Upcoming Talks, Sunday Hunting in Virginia, & Magical Disney Alternatives
Here's the latest dispatch.
Good morning,
For you newbies out there, welcome to Outsider on the Inside. I hope this dispatch from in and around the nation’s capital on underreported topics finds you well.
If you’re just discovering my musings, here’s a backgrounder.
Here’s what I have for you today.
Upcoming Talks
Over the next couple of weeks, I’ll round out my spring 2022 campus speaking tour. Here are the remaining stops left:
Tomorrow, April 9th: I’m addressing a Second Amendment conference outside Columbus, Ohio. (Register HERE to attend.)
Monday, April 11th: I’m heading up to Boston University in Boston, Massachusetts, to address the Young Americans for Liberty chapter at 8pm ET.
Wednesday, April 20th: George Mason University at 7pm ET - “Conservation is Conservative.” (Watch the broadcast HERE.)
Monday, May 2nd: California State University at Monterey at 7pm ET/4pm PT - “Conservation is Conservative.” (VIRTUAL)
Though my campus tour is coming to an end, it’ll pick up again in the fall. Can’t wait to share more dates with you as they come!
In the interim: I’m speaking on a panel at the upcoming Stop 30-by-30 Summit in Lincoln, Nebraska April 22nd and at FreedomFest in Las Vegas, Nevada, from July 13-16, 2022.
Stay tuned for more details!
Virginia is for Sunday Hunting Lovers
On Wednesday, Governor Glenn Youngkin (R-VA) signed Senate Bill 8, ending the last blue law prohibiting Sunday hunting on public lands, into law.
The bill passed with bipartisan support the House of Delegates on March 7th, 2022. SB 8 will open up “1.6 million acres of national forest lands and 70,000 acres of state forests.” In 2014, Virginia first adopted Sunday hunting on private lands.
This is a massive win for us Virginia hunters. Bravo to everyone involved!
IWF Launches Education Freedom Center
The Independent Women’s Forum (IWF), where I serve as a Visiting Fellow, launched its Education Freedom Center (EFC) yesterday.
Per a press release, the EFC “will educate the public about school choice policies, amplify the voices and stories of parents seeking education freedom, and inform parents about existing education options. EFC will also build awareness of policies that harm students and disempower parents, including lessons and policies based on radical ideologies.”
Magical Disney Alternatives
The Magic Kingdom has lost its luster.
Before embracing woke politics, Disney ignored warning signs pointing to trouble ahead. There’s nothing magical about shelling out thousands of dollars for hotels, food, and cheap thrills that last mere hours or a few days. Who wants to be lectured about politics at an amusement park? Why is tolerating unruly crowds and draining phone batteries now considered fun?
I don’t recognize the Disney of my childhood; it’s certainly lost its way.
The Washington Post also reports regular park goers are even souring on the brand. Len Testa, co-author of the Unofficial Guides to Walt Disney World and Disneyland, warned the publication about backlash against the company and its likely effects on park attendance:
“They can continue to raise prices 5 to 10 percent a year for the foreseeable future and there are still enough American households making enough money to visit,” he said.
The danger, he said, is if public opinion turns against the company.
“I think Disney’s worst nightmare is if Walt Disney World isn’t considered an aspirational destination for most Americans, but if it’s instead viewed as Ibiza — something that rich people go to,” Testa said.
So much for being the happiest place on Earth. Here are some alternatives that actually deliver magical moments—and at a fraction of the cost.
This Week’s Podcast Episodes
Catch up on District of Conservation episodes below.
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—Gabriella