-20

(WASHINGTON, DC) -- The National Rifle Association, America`s oldest civil rights organization, will hold its 130th Annual Meetings & Exhibits May 18-20, at the Kansas City Convention Center, in Kansas City, Missouri. Members of the news media are invited to attend and cover the event. To reserve media credentials, please call NRA Public Affairs at (703) 267-3820. At the event, NRA`s on-site Press Office will be in Room 2213 of the Kansas City Convention Center. Media credentials may be picked up in that Press Office beginning Thursday, May 17. The on-site Press Office telephone number will be (816) 513-5401. ONLY members of U.S. news media organizations will receive credentials and be allowed to cover the convention. Due to resource limitations, no foreign media will be credentialed. Television crews and still photographers should bring necessary equipment and lenses (sports lenses) to cover some events from platforms at a distance from the stage. Throughout the weekend, NRA will offer a number of special sessions on topics of interest to NRA members and the general public, including: women and the right of personal protection; firearms collecting; sport shooting and more. The NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits are traditionally recognized as one of the premier exhibitions for the shooting sports. NRA officials expect over 40,000 participants at the event. Hundreds of exhibits for hunters, competitive shooters, instructors, collectors and outdoor enthusiasts will be on display in [square footage] feet of exhibit space. Entrance is free to NRA members and family members who register and wear their identification badges. Admission is also free to law enforcement, firefighters, military personnel and national recognized youth organizations (e.g., Boy Scouts of America) in uniform. Saturday, May 19, the 130th NRA Members Banquet will be held, featuring a special keynote speaker. The NRA Board of Directors will hold its regular business meeting on May 21-22 at the Kansas City Marriott Downtown, 200 W. 12th Street, to conduct its annual election of officers and any other business brought before the board. Following this advisory is a preliminary schedule of events. National Rifle Association of America 130th Annual Meetings & Exhibits Preliminary Schedule of Events Friday, May 18 10:00 am Exhibit Hall Opens (Closes at 6:00 pm) Convention Center, Halls D & E 1:00 pm OPENING CELEBRATION! Convention Center, Room 4300 EFGH 6:00 pm Friends of NRA Dinner & Auction (Ticket Required) Kansas City Marriott Downtown, Colonial/Imperial Ballroom Saturday, May 19 7:00 am NRA Prayer Breakfast (Ticket Required) Kansas City Marriott Downtown, Basie A/A1/B/B1 10:00 am Exhibit Hall Opens (Closes at 6:00 pm) Convention Center, Halls D & E 10:00 am 130th Annual Meeting of Members Convention Center, Hall C 7:00 pm Banquet Reception Convention Center, Hall B 8:00 pm 130th Members Banquet (Ticket Required) Convention Center, Hall A Sunday, May 20 9:30 am Special Session: National Gun Collecting Awards Presentation Convention Center, Room 4204 A 9:30 am Special Session: For the Record: Media Commentators Speak Out Convention Center, Room 4203 A 10:00 am Exhibit Hall Opens (Closes at 5:00 pm) Convention Center, Halls D & E 1:30 pm Special Session: Methods of Conceal Carry Convention Center, Room 4203 A/B 1:30 pm Special Session: Women Calling the Shots -- Leadership Roles in Shooting Sports Convention Center, Room 4204 A 3:30 pm NRA Women`s Reception Convention Center, Level 3 Window Area