CHARLOTTE, N.C.-- Former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin told a big crowd in Charlotte on Friday afternoon that the right to own firearms can be defended best in the election booth.
"Elections matter," Palin, the former Alaska governor and John McCain's Republican running mate in 2008, said during the American Values Leadership Forum, part of the National Rifle Association convention's opening day schedule.
Palin was keynote speak at the forum, which included speeches from several other political figures.
A crowd estimated at 16,000 crowded Time Warner Cable Arena for the Leadership Forum, a 3 1/2-hour afternoon event which is scheduled to continue to 4 p.m.
With two major scenes of activity, pedestrian and vehicular traffic in the uptown area is extremely congested Friday afternoon, and motorists are being urged to allow extra time to get where they're going in the center city.
Meanwhile, tens of thousands of people are at the center of the NRA's 139th annual Meetings and Exhibits convention, at the Convention Center.
Palin, an NRA member, didn't disappoint those who had come to hear her defend guns rights -- and take a few pokes at the Obama administration.
She talked about an effort to outlaw gun ownership in the District of Columbia -- an effort that was overturned by the Supreme Court in a 5-4 vote.
Referring to the Obama administration already having filled one Supreme Court vacancy since taking office in January 2009, Palin said, "If John McCain and I were in the White House, the D.C. law would have been upheld by two votes."
She said Obama and other Democratic leaders have not tried to push gun control legislation because they fear a backlash from gun owners and supporters of guns rights. But she said gun owners must be on guard, in case such an effort is launched by the Obama administration.
Palin talked about repeated efforts by anti-hunting groups to limit hunting in Alaska.
"Left-wing groups talk about eating organic, wholesome food," she said. "We do that. We just happen to shoot it first."
"I have bad news for those groups. Bambi's mother is dinner -- even in L.A. Where do those people think their venison comes from. The deer didn't die of natural causes. It wasn't road kill."
Palin also talked about the Tea Party movement, a conservative push to limit the role of government. Tea Party supporters have vowed to elect conservatives in this November's midterm elections, and Palin said, "I can't wait for the midterm elections.
"Some reporters are trying to portray us Tea Party people as racists or violent or rednecks. I don't mind the redneck part, actually.
"But the rest of that is ridiculous -- absolutely ridiculous."
TRAFFIC CONGESTION
Significant traffic congestion has been reported throughout the day in part of Charlotte's center city, as people arrived for the start of the NRA's three-day convention.
Especially heavy conditions were reported on East Stonewall and College streets, next to the Convention Center. But long backups also were reported on the John Belk Freeway, at the Stonewall Street interchange near the Convention Center and the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
Later Friday afternoon, congestion also is expected on Trade, College, and Fourth streets, near Time Warner Cable Arena, when the Leadership Forum ends.
About 70,000 people are expected in Charlotte for the three-day NRA event.
Billed as the largest convention in Charlotte history, the convention officially began at 9 a.m. at the Charlotte Convention Center, but the ceremonial start to the event was a half-hour earlier.
NRA President Ron Schmeits, NRA Ececutive Vice President Wayne LaPierre and Charlotte Visitors Authority CEO Tim Newman participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony at 8:30 a.m.
People began lining up outside the front door of the Convention Center more than an hour before the event began.
Also scheduled to appear at the event today are N.C. Gov. Bev Perdue and U.S. Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C. Charlotte-Mecklenburg police are expected to be out in full force, dealing with what is anticipated to be a major challenge to the city's traffic situation. Adding to the potential congestion are two other events nearby -- UltraSwim, a national-caliber swimming event two blocks away at the Mecklenburg Aquatic Center; and Cavalia, the horse show on West Morehead Street.
"We're getting good at dealing with this type of situation," said Moira Quinn, chief operating officer of Charlotte Center City Partners. "We're just asking people to plan their trips and perhaps use light rail, if possible."
The area of most congestion is expected to be on the east side of uptown -- especially along East Stonewall, South College, South Brevard, and East Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. And the area around Time Warner Cable Arena also will be quite busy Friday afternoon and Saturday evening.
The convention is expected to pump $20 million into the Charlotte-area economy.
Saturday's big event is at 7:30 p.m., at Time Warner Cable Arena. That is the Freedom Experience Event, featuring keynote speaker Glenn Beck, the national talk show host.
Convention hours officially are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. today and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. But a number of additional evening events are planned, including a trip by many NRA members to the NASCAR Hall of Fame tonight.
And the celebrities in town for the convention are making appearances elsewhere. For example, best-selling author and Fox TV military expert Oliver North, a Reagan administration member, threw out the first pitch Thursday night at the Charlotte Knights' baseball game against Lehigh Valley.
The convention features more than 450 exhibitors, along with a number of seminars.
Those seminars cover a wide range of topics, including tips on self-defense, a workshop on proper ways to load firearms, and a program on how to lobby political leaders.
In addition to Palin and Beck, celebrities appearing at the NRA event include North, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and actor Chuck Norris.
