Fairfax, VA – The National Rifle Association (NRA) is pleased to announce that the association’s 138th Annual Meeting and Exhibits will be held at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Arizona from May 15-17, 2009. Members of the news media are welcome to cover this year’s event.

For press credentials, please call NRA Public Affairs at (703) 267-3820 or email media@nrahq.org. Credentials will be available for pick-up in the Press Office starting Thursday, May 14. Television crews and still photographers should bring necessary equipment and lenses (sports lenses) to cover events from platforms at a distance from the stage.

With more than 50,000 extended attendees and more than 400 exhibits, this year’s Annual Meetings and Exhibits promises to be among the best in NRA’s history. Leading firearm manufacturers will display the firearm industry’s latest products. Various hunting and shooting accessories, guides and outfitters 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 2007 and May 2008 when NRA’s Celebration of American Values convened presidential candidates and other Second Amendment advocates to state their views on firearm freedom. A similar Leadership Forum will be reprised at the Phoenix Convention Center, on Friday, May 15, at 12:00 p.m. Pro-freedom speakers currently slated to appear are still to be announced.

NRA’s 2nd Annual Celebration of American Values Banquet will take place Saturday, May 16, at 8 p.m. at the Phoenix Convention Center. The featured speakers for the evening are TV personality, author of the best-selling book, American Heroes, and NRA board member Lieutenant Colonel Ollie North, and ABC News 20/20 co-anchor John Stossel.

NRA’s Annual Meetings and Exhibits provide a safe and fun atmosphere the whole family can enjoy. The air rifle range is a top attention-grabber -- both for participants and observers. NRA offers a variety of workshops throughout the three-day convention, including methods of concealed carry; Refuse to Be a Victim®; hunting in Africa; and Firearms Law seminars.

To view the NRA Annual Meeting preliminary schedule of events, click here.

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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.