HOUSTON (AP) – The National Rifle Association began its annual convention in Houston on Friday, three days after a gunman killed 19 students and two teachers at an elementary school across the state, renewing the national debate on armed violence.
Former President Donald Trump and other Republican leaders were due to speak at the event. Leaders of the gun rights group planned to “reflect on” – and divert any blame – from the school shooting in Uvalde. Protesters angry at the armed violence planned to demonstrate outside.
Some scheduled speakers and performers withdrew from the event before it began, including several Texas lawmakers and “American Pie” singer Don McLean, who said it would be “disrespectful” to go ahead with his act. after the last mass shooting in the country. Texas Gov. Dan Patrick said Friday morning that he had decided not to speak at an event’s breakfast after a “consideration and discussion with NRA officials.”
“Although I am a strong supporter of the Second Amendment and a member of the NRA, I would not want my appearance today to bring any additional pain or sorrow to the families and all those who suffer in Uvalde,” he said in a statement. “This is a time to focus on families, first and foremost.”
The NRA said in an online statement that people attending the gun show would “reflect on” the Uvalde school shooting, “pray for the victims, acknowledge our patriotic members and pledge to redouble.” our commitment to ensuring the safety of our schools. “
The meeting is the first for the troubled organization since 2019, after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic. The organization has tried to regroup after a period of severe legal and financial turmoil that included a failed bankruptcy effort, a class action lawsuit and a fraud investigation by the New York Attorney General. Once among the most powerful political organizations in the country, the NRA has seen its influence wane after a major drop in political spending.
While President Joe Biden and Democrats in Congress have renewed calls for stricter gun laws following the Uvalde shooting, NRA board member Phil Journey and other conference attendees they refused to talk about banning or restricting access to firearms.
Gary Francis, who traveled with his wife and friends from Racine, Wisconsin, said he opposed the new regulations in response to the Uvalde shooting.
“What happened there is obviously tragic,” he said. “But the NRA had nothing to do with it. The people who come here have nothing to do with it.”
Larry Miller, 56, of Huntington Beach, California, said he had no problem with the NRA meeting after the Uvalde shooting. He described the shooting as “very sad and unfortunate” and said that the gunman “had no respect for the freedoms of the people we have here in this country”.
“We all share these rights, so to be respectful of the rights of others is to respect the lives of others, and I think with that kind of mindset we should be here,” he said.
People who wanted to attend picked up registration badges and bought NRA souvenirs, such as T-shirts that say “Suns Out Guns Out.” Police in riot gear stormed a rally on Friday, removing hundreds of protesters by truck.
“I know emotions are high. Nothing will change. We can be respectful,” Houston Police Chief Troy Finner told a news conference Thursday night.
Texas has experienced a series of mass shootings in recent years. During this time, the Republican-led legislature and governor have relaxed gun laws.
There are precedents for the NRA to meet amid local mourning and controversy. The organization released a shortened version of its 1999 meeting in Denver about a week after the deadly shooting at Columbine High School in Colorado. Actor Charlton Heston, president of the ANR at the time, told attendees that “horrible acts” should not become opportunities to limit constitutional rights and denounced critics for converting members of the ANR. ANR as “dolins”.
Rocky Marshall, a former NRA board member, said that while Uvalde’s tragedy “puts the meeting in a bad light,” that was not a reason to cancel it. Marshall said gun rights advocates and opponents may be able to reduce gun violence if they focus on factors such as mental illness or school security.
“Throwing stones at the NRA doesn’t solve the next mass shooting,” he said. “Throwing stones at people who hate guns doesn’t solve the next mass shooting.”
But country music singer Larry Gatlin, who withdrew from the planned appearance, said he hoped “the NRA would reconsider some of its outdated and unthinking positions.”
“While I agree with most NRA positions, I’ve come to believe that while background checks wouldn’t stop all crazy people with a gun, it’s at least a step in the right direction. right direction, “Gatlin said.
Country singers Lee Greenwood and Larry Stewart also retired, Variety reported.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Thursday that NRA leaders “are contributing to the problem of armed violence and are not trying to solve it.” He accused them of representing the interests of arms manufacturers, “who sell weapons of war to young adults.”
In addition to Patrick, two Texas congressmen who had been scheduled to speak Friday – U.S. Sen. John Cornyn and U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw – were no longer attending because of what their staff said were changes in their timetable. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who was to attend, was to address the convention through a pre-recorded video.
But others advanced with their appearances, such as Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, South Dakota Republican Gov. Kristi Noem and Trump, who said Wednesday he would make “a major address in America.
“America needs real solutions and real leadership right now, not politicians and partisanship,” he wrote on his social media platform.
In an interview with Salem Radio on Thursday, Trump reiterated his support for gun rights.
“It’s you, you know, an interesting moment to make a speech like that, frankly,” he said. “You have to protect your Second Amendment. You have to give a lot of protection to this Second Amendment because, without it, we would be a very dangerous country, frankly. More dangerous.”
Although personal firearms are allowed at the convention, the NRA said weapons would not be allowed during the session with Trump because of Secret Service security protocols.
Democrat Beto O’Rourke, who is challenging Abbott for the 2022 Texas governor’s career, said he would attend the protest outside.
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, a Democrat, said the city was required to host the NRA event, which has been under contract for more than two years. But he urged politicians to skip it.
“You can’t pray and send condolences one day and then go defend weapons the next day. That’s wrong,” Turner said.
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David A. Lieb reported from Jefferson City, Missouri. Jill Colvin reported from New York.
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