Last week, I had the opportunity to attend Freedom Fest in Las Vegas. Part of me just wanted to see how it differed from CPAC. I have to say I was not disappointed. Don’t get me wrong, CPAC has its place, but I like Freedom Fest better.

For example, it was easier to talk to the panelists. They had more breakout sessions just for this purpose. It was nice to interact with people who on the front lines fighting to keep our constitution alive. Not only that, but they wandered the halls without an entourage. I was able to engage in some small talk with editors, journalists, and congressmen this way. Which, by the way, was amazing! I love the interaction. It makes so I don’t feel like another face in the crowd.

Also, I wasn’t assaulted with stickers and flyers every 5 steps. There were a few people handing flyers out to make sure that people would know about their breakout session. The other thing, if you’ve been to CPAC you’ll understand this, the people handing the flyers out were dressed in t-shirt & jeans. It was a nice change of pace.

One of the things I was impressed by was the fact they had high school debates teams. I attended one of them. It was about criminal justice reform: rehabilitation vs retaliation (hard jail time). Both sides made great points. I’m in awe with how these teenagers were able to logic, and not feelings, to make their points. I believe all of them have bright futures in front of them.

They also had what they referred to as Anthem Film Festival which showcased a lot of different documentaries. I didn’t see a lot of them, because I’m horrible at time math. The one I saw the most of was ‘The Right to Bear 3D Printers’ and was able to attend the panel afterward. It talked about how the government and media lost their minds hearing that someone could print a plastic gun with a 3D printer. If you’re a gun person and/or someone that has used a 3D printer, you’ll know why it’s not that big of a deal.

The last reason why I liked this conference, the people. I saw preteens getting involved. There was a fair amount of gray-haired saints still in the trenches. Everyone seemed very open and kind to one another. We may not agree 100% on everything, but there was mutual respect.

So I hope to see more of you at Freedom Fest 2020!