My flight out of Washington Dulles airport back to Chicago wasn't leaving until late in the afternoon, so having some available time I decided to drive over to Fairfax, Virginia and take in the National Firearms Museum at NRA HQ. I called up GOOG-411 for the address and punched it into my navicomputer...er...astromech...no...Nuvi GPS (that didn't talk anymore) and hit the highways. I made quick work of the 26 mile drive and there I was, on 2nd amendment hallowed ground.
Heading into the museum (which is free to everyone) I realized I forgot to lock the car. But you know, being in the NRA's parking lot I wasn't actually worried about it. (That and there wasn't anything worth swiping anyway.) Again, heading into the museum I found part of it under construction and a sign pointing to the temporary entrance, the exit. Attempting to find the "entrance" as the best place to begin viewing, I found some matchlock muskets and older firearms and started there.
Although some of the museum needs attention/dusting (Gen. Eisenhower's Colt 1911 .45 ACP has cobwebs on it and others are in need too), overall it was a very nice series of exhibits if you enjoy guns, history and shooting sports. For me it reinforced the need for and my appreciation of the second amendment and the critical role it plays in America's past, present and future. There was a lot of education going on between visiting family members. I spent 1.5 hours, but could have spent 3 if I had done more reading and looked up more guns.
I have to say my favorite section of the museum was a little area where guns from movies were on display. I am a John Wayne fan and I was met by a life-size cutout of him right at the entrance to the room. He doesn't give me "tingles up my leg" (ew), but I have a lot of respect and admiration for the man, his work and I love watching his movies. There was a sufficient amount of John Wayne memorabilia for my satisfaction including the eye patch he wore in True Grit and his Winchester rifle.
Other honorable mentions in the TV/Movie collection include: Tom Selleck, Clint Eastwood, Bruce Willis and Clark Gable among others.
Now, dustiness aside, here's my one real beef at NRA HQ. It's the gift shop, specifically the BAGS used by the gift shop. Cool if you're just leaving, way uncool if you're heading to Washington Dulles airport and you DON'T notice what's printed on it other than the NRA logo. I walked all around up and down the terminal, logo side of the bag showing, looking for the Southwest Airlines ticket counter. When I arrived at the counter, with typical Southwest humor I was greeted with, "That's quite a bag you have there!" Clueless to what she was referring, I wondered why the agent was so impressed with my garment bag. I mean, it was new, but surely she's seen hundreds like them before. Then she added, "You look like you're carrying." What? Carrying what? Then looking at my bag from the NRA gift shop I literally exclaimed, "Holy c**p!" Sure enough, on the bag was a large revolver printed in such a way that it looked like I was openly carrying it...through the airport! "If it's okay, I think I'll just stick this in my checked luggage and avoid any confusion." The Southwest agent grinningly agreed.
Now, dustiness aside, here's my one real beef at NRA HQ. It's the gift shop, specifically the BAGS used by the gift shop. Cool if you're just leaving, way uncool if you're heading to Washington Dulles airport and you DON'T notice what's printed on it other than the NRA logo. I walked all around up and down the terminal, logo side of the bag showing, looking for the Southwest Airlines ticket counter. When I arrived at the counter, with typical Southwest humor I was greeted with, "That's quite a bag you have there!" Clueless to what she was referring, I wondered why the agent was so impressed with my garment bag. I mean, it was new, but surely she's seen hundreds like them before. Then she added, "You look like you're carrying." What? Carrying what? Then looking at my bag from the NRA gift shop I literally exclaimed, "Holy c**p!" Sure enough, on the bag was a large revolver printed in such a way that it looked like I was openly carrying it...through the airport! "If it's okay, I think I'll just stick this in my checked luggage and avoid any confusion." The Southwest agent grinningly agreed.
My request to the NRA gift shop is having another bag on hand, even a plain one. The bag is a hoot, unless you're headed to the airport. At least draw attention to the fact it has a large gun printed on the outside. I'm sure I'm not the first to make this mistake. My appreciation to Washington Dulles security for NOT making a scene (Look out he's got a...bag?) as well as the Southwest ticket agent for alerting me to the issue with humor.
Be sure to visit the National Firearms Museum if you're in the area. And after visiting the gift shop, use a different bag if you're headed to the airport! Remember, a right not exercised is a right lost.
