Explore The NRA Universe Of Websites

APPEARS IN News

NRA’s Annual Meetings & Exhibits 2008: A Celebration of American Values Louisville, Kentucky hosts several Acres of Guns, Gear & Outfitters

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Fairfax, VA - The National Rifle Association (NRA) is pleased to announce this year’s Annual Meetings and Exhibits to be held at the Kentucky Exposition Center and the Kentucky International Convention Center in Louisville, Kentucky from May 16-18, 2008.

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. 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 whole 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 last 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 and Mitch McConnell, 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 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).

2008 NRA ANNUAL MEETINGS & EXHIBITS
PRELIMINARY SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

THURSDAY, May 15         Member Registration, Information, & Services 2 pm – 6 pm

6:00 pm                                 National NRA Foundation Banquet - TICKET REQUIRED

FRIDAY, May 16                Member Registration, Information, Services & Sales 8am-6pm
                                              Air Gun Range: 9 am – 6 pm
                                              Exhibit Hall: 10 am – 6 pm

8:00 am                                Clubs & Associations Continental Breakfast
                                             Grassroots Continental Breakfast

9:00 am                                Clubs & Associations Workshop 
                                             Grassroots Workshop
                                             Annual Firearms Law Seminar - LIMITED SEATING PREREGISTRATION RECOMMENDED

11:00 am                             Sportsmen's Luncheon & Auction - TICKET REQUIRED

12:30 pm                             NRA Celebration of American Values Leadership Forum - TICKET REQUIRED

1:00 pm                               Refuse To Be A Victim® Seminar

2:00 pm                               Special Session: The African Hunting Experience
                                            Special Session: Methods of Concealed Carry

6:30 pm                               ILA - Reception and Silent Auction

7:30 pm                               Opening Celebration--Fourth Street Live Concert

8:00 pm                               ILA - Dinner and Live Auction - TICKET REQUIRED

SATURDAY, May 17       Member Registration, Information, Services & Sales: 8 am – 6 pm
                                           Air Gun Range: 9 am – 6 pm
                                           Exhibit Hall: 9 am – 6 pm

7:00 am                             2008 Prayer Breakfast - TICKET REQUIRED

10:00 am                           Annual Meeting of Members

1:00 pm                             Refuse To Be A Victim® Seminar

2:00 pm                             Special Session: Guns of D-Day
                                          Special Session: Guaranteed Whitetail Tactics
                                          Special Session: Methods of Concealed carry
                                          Special Session: In Their Own Words

6:30 pm                             Banquet Reception

8:00 pm                             NRA Celebration of American Values Banquet - TICKET REQUIRED

SUNDAY, May 18           Member Registration, Information, Services & Sales: 8 am – 5 pm
                                          Air Gun Range: 9 am – 5 pm
                                          Exhibit Hall: 10 am – 5 pm

11:00 am                           Special Session: Handloading Today
                                          Special Session: NRA and the Media: It's Not the Critic Who Counts

12:30 pm                          Special Session: United We Stand with Ted Nugent

1:00 pm                            Refuse To Be A Victim® Instructor Development Workshop

MONDAY, May 19 & TUESDAY, May 20

9:00 am                            NRA Board of Directors Meeting

For more information, including 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.

TRENDING NOW
The NFA’s New Era: What Has Changed, What Remains the Same, Items of Note

News  

Monday, October 12, 2026

The NFA’s New Era: What Has Changed, What Remains the Same, Items of Note

As we announced separately this week, ATF has determined that it will use its executive discretion to uniformly suspend enforcement of large portions of the National Firearms Act (NFA).

Federal Court Strikes Down NFA Registration Requirements for Suppressors, Short-Barreled Rifles, and Short-Barreled Shotguns in NRA Case

Wednesday, August 5, 2026

Federal Court Strikes Down NFA Registration Requirements for Suppressors, Short-Barreled Rifles, and Short-Barreled Shotguns in NRA Case

In another major victory for the National Rifle Association and law-abiding gun owners, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas today held that the National Firearms Act’s registration and approval requirements for ...

“I’m sorry, Dave, I’m afraid I can’t do that” – ChatGPT is Now “Completely Anti-gun”

News  

Monday, October 19, 2026

“I’m sorry, Dave, I’m afraid I can’t do that” – ChatGPT is Now “Completely Anti-gun”

More than half a century ago, Stanley Kubrick’s film, 2001: A Space Odyssey, introduced the world to HAL-9000, a sentient “supercomputer” with advanced artificial intelligence (AI) processing. When HAL, responsible for running the spacecraft, decides ...

Guardsmen’s Arrest Shows D.C. Still Lacks Common Sense, Proportionality on Guns

News  

Monday, October 12, 2026

Guardsmen’s Arrest Shows D.C. Still Lacks Common Sense, Proportionality on Guns

A lot of has changed for the better in the Nation’s Capital since Donald Trump returned to the White House. But the recent arrest of a young National Guardsman for an apparently harmless breach of ...

For Better and for Worse, “Direct Democracy” Seeks to Alter Gun and Hunting Policy

News  

Wednesday, October 14, 2026

For Better and for Worse, “Direct Democracy” Seeks to Alter Gun and Hunting Policy

Not every important Second Amendment or hunting policy fight begins with a bill number.

Federal Court Strikes Down NFA Registration Requirements for Suppressors, Short-Barreled Rifles, and Short-Barreled Shotguns in NRA Case

Wednesday, August 5, 2026

Federal Court Strikes Down NFA Registration Requirements for Suppressors, Short-Barreled Rifles, and Short-Barreled Shotguns in NRA Case

In another major victory for the National Rifle Association and law-abiding gun owners, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas today held that the National Firearms Act’s registration and approval requirements for ...

Questions and Answers About the Texas NFA Case

News  

Monday, August 17, 2026

Questions and Answers About the Texas NFA Case

On August 12, we reported on an important development in the ongoing litigation over the National Firearms Act (NFA) filed by multiple plaintiffs in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas. These included, ...

Scary Stories from the Crypt Keepers at Big Gun Control

News  

Monday, October 19, 2026

Scary Stories from the Crypt Keepers at Big Gun Control

‘Tis the Halloween season of fear and disguise, and, in step with the holiday, the gun control ghouls are embracing a familiar tradition of their own. When facts aren’t quite frightening enough, firearm prohibitionists often ...

Trump Administration Issues Report Detailing Firearms Industry Debanking

News  

Wednesday, October 14, 2026

Trump Administration Issues Report Detailing Firearms Industry Debanking

Since taking office for the second time, President Donald Trump and his administration have worked to end political debanking and guarantee that all law-abiding Americans and businesses have access to financial services.

Mississippi: Attorney General Issues Statement on Suppressors Following ATF Decision

Wednesday, October 14, 2026

Mississippi: Attorney General Issues Statement on Suppressors Following ATF Decision

Following the ATF's recent decision regarding the enforcement of NFA transfer guidelines, Attorney General Lynn Fitch has issued a statement that filing an ATF Form 4 for suppressor transfers is no longer mandatory in Mississippi.

MORE TRENDING +
LESS TRENDING -

More Like This From Around The NRA

NRA ILA

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.