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NRA’S ANNUAL MEETINGS & EXHIBITS 2008

Monday, May 12, 2008

A CELEBRATION OF AMERICAN VALUES AT THE KENTUCKY EXPOSITION CENTER AND THE KENTUCKY INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTER IN LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY FROM MAY 16-18, 2008.

Presumptive Republican Presidential Nominee John McCain scheduled to address Celebration of American Values Forum on May 16

IMPORTANT MEDIA NOTE

Members of the news media are invited to cover this year’s event. Please fax credential requests including name and title on company letterhead to NRA’s Annual Meeting press office at (502) 815-6730 after 1 p.m. Wednesday, May 14 (Eastern). Credentials will be available for pick-up in the Press Office starting Thursday, May 15. Television crews and still photographers should bring necessary equipment and lenses (sports lenses) to cover events from platforms at a distance from the stage.

On Friday, May 16th NRA will thank not only NRA members, but also the entire Louisville community with a free concert featuring Grammy award-winning artist John Michael Montgomery. This event is sponsored by Gander Mountain and hosted by Louisville’s Fourth Street Live.

With an estimated 60,000 attendees and more than 400 exhibits, this year’s Annual Meetings and Exhibits promises to be among the best in NRA’s 137-year history. Leading firearm manufacturers will display the firearm industry’s latest products. Various hunting and shooting accessories, and an extensive private collection displayed by NRA-affiliated gun collector clubs, will fill acres of convention space.

Gun-rights advocacy reached new heights in September when NRA’s Celebration of American Values convened presidential candidates to state their views on firearm freedom. A similar Leadership Forum will be reprised at the Kentucky Expo Center, on Friday, May 16, at 12:30 p.m. Pro-freedom speakers currently slated to appear include U.S. Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) and Mitch McConnell (R-KY), NRA Board member Lt. Col. Oliver North, and special guest Marcus Luttrell, a former Navy SEAL whose story of heroism in Afghanistan is told in his just-released book, “Lone Survivor.” Also scheduled to attend are Senator John McCain (R-AZ), Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear, Ambassador John Bolton, Mike Huckabee and Karl Rove.

NRA’s Celebration of American Values Banquet will take place Saturday, May 17, at 8 p.m. at the downtown Kentucky International Convention Center. TV/radio dynamo Glenn Beck will headline and focus his unique conservative wit on firearm ownership.

NRA’s Annual Meetings and Exhibits provide a safe and fun atmosphere the whole family can enjoy. The ever-popular air rifle range is a top attention-grabber -- both for participants and observers. NRA offers diverse presentations throughout the three-day convention, including methods of concealed carry; Refuse to Be a Victim® Seminars; hunting in Africa; and the Firearms Law Seminar. This year promises more Special Sessions for members and guests than ever before, and the most popular session, Methods of Concealed Carry, will be offered twice (on two different days).

For more information, a schedule of events and Banquet tickets please visit www.nraam.org.

-NRA-

Established in 1871, the National Rifle Association is America’s oldest civil rights and sportsmen's group. Four million members strong, NRA continues its mission to uphold Second Amendment rights and to advocate enforcement of existing laws against violent offenders to reduce crime. The Association remains the nation's leader in firearm education and training for law-abiding gun owners, law enforcement and the military.

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Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the "lobbying" arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.