Thousands of people reload downtown Indianapolis for the NRA convention

Indianapolis, Indiana – This week, if you’ve driven through Indianapolis’ downtown, you’ve probably already noticed the signage putting up. The National Rifle Association’s national convention is taking place in town, and the city has made significant preparations for the enormous flood of people.

According to Visit Indy, this convention will end up being the fourth largest of the year, overwhelming the city with at least 70,000 attendees and almost selling out all nearby hotels from Friday through Sunday.

Since membership in the NRA is required to attend the conference center, the majority of those visitors are probably NRA members themselves. Visit Indy and the IMPD have planned an infusion of their own security personnel in anticipation of the event given the proliferation of firearms in the city. The NRA has increased its presence across the city by bringing in its own security, working with local law enforcement, and partnering with the Indiana Convention Center security detail.

Except on Friday, when President Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, and Governor Eric Holcomb are scheduled to speak, visitors are permitted to bring firearms inside the convention center every day. Each gun in the expo hall will be examined before entry, according to Visit Indy Executive Vice President Chris Gahl, another precaution to assist ensure everyone’s safety.

“We know that safety and security is paramount for any large city-wide convention or event we put into place, so we’ll have IMPD presence,” Gahl said. “We’ll have additional police in our streets and around downtown because no matter the event, no matter the event organizer, any time you gather thousands of people it has to be done safely and in an organized fashion.”

The NRA National Convention is being held in Indianapolis for the third time this year. once in 2014 and once more in 2019. Although some may find the festivities to be divisive, there have never been any safety concerns raised during previous celebrations in the Circle City.

“We know that hosting the NRA can be polarizing. We know that because we experienced that in 2014 and again in 2019, and to that end there’s a peaceful protest zone that’s adjacent to the Indiana Convention Center,” Gahl said. “So those who have an opposing view can come and express that in a peaceful way.”

Additionally, the estimate of 70,000 guests does not include participants in nonviolent protest. Despite the fact that no firearms were sold at the conference itself, which functions similarly to a trade expo, Visit Indy anticipates that those visitors will have an economic impact of $36 million.

“It’s not a gun sale. Nothing is transacted on the floor of the Indiana Convention Center. It is a place for those NRA members to come and look at gear and leave with pamphlets if you will, leave with information to make decisions down the road,” Gahl said. “We have 11 exhibit halls within the Indiana Convention Center. They’re using nearly every single square inch.”

Lucas Oil Stadium was used by event planners to accommodate attendees when President Trump last addressed the NRA National Convention in Indianapolis in 2019. This year, political speeches will only be allowed in Exhibit Hall A of the conference center.

A future NRA convention is not currently planned, but Visit Indy officials do want to speak with the NRA’s leadership to maybe work something together. Gahl claims that the customer makes reservations anywhere between five and ten years in advance.

“We’ve known about this event coming up since 2014 and we’ve got a playbook on what our best practices, not only for safely convening individuals but also giving a peaceful protest zone for those who want to express their freedom of speech and so we feel ready and we know it’s a polarizing group,” Gahl said. “When we say Indy welcomes all. We need to mean that.”