| Pigeon
Forge, TN – September 2018 / Newsmaker Alert / Alcatraz
East Crime Museum will be opening “The
Second Amendment” on Friday, Oct. 5, 2018. The exhibit will be open
for one year, giving visitors the opportunity to learn about laws that
shaped this amendment and see rare firearms on display.
Alcatraz East Crime Museum
(located in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee)
has partnered with the National Rifle Association Museums, which includes
the National Firearms Museum located in Fairfax, Virginia, which have generously
loaned the special firearms in this exhibit.
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“We are always interested
in exhibits that provides historic context to our justice system, and featuring
the Second Amendment does exactly that,” explains Janine Vaccarello, chief
operating officer at Alcatraz East Crime Museum. “We know our guests will
enjoy seeing rare pieces from the NRA Museums’ collection here in Tennessee.”
The Second Amendment to the
United States Constitution, part of first 10 amendments known collectively
as the Bill of Rights, is one of the most well-known legal principles in
the world. Since it was ratified in 1791, many other laws and court cases
have fleshed out the Amendment and established legal frameworks for its
interpretation and implementation. Visitors will learn about significant
court cases that shaped how the Second Amendment fits into the distinctly
American laws we have today. This temporary exhibit traces firearm development,
along with the pivotal moments behind the “right of the people to keep
and bear arms.”
This exhibit includes nearly
two dozen artifacts that show the progression of firearms, from a 15th
century matchlock carbine, to the most popular firearms of today. There
are also pieces that have become synonymous with America itself, such as
the American Long Rifle, and the iconic manufacturers Winchester, Colt,
and Smith & Wesson. The exhibit will display a Spencer carbine, a repeating
long gun from the Civil War, invented in 1860, and an especially rare Porter
Turret rifle, unusual for its revolving chambers pointing outwards like
spokes on a wheel.
“The NRA Museums are excited
to bring the history of the Second Amendment and the story of firearms
evolution to Alcatraz East,” added Jim Supica, director of the NRA Museums.
“We hope visitors will gain a new appreciation of the heritage and importance
of this Amendment.”
According to the Pew Research
Center*, four in 10 Americans either
own a gun, or live in a household that has a gun, and 48 percent grew up
in a household that had a gun. Their research shows that for most gun owners,
owning a firearm is tied to their sense of personal freedom.
The museum is always adding
to its collection, and has a star-studded panel of experts who make up
the Advisory Board, including those in law enforcement, collectors, a medical
examiner, crime scene investigators, and others. The board includes Jim
Willett, a retired prison warden, Anthony Rivera, a combat veteran and
Navy SEAL chief, and Judge Belvin Perry, Jr., who is best known for the
Casey Anthony trial. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit:
www.AlcatrazEast.com.
*Source
- Pew Research Center: Key
takeaways on Americans’ views of guns and gun ownership.
About Alcatraz East
Alcatraz East is the most
arresting crime museum in the United States. Guests of all ages can encounter
a unique journey into the history of American crime, crime solving, and
our justice system. Through interactive exhibits and original artifacts,
Alcatraz East is an entertaining and educational experience for all ages
– so much fun it’s a crime! This family attraction is located at the entrance
of The Island, located at 2757 Parkway, Pigeon
Forge, TN. General admission tickets are $14.95 for children, $24.95
for adults. Group ticket sales are available. The museum is open daily
from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., with the last ticket sold 60 minutes before closing.
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit: www.AlcatrazEast.com.
Media Contact:
Cher
Murphy
President
Cher Murphy PR
571-263-2128
About Pigeon Forge
Pigeon
Forge is located in East Tennessee, approximately 35 miles from Knoxville
and McGhee-Tyson Airport. Two-thirds of the nation’s population east of
the Mississippi River lives within a day’s drive, making it an easily accessible
family vacation destination. The city’s neighbor is Great Smoky Mountains
National Park, the most-visited national park in the U.S. It also is home
to Dolly Parton’s Dollywood theme park, Tennessee’s most-visited ticketed
attraction. More information about all aspects of Pigeon Forge are available
at MyPigeonForge.com or toll-free
at 800-251-9100.
Media Contact:
Trish
McGee
for Pigeon Forge Department
of Tourism
615-327-1189 |
