Who's Going to DC for MacDonald?

[jdberger]

As regulars of the 2A forum are most likely aware, MacDonald is going to be argued in front of SCOTUS on March 2.

Wildhawker and I were planning on going. We thought we'd make it a party.

Who's going?

When are you planning on flying out?

Returning?

Where are you staying?


It'd be fun to have a contingent of Calgunners there to cheer Gura on (and maybe do a little jig in the background when media is interviewing Sad Panda Paul Helmke). A large poster of MLK reading, "Free at Last, Free at Last, Thank God Almighty! Free at Last!" might be appropriate given the legacy of Slaughterhouse and Cruikshank.

Flights are pretty cheap in March. Gene had some from SFO running $280 round-trip. Folks can double-up in hotel rooms, too.

So - fess up your details and let's organize!

[trashman]

I would love to get there -- my calendar is already crowded for Q2/3 GFY10 so I may just have to send some drinks money with you guys so you can spend it at Shelley's or the OEG...

--Neill

[jdberger]

I would love to get there -- my calendar is already crowded for Q2/3 GFY10 so I may just have to send some drinks money with you guys so you can spend it at Shelley's or the OEG...

--Neill

Hundreds, please. Wildhawker's not a cheap date.

[Mssr. Eleganté]

If Gene goes again, can we all chip in and buy him a travel alarm clock?

[hoffmang]

I'm flying out of Socal (CRPA board meeting) Monday AM 3/1. I have no clue where I'm staying but probably something downtown and walking distance from the court. I may fly back 3/3 but work may keep me on the east coast for a couple more days.

the_quark is likely to fly in 3/1 and out 3/3 based on our trip to Heller.

-Gene

[wash]

I'll be there arriving on the 27'th. I've got a room I can split. I hope that I can see the smithsonian on Sunday and split shifts on line so that I can go in to the court looking decent.

[wash]

Oh, I'm leaving Wednesday morning so I'm available for the after party.

[Purple K]

Do we have any Calgunners that are travel agents? We could do a "group buy" on travel.

[ivanimal]

OK i am in. I will have to discuss after the 1st.

[PutTogether]

Piece of advice for those of you going, since I just watched arguments at SCOTUS a few weeks ago.

Get there EARLY. And I mean EARLY. For just a regular old case about diversity jurisdiction we needed to be in line by 6am (they only let in the first 50 people. There were literally hundreds and hundreds of people in line behind us that were totally screwed and didn't get in.). I would guess a massive event like McDonald one would probably need to be there around midnight the night before, and still no guarantee of getting in, as the Marshall of the court may have all seats spoken for.

Details of how waiting in line works:

You literally just walk up to the front of the court (located just behind the capitol building) and wait in a line down by the sidewalk. At around 5:30-6am, the Supreme Court Police Officer will guide the line up from the sidewalk and one set of the stairs, to wait on the patio in front of the entrance. They will NOT tolerate line or place holding. At around 7:00-7:30 the police officers will hand out numbers to those in line. IN ORDER. That will be your place holder in line. Then, and only then, can you leave to go to the bathroom and stuff. There IS a restroom and cafeteria at the building that you can go in to after you get your number. Note that just because you get a number doesn't mean you can leave and come back at will - it just allows you to step out of line to stretch a bit, grab a snack, etc. First argument is at 10am, second is at 11am. If you get in for the first one, you get to keep your seat through the second one. If you don't make it in the first one, the chances are next to zero that you get in for the first argument.

After they have filled up the seats, and are no longer letting people in, they will start what is called the "three minute line." It is just what it sounds like. They will filter people through the back and let them sit for three minutes, then have them file out to make room for others.

If I left anything out, or anyone has any questions, feel free to post or PM.

And please, if you want to go to hear the case, GET THERE EARLY. Oh, and not that any of us would need to be told, but dress appropriately too. They won't let you in in a T-Shirt.

Best!

Eric

[sergeantrex]

Oh, I'm leaving Wednesday morning so I'm available for the after party.

Same here. Looking for hotel close by for the first day. Any suggestions?

[wash]

I'm staying here:

https://secure.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/hi/1/en/hotel/waswp

It's about 2.5 miles west of the capitol complex.

Two double beds, like I said, I'm willing to split, it will be about $45-50 a night.

[trashman]

Hundreds, please. Wildhawker's not a cheap date.

It's not that bad -- I heard he likes guns so much he drinks CLP Breakfree instead beer or wine (or Jaegermeister, which might be its closest chemical relation).

--Neill

[wildhawker]

I've recently displaced my CLP habit with vintage 2009 Slip2000, 750ml at a time.

It's not that bad -- I heard he likes guns so much he drinks CLP Breakfree instead beer or wine (or Jaegermeister, which might be its closest chemical relation).

--Neill

[nicki]

Who actually shows.

These hearings will be historic and seating will be very limited.

Has anyone here contacted people in other groups to find out wheter we are going to have a mob scene at the SCOTUS.

My personal feeling is that leaders such as Gene should have first shot at seats in the court.

Those who will go will do so at significant personal expense of time and money.

Is there any plans for a meetup after the hearings for not just Calguns, but others as well who do show up at the hearings.

Such a meetup and the natural networking and bonding that would follow with it may offer some consolation to those who fly across, but could not attend the actual hearing due to unavailable seats.

Nicki