The 142nd National Rifle Association Annual Meeting is roaring into Houston for four days of seminars, rallies, prayer breakfasts and country music jam sessions, starting Thursday.
The speaker lineup would make any Fox News junkie's heart skip a beat with appearances by conservative politicos and pundits ranging from to Sarah Palin and Rick Santorum to Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity. Hell, even Oliver North of Iran-Contra fame will be on hand to sign copies of his new novel.
And yes, don't worry . . . The Nuge will be there in all his Cat Scratch Fever glory for a scheduled talk on Sunday. Additional celebrity appearances (including WWE legend Steve Austin) will take place throughout the weekend on the showroom floor, where convention organizers promise a full nine acres of guns and gear.
If speeches and celebs aren't your thing, there's always the family-friendly air rifle range or the famous NRA Wall of Guns. Here's a quick look at the highlights.
THURSDAY
2 to 6 p.m. — The NRA is offering free gun and gold appraisals to the public — a sort of Antiques Roadshow for the Second Amendment. [George R. Brown, free]
FRIDAY
10 a.m. — The seventh annual Women's Leadership Forum features conservative mega star and Fox News host Sean Hannity as its main keynote speaker. [River Oaks County Club, $200-$1000/sold out]
1 to 3 p.m. — The NRA Leadership Forum is sure to be the main event with speakers like Sarah Palin, Ted Cruz, Bobby Jindal, Rick Perry, Rick Santorum and Jeanine Pirro. [GRB, $10/sold out]
7:30 p.m. — North Texas' Eli Young Band headlines NRA Country Jam III with opening act Kevin Fowler. [GRB, $30]
SATURDAY
12:30 p.m. — Retired colonel and current FoxNews host Oliver North will sign his recent foray in fiction, Heroes Proved. [GRB, second floor]
3:30 p.m. — Meet Mr. Glenn Beck himself as he signs copies of his pro-gun book, Control. [GRB, second floor]
7:30 p.m. — Glenn Beck will be firing up a sold-out crowd at the Stand and Fight Rally, which the NRA calls its "most important event of the year." [GRB, overflow viewing room tickets are $15]
SUNDAY
7 a.m. — The annual Prayer Breakfast is an "opportunity to experience encouragement, fellowship and sharing with your NRA family," according to the Annual Meeting website. Noted pastor-sportsman Bob Reccord will provide the keynote speech while Christian performance artist Brian Keith Daniel will paint a canvas onstage to music. [Hilton Americas, $35]
9:30 a.m. — Ted Nugent will greet fans and sign copies of his new manifesto Ted, White and Blue. [GRB, third floor]
Late — The Nuge is also scheduled to give a closing address for the Annual Meeting titled, "Freedom Is Not Free: Repaying Our Debt to Heroes." The speech is planned for Sunday, although a time is not yet listed. [GRB, tba]
The 142nd NRA Annual Meeting runs from Thursday through Sunday at the George R. Brown Convention Center.
