NRA convention is directly in the sights of gun-control activists
Trump tells crowd 2nd Amendment ‘under siege’
DALLAS – The National Rifle Association’s annual conference in Dallas this weekend is its first since the high school killings in Parkland, Florida, and the young activists who spawned a nationwide gun control movement are using the three-day event to underscore their campaign with rallies and protests.
President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, along with about 80,000 NRA members, were on hand at the downtown convention center Friday for the gathering of the gun-rights advocacy group and powerful lobby for firearm makers.
Trump stressed the need to be vigilant in the face of anti-NRA forces.
“Your Second Amendment rights are under siege,” the president told a cheering crowd. “But they will never, ever be under siege as long as I am your president.”
He also dismissed calls to ban guns as a way to reduce terrorism or gun deaths, by noting the outbreak of incidents in which terrorists used trucks to ram pedestrians. “So let’s ban all trucks and vans, maybe all cars,” he said.
Pence offered a vigorous defense of the Second Amendment in his address to the convention, saying that the Trump administration is working to address school security and support for changes to the background check system. He also mentioned the notion of arming teachers, saying “the quickest way to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun.”
Protest groups include Studentmarch .org, which organized a nationwide protest by students March 24 and plans a Rally 4Reform on Saturday morning outside City Hall. Dallas activists, including Dallas Day of Action and Dallas United Against Gun violence, also planned to hold rallies or marches.
Manuel Oliver, whose son was one of 17 people killed by a lone gunman at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Feb. 14, will be the keynote speaker at the rally.
In addition, the Texas chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America will host a Day of Action on Saturday aimed at teaching participants how to influence lawmakers, while Faith Forward Dallas, a coalition of faith leaders of many religions, will host a prayer vigil at City Hall Plaza for the duration of the NRA convention.
Diana Earl, whose 22-year-old son Dedrick was shot and killed in Austin, came to Dallas to stand with others who have lost family members to gun violence.
“Once you’re in this club, you cannot get out of it,” said Earl. “This is a club no one wants to be in.”
NRA spokesman Jason Brown said the group is aware of the planned demonstrations and is taking security precautions. “NRA’s security team has worked closely with local law enforcement to ensure the safety and security of all our members, exhibitors, visitors and staff throughout the event and do not expect any issues to occur,” he said.