http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/petition-seeks-open-carry-at-gop-convention/article/2586945Petition seeks open carry at GOP convention
By Daniel Chaitin (@danielchaitin7) • 3/27/16 5:17 PM
As Republicans face rising chance of an acrimonious convention fight, one petitioner knows just what the party needs there: guns.
A petition has set it sights shooting down a ban on firearms at July's Republican convention at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. It calls the ban a "direct affront to the Second Amendment" that puts "all attendees at risk."
The online petition's author, using the identity "N A," claims the Islamic State could launch a terrorist attack on the area during the convention.
"Without the right to protect themselves, those at the Quicken Loans Arena will be sitting ducks, utterly helpless against evil-doers, criminals or others who wish to threaten the American way of life," N A wrote.
The petition draws attention to the arena's policies and procedures, which prohibits firearms and other weapons to be brought to the venue, citing accordance with Ohio's "concealed carry" law and the right for private entities to ban handguns on their premises.
It says all three Republican candidates stand together in opposition to "Barack HUSSEIN Obama's 'gun-free zones.'"
The petition requests Ohio Gov. John Kasich, himself a candidate for president, use his authority to override the "'gun-free zone' loophole."
It asks the National Rifle Association to condemn the ban and implores the Republican National Committee to "honor the constitutional rights of the RNC guests," if the arena refuses.
In a pitch to candidates, the petition says they have been "brave in raising awareness about the immense dangers posed by 'gun-free zones.' It asks them to cajole the RNC into action to "to ensure the safety of your supporters, delegates and all attendees at the convention in July."
All three candidates, Kasich, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and businessman Donald Trump have spoken out against "gun-free zones."
Trump was asked what he thought about the petition during a Sunday morning phone interview on ABC's "This Week."
Trump, who called himself a "very strong person for the Second Amendment," refused to comment on the petition until he gets a chance to "read the fine print." He added that he intends to take a look at it.
As of Sunday afternoon, the online petition has over 35,000 supporters.