As the GOP careens towards what could be a contested — and heated — convention this July in Cleveland, someone came up with the idea that the convention won't be truly American unless openly carrying firearms is allowed.

A Change.org petition (via Gawker) has amassed nearly 5,000 signatures, presumably from people who don't actually plan to be around hundreds of angry, disenfranchised-feeling Donald Trump supporters in the mid-summer heat and humidity on the shores of Lake Erie.

@NRA What are you doing to ensure that the @GOP is going to permit open carry at the convention? — Georges Danton (@GoldwaterRepubl) March 24, 2016

The Quicken Loans Arena (home of the Cleveland Cavaliers!) where the convention will be held has a strict no-guns policy. According to the petition, that policy "is a direct affront to the Second Amendment and puts all attendees at risk."

The petition continues:

As the National Rifle Association has made clear, "gun-free zones" such as the Quicken Loans Arena are "the worst and most dangerous of all lies." The NRA, our leading defender of gun rights, has also correctly pointed out tha t "gun free zones... tell every insane killer in America... (the) safest place to inflict maximum mayhem with minimum risk." (March 4, 2016 and Dec. 21, 2012)



Cleveland, Ohio is consistently ranked as one of the top ten most dangerous cities in America. By forcing attendees to leave their firearms at home, the RNC and Quicken Loans Arena are putting tens of thousands of people at risk both inside and outside of the convention site.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump has predicted riots if he's not given the nomination at a brokered convention in Cleveland. It's been a volatile time for the Cleveland police, too, a force that has earned a notorious reputation, including a few high profile shootings of unarmed people.

Ohio is an open-carry state. Cleveland does have some additional restrictions. The arena itself bans weapons of any kind.

@GroverNorquist I'm actually more interested in proposing the GOP Convention be Open-Carry this year. Any thoughts? — Mr. Barbagrigia (@Red_RightHand) March 23, 2016

"Voters are enthusiastic about this process, and we will have a safe and productive convention in July," Kirsten Kukowski, director of communications for the Republican National Convention, told the Las Vegas Review Journal on Monday. That was after Nevada Sen. Dean Heller expressed concern about safety issues at the event.

Mashable has reached out to the Trump, Cruz and Kasich campaigns as well as to reps with the Quicken Loans Arena and GOP for further comment.

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