The National Rifle Association (NRA) is expected to continue with its annual convention over the weekend in Houston despite the horrifying Texas mass shooting that left at least 21 people dead, including students and teachers.
Several Republicans, including former United States President Donald Trump, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, are expected to speak at the convention. However, one key difference between this year's event compared to others is that audience members will not be able to carry guns.
Trump To Speak at NRA Convention
In a statement, the NRA said that although an investigation was underway and facts were still emerging regarding the Texas incident, the group said that it recognized it was the act of a lone, deranged criminal. The association said that it will reflect on these events, pray for the victims, recognize its patriotic members, and pledge to redouble its commitment to making schools more secure.
Former President Trump is scheduled to speak at the convention on Friday and the Secret Service will take control of the hall during the Republican businessman's speech. They will not be permitting firearms, firearm accessories, or knives, among other items, as per USA Today.
On Wednesday, Trump said that he will deliver an important address to America during the NRA's annual convention. The Republican businessman said that the United States needs real solutions and real leadership in this moment of hardship and not politicians and partisanship.
The NRA annual convention this year is scheduled to include Abbott, Cruz, Texas Rep. Dan Crenshaw, North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, and South Dakota, Gov. Kristi Noem. Abbott was previously interrupted while speaking at a press conference where Texas gubernatorial candidate Beto O'Rourke.
Abbott declined to confirm whether he was going to attend or speak at the convention and said that as far as future plans were concerned, he was living moment to moment. He said that his heart, head, and body were with Uvalde right now.
According to Aljazeera, the three-day convention is a major event for the U.S. gun lobby and is set to showcase "the latest guns and gear." The start of the annual convention this year is set three days after an 18-year-old gunman, identified as Salvador Ramos, opened fire at a Texas elementary school.
Banning of Firearms
The incident was the deadliest U.S. school shooting in the last decade and has reignited the fierce debate about gun laws in the country. The horrifying tragedy also came as the nation reeled from a mass shooting earlier this month when an avowed white supremacist shot 13 people at a supermarket in a mostly Black neighborhood of Buffalo.
The banning of guns in this year's annual convention during Trump's address is not the first time as in 2018, a similar prohibition was put in place during a speech by then-Vice President Mike Pence. In a statement, the Secret Service said that at the time, the agency has the "authority to preclude firearms from entering sites visited by our protectees, including those located in open-carry states."
After the mass shooting at Columbine High School in 1999 that left 13 dead, the NRA considered canceling its annual convention scheduled for a few days later in Denver. However, they ultimately decided to go ahead with the event, NPR reported.
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