6 things to know about NRA convention

The National Rifle Association will hold its annual convention April 10-12 in Nashville. Here's a breakdown of what you need to know:

1. 70,000 people expected

Planners for the NRA expect 70,000 people to converge on the Music City Center for the three-day convention. In 2013, more than 86,000 people attended the NRA convention in Houston. The NRA has 5 million due-paying members, and the convention surrounds an annual required meeting of the members. The next NRA conventions will be held in Louisville, Ky.; Atlanta and Dallas.

2. How does that compare?

80,000 music fans a day are expected for the four-day CMA Music Festival downtown in June. Another 80,000 will converge on Manchester, Tenn., for the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, also in June.

3. Guns, guns and more guns

The NRA convention will be the host of concerts, meetings, forums, auctions, breakfasts, children's activities and, of course, "9 acres of guns," according to an ad for the event. Over 400 exhibitors are competing for space within the 350,000-square-foot Music City Center, and the excess of conventioneers, displaying everything from antique guns and high-tech scopes to "just about anything a person could want in camouflage," is expected to flow outside the center.

4. Speakers

A long list of political heavyweights, including several GOP presidential hopefuls, will speak at the NRA-ILA Leadership Forum. Expected are Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, Donald Trump and more. Indiana Gov. Mike Pence canceled his appearance, as did former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

5. Entertainment

Not all the big names rolling out for the convention are associated with politics. Hank Williams Jr. and Colt Ford will perform a free NRA Country Jam V concert on Broadway on Friday. On Saturday, the NRA will present Alan Jackson's 'Keepin' It Country" Tour, with comedian Jeff Foxworthy, at Bridgestone Arena. Jonathan Falwell, a pastor and son of Jerry Falwell, will speak at the Sunday morning prayer breakfast. Also on Sunday, rock star Ted Nugent is scheduled to speak "about what you can do to keep his country free" and will maybe sing at the Music City Center.

6. Security

A multilevel security plan went into works not long after Nashville was chosen as the convention destination. All guns on display on the exhibit floor will be nonoperational, with the firing pins removed, and any guns purchased during the NRA convention will have to be picked up at a Federal Firearms License dealer, near where the purchaser lives, and will require a legal identification. The NRA and Music City Center have confirmed that gun owners with the proper carry permits can bring their guns into the center during the convention. However, Bridgestone Arena, where an NRA-sponsored concert will be held Saturday, does not allow weapons.