The National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action (NRA) is holding a leadership forum on Friday. The organization is known for its lobbying to relax gun laws including the right to carry them in public spaces where they are currently banned.
So, it should come without a little irony that their event at the end of the week will be “gun non grata.” The reason, fair enough, is not the organization banning deadly weapons but the Secret Service who will be there to protect former President Trump who will be speaking at the event.
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Whe shall remember in this context that there was a shooting in Texas this Tuesday. He gunman killed 18 children, teachers and his own grandmother.
NRA CONVENTION: against guns?
The NRA informed guests that after Trump agreed to speak at the forum the US Secret Service would have control of the general assemble hall. Upon entering the event guest “are consenting to a search of your person and belongings.” The NRA advises that there is no storage and anyone carrying any of the prohibited items will not be allowed in.
The Secret Service will have magnetometers in place before attendees can access the hall looking for any item determine to be a potential safety hazard.
NRA and GOP headliners still going forward with the event
The NRA forum will have more than Trump, who is headlining, to represent the GOP. “A star-studded cast of political heavyweights” including Sen. Ted Cruz and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem and North Carolina Lt Gov. Mark Robinson.
Despite the tragic events on Tuesday when 19 children and two teachers were shoot to death in Uvalde about 300 miles from the scheduled event, the NRA has not announced plans to postpone or call off the event. All the Republican politicians set to speak have confirmed that they will still attend, with the exception of Gov. Abbott who has just said “as far as future plans are concerned, listen, I’m living moment to moment right now.”