def _copy(self):
        """Copies this instance. Its IonEvent (if any) is not preserved.

        Keeping this protected until/unless we decide there's use for it publicly.
        """
        args, kwargs = self._to_constructor_args(self)
        value = self.__class__(*args, **kwargs)
        value.ion_event = None
        value.ion_type = self.ion_type
        value.ion_annotations = self.ion_annotations
        return value
Copies this instance. Its IonEvent (if any) is not preserved.

        Keeping this protected until/unless we decide there's use for it publicly.