Guns, protests, 70K people: What police advise to stay safe during the NRA convention

John Tufts, Indianapolis Star
Updated ·3 min read
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You can expect more traffic, more police, and planned protests in the downtown area of Indianapolis this weekend as tens of thousands of people flock to the 152nd annual meeting of the National Rifle Association.

The three-day event takes place April 14-16 at the Indiana Convention Center, 100 S. Capitol Avenue, and is expected to draw up to 70,000 NRA members.

Police officers will be out in force, say officials.

"I urge everybody to remain patient with each other," said Josh Barker, Deputy Chief of Operations with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department. "Indianapolis is a great host city. We ask those visiting, working, and living downtown to be respectful of the increased traffic."

Barker said no road closures are planned downtown this weekend and said visitors can expect to see more police officers throughout the area.

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John Jackson, from Fishers, tries firearms at the Smith & Wesson high performance area during the 2019 NRA convention exhibits at the Indiana Convention Center, Friday, April 26, 2019.
John Jackson, from Fishers, tries firearms at the Smith & Wesson high performance area during the 2019 NRA convention exhibits at the Indiana Convention Center, Friday, April 26, 2019.

"Rest assured, you will see an increased presence of uniformed IMPD officers in and around parking garages, surface lots, the convention center, the entertainment venues, and restaurants throughout the city this weekend to ensure that everybody has a safe time," he said.

Protests planned during Indianapolis NRA convention

Protesters demonstrating against the NRA are expected during its annual convention.

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As the nation remains gripped in a devastating series of mass shootings, the NRA has come under increased scrutiny by critics who say the organization stymies even moderate gun control measures.

"We welcome people to come downtown and exercise their constitutional rights and speak out on what they believe in," Barker said, adding that officials have designated Hudnut Commons, 50 S. Capitol Avenue, across from the convention center as the preferred place for demonstrations.

General safety tips for gun owners during the NRA convention

More people are expected to openly carry firearms in Indianapolis this weekend, Barker said, which comes a little more than a year after Indiana lawmakers eliminated licensing requirements to carry handguns in the state.

More: Do you need a gun permit in Indiana?

Barker encouraged gun owners to follow common sense safety measures, which include:

  • Always store your firearms in a safe, secured place.

  • When not carrying their firearms, visitors to Indianapolis should secure them at their hotel or inside a locked vehicle.

  • Firearms stored in a vehicle should be secured in a locked glove box or preferably the trunk.

  • Do not leave valuables unattended, or left within open view of an unattended vehicle.

  • Be aware of your surroundings.

"We have to be realistic," Barker said, "there's a criminal element who will be downtown trying to exploit the influx of firearms this weekend. We ask those who are exercising their constitutional rights to be responsible gun owners."

Smith & Wesson guns are seen at the 2019 NRA convention exhibits at the Indiana Convention Center, Friday, April 26, 2019.
Smith & Wesson guns are seen at the 2019 NRA convention exhibits at the Indiana Convention Center, Friday, April 26, 2019.

'Guns, signs and selfie sticks': what the Secret Service says you can't have around Donald Trump and Mike Pence during the NRA Convention

Inside the Indiana Convention Center, security will be tight in Hall A where former president Donald Trump, former vice president Mike Pence and current Indiana governor Eric Holcomb, among other leaders, are expected to speak.

Convention attendees entering Hall A to see the former president and other speakers will be screened through magnetometers and searched, according to NRA officials, who strongly encouraged people not to bring personal bags to speed up security processing.

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Certain items will not be allowed within Hall A, according to a notice issued by the U.S. Secret Service. These include:

  • Aerosols

  • Ammunition

  • Backpacks

  • Bags larger than 18"x13"x7"

  • Drones and other unmanned aircraft systems

  • Firearms

  • Glass, Thermal, or Metal Containers

  • Gun Parts, Holsters, Magazines, etc.

  • Knives

  • Laser Pointers

  • Mace/Pepper Spray

  • Selfie Sticks

  • Signs

  • Toy guns

  • Umbrellas

  • Weapons of any kind

The Secret Service will also remove any item determined to be a potential safety hazard, according to the notice, adding there will be no storage available for firearms.

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John Tufts covers evening breaking and trending news for the Indianapolis Star. Send him a news tip at JTufts@Gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Police share safety tips ahead of NRA convention in Indianapolis