RECOGNIZE OUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO OPEN CARRY CAMERAS AND VIDEO / AUDIO RECORDING DEVICES AT THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION AT THE QUICKEN LOANS ARENA IN JULY 2016

SUMMARY: In July of 2016, the GOP will host its convention at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. Though Ohio is an open carry camera state, which allows for the open carrying and public use of cameras and video / audio recording equipment, the hosting venue—the Quicken Loans Arena—strictly forbids these devices in their arena and at this event for everyone except credentialed media personnel.

According to the policy on their website, "video and audio recorders are strictly forbidden on the premises of Quicken Loans Arena."

This is a direct affront to our First Amendment rights and puts all attendees at risk of being unable to record their experience on this historic occasion. You might even be unable to bring your smart-phone into the event.



As the National Camera Association has made clear, "camera-free zones" such as the Quicken Loans Arena are "the worst and most dangerous of all lies." The NCA, our leading defender of camera rights, has also correctly pointed out that "camera free zones... tell every evil-doer in America... that these are the safest places to inflict maximum mayhem with minimal risk of being recorded and recognized." (March 4, 2016)

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

This doesn't even begin to factor in the possibility of an ISIS terrorist attack on the arena during the convention. Without the right to protect their First Amendment rights, 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.

All three remaining Republican candidates have spoken out on the issue and are unified in their opposition to "camera-free zones."

Donald Trump said "I love cameras! And I love the legal Japanese immigrants who invented them. The Mexicans don't take as many pictures, but that is beside the point. I will get rid of camera-free zones in schools—you have—and on military bases on my first day in office, unless I need to leave for a golf outing or something equally important. Otherwise, it gets signed on my first day. Do you know what a camera-free zone is to a sicko? It’s bait, that’s what it is!" (Jan. 8. 2016)

Ted Cruz has accurately pointed out "Look, if you're a lunatic, ain't nutin betta den havin a bunch a targets ya know that are goin to be unable to take video that could be used to identify you." (Dec. 4, 2015)

Ohio Governor John Kasich has been a leader in this movement to eliminate "camera-free zones" starting with his brave decision to fight the Democrats and end "camera-free zones" at National Guard facilities in Ohio. (Dec. 18, 2015)

We are all too familiar with the damage that can occur when citizens are denied their basic God-given rights to carry cameras and take video selfies in public. EVERY AMERICAN HAS THE RIGHT TO PROTECT AND TAKE MOVIES OF THEIR FAMILY AND THE EVENTS THEY ATTEND.



With this irresponsible and hypocritical act of selecting a "camera-free zone" for the convention, the RNC has placed its members, delegates, candidates and all US citizens in grave danger of losing their First Amendment Rights.

We must take a stand against this power grab by the one-percenters! We cannot allow the national nominating convention of the party of Lincoln and Nixon and Reagan and Bush Jr. to be hijacked by weakness and political stupidity! The policies of the Quicken Loans Arena do not supersede the rights given to us by our Creator in the U.S. Constitution!

THEREFORE, WE ARE CALLING TODAY FOR THE FOLLOWING FIVE POINTS OF ACTION:

1. From the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland: A suspension of their abusive policy preventing the open carry of video and audio recording devices on the premises of the arena from July 18-21, 2016 to coincide with the Republican National Convention.

2. From the National Camera Association: An immediate condemnation of the egregious affront to the First Amendment of the United States Constitution constituted by the "camera-free zone" loophole to the state law.

3. From Ohio Governor John Kasich: A concerted effort to use his executive authority to override the "camera-free zone" loophole being exploited by the Quicken Loans Arena and their cohorts in Cleveland, Ohio.

4. From Reince Priebus and the Republican National Committee: An explanation of how a venue so unfriendly to First Amendment rights was chosen for the Republican Convention. Further, we demand a contingency plan to relocate the convention to another location should the Quicken Loans Arena refuse to honor the constitutional rights of the RNC guests to open carry video and audio recording devices during the convention.

5. From all Republican candidates for President: You have been brave in raising awareness about the immense dangers posed by "camera-free zones." In order to ensure the safety and the rights of your supporters, delegates and attendees at the convention in July, you must call upon the RNC to rectify this offensive affront to our First Amendment freedoms and insist upon a suspension of the Quicken Loans Arena's unconstitutional "camera-free zone" loophole. Every American is endowed with a God-given Constitutional right to carry a camera with them wherever and whenever they please!