The Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), one of the largest annual gatherings of conservative activists and politicians in the United States, drew attention for being designated a gun-free zone despite many attendees' vocal support for gun rights. The 2016 conference, held at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland, prohibited attendees from carrying firearms on the premises. The irony was noted by gun control advocates, who pointed out that many of the speakers and attendees who opposed gun-free zones at schools and other public venues were themselves attending an event where guns were not permitted. Gun rights supporters countered that the decision was made by the venue, not by CPAC organizers, and that Secret Service protocols for events with presidential candidates required the restriction. The debate highlighted the complex intersection of gun rights advocacy, public safety concerns, and practical security considerations at large political gatherings.