Please take this in the spirit of constructive criticism in which it's offered, but yes, put me down in the "couldn't be bothered" category. I was glad to drive from Tampa to Dunnellon to try and catch as much of the FL Carry event as I could, but the questionable location, bad info, and poor planning on this one led me to skip it. Don't get me wrong - I was very interested when I saw this thread pop up. Then I tried to Google the location given in the first post and saw that it appeared to be a random farmer's field. Not a great first impression. Even in hindsight, having since learned that it was less a "rally" and more a "meet and greet", I don't see how anyone would've reasonably expected this to be more than a small event for like-minded locals. I don't know if the organizers were aware, but they held this thing on the same day that there was a gun show in Lakeland, so even with better advertising I doubt they'd have gotten very far. I tried to mention this event to the co-worker who told me about the gun show, but he was completely uninterested in changing his plans.
On a broader level, I can't help but question what an event like this does to help in "retaining and defending" our rights. It's all well and good to talk about rights or history or even the current state of affairs here, but did anyone actually discuss any way that the audience could effect any positive change? With all due respect to the speakers, I don't want a history lesson. I want an overview of who supports our rights in the legislature and who just says they do. I want lessons on organizing people to support a cause and get our message out to the general public. I want to know the best way to marginalize all these BAWN idiots and Demanding Moms, and how to expose and fight against the monied interests that prop them up. Put together an event like that and I'll bring as many people as I can with me when I go.