Security to NKY Republican: We'll take that gun

CLEVELAND — Despite the Republicans’ fondness for the Second Amendment, the U.S. Secret Service won’t allow firearms into the perimeter around Quicken Loans Arena, where the Republican National Convention kicked off Monday.

Former Campbell County Judge-executive Lloyd Rogers found that out firsthand Sunday when the Secret Service stopped him and temporarily confiscated his Derringer pistol he had as he went through security. Rogers, 83, said he has a legal concealed carry license. He was attending a preliminary event for the convention, he said.

Rogers, 83, is traveling with the Kentucky delegation but is not a delegate. It caused no issues other than some ribbing from other delegates, Rogers said. He said he needs to carry a pistol because, “After you’re a county judge for awhile, you make enemies,” Rogers said.

“Sometimes you’ve got to defend yourself,” Rogers said.

Guns are allowed in downtown Cleveland but not allowed in Quicken Loans Arena or the perimeter surrounding the arena, according to the Associated Press.

Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams said Monday that Republican National Convention security authorities considered suspending the law this week that allows for open carry of firearms, but scuttled that proposal following a legal analysis, USA TODAY reported. The issue was revived Sunday by the local police union following a deadly ambush of three police officers earlier in the day in Baton Rouge and the murders of five officers in Dallas earlier this month.

Notable absences not a concern.

The Republican National Convention in Cleveland has started with some notable absences.

U.S. Sen. Rand Paul is not attending. Ohio Gov. John Kasich is attending some events but not speaking.

Kentucky Republicans seemed puzzled but unconcerned about the absences

Paul told the Associated Press he’d rather hold town hall meetings and perform pro bono eye surgery than attend a coronation for Donald Trump. Kasich, who ran for the GOP nomination, has opted to speak at the NAACP convention in Cincinnati but not the RNC.

Paul’s close colleague, U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., who represents Northern Kentucky’s fourth congressional district, doesn’t know what the significance is of Paul’s absence. Paul and Massie both have said they support Trump. But Kasich also headlined a fundraiser for Paul’s re-election a few weeks ago in Northern Kentucky.

“If I could do eye surgeries, I might be doing that, just because it’s a noble cause,” said Massie, who represents Northern Kentucky’s Fourth Congressional District. “I don’t know whether to read into that.”

It would be nice if Kasich showed up, said Phyllis Sparks, an alternate delegate from Union.

“I’m a little disappointed he’s not here,” Sparks said. “This is his state. He has his opinions, but we must come together as a Republican Party. If not now, I’m certain by November."

If Kasich has designs on running for president in 2020 should Trump not win, it would behoove him to support Trump, many delegates said.

“I think anybody who sits this one out, or throws rocks on the sidelines thinking Trump is going to lose in 2016 is wrong on two accounts,” Massie said.  “One, Trump’s not going to lose. Two, if he does lose and they bear any blame for him losing, they’re going to be persona non grata in 2020.”

Convention about Hillary

With the sound of Lynyrd Skynyrd still ringing in their ears from a concert the night before, Kentucky delegates gathered for a quiet breakfast on the first day of the Republican National Convention.

How does Kentucky Senate President and delegate Robert Stivers, R-Manchester feel about Trump?

“Look what the alternative is,” Stivers said.  “It’s definitely a vote against Hillary but it's also a vote for Donald Trump.”

He then proceeded to talk more about how he hates Clinton.

“When you look at what has happened in Kentucky, specifically in my region and what she has said, it is a presidency of Hillary Clinton would be devastating by a further degree or exponential amount.”

Republican Party of Kentucky chairman Mac Brown said he does not have a problem supporting Trump. He wouldn’t say who his preferred candidate originally was. But he went at length about his animosity toward Clinton. The FBI investigation into her use of a private email server as secretary of state is a big deal, he said.

“How bad do you have to be, do you have to pretend you don’t really know the rules about servers,” Brown said. “She should have been prosecuted.”