The National Rifle Association (NRA) of the United States holds its annual convention in Texas this Fridaydays after a teenager killed 19 children and two teachers, in the deadliest school shooting in the United States in a decade.
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The meeting will take place in Houston, 450 kilometers from the elementary school in the small town of Uvalde in which an 18-year-old high school student, identified as Salvador Ramos, used an assault rifle to carry out the
Tuesday massacre.
(You might be interested in: Biden after shooting in Texas: ‘When will we face the gun lobby?’)
Former US President Donald Trump confirmed Wednesday that he will attend the NRA meeting.
In a statement on its website, the NRA — which has been instrumental in preventing the passage of tougher regulations on gun ownership — said the Uvalde massacre was “the act of a lone, deranged criminal.”
Trump to speak before the National Rifle Association
Trump’s speech at the annual meeting of the powerful gun lobby is scheduled for this Friday.
“America needs real solutions and real leadership right now, not politics and partisanship”Said the former president on his social network, Truth Social.
“That’s why I will uphold my long-standing commitment to speak in Texas at the NRA Convention and make an important address to America,” Trump said.
The former president’s plans and words put him in direct opposition to President Joe Biden, who said after Tuesday’s shooting that the United States must confront
the NRA and enact meaningful legislation to curb gun violence.
“When, for God’s sake, will we do what we all know in our guts must be done?Biden asked, his voice heavy with emotion, in an address to the nation in the hours after the attack.
The deadly assault in Uvalde, Texas, takes place after a series of mass shootings
in America this month: The previous one was on May 14 when a self-proclaimed 18-year-old white supremacist shot and killed 10 people at a grocery store in Buffalo, New York.
Despite recurring mass shootings, multiple initiatives to reform gun regulations have failed in the US Congress, leaving it up to states and local governments to tighten, or loosen, their own restrictions.
The governor of Texas cancels his presence
However, the Republican Greg Abbott, governor of Texas (USA), will not finally participate in the annual convention of the National Rifle Association.
In a statement, Abbott’s office indicated that the governor will not finally participate in the convention as planned, although a previously recorded video in which the conservative politician dedicates a few words to the attendees will be shown during the event.
For the time being, the in-person interventions of former US President Donald Trump and Texas Senator Ted Cruz are maintained.
Abbott, however, will return this Friday to Uvalde, where he already went after Tuesday’s shooting at Robb Elementary School that left 19 children and 2 teachers dead.
This Thursday, country music artists Don McAlean, Larry Gatlin and Larry Stewart canceled their performances at the NRA convention.
McLean, author of the song “American Pie”, explained in a statement that “in light
of recent events in Texas” has decided it would be “disrespectful and hurtful” for himself to perform at the NRA convention.
These artists were part of the lineup of musicians who were going to perform this weekend at the NRA meeting, where other artists such as Lee Greenwood, Jacob Bryant and Danielle Peck remain.
The NRA has helped finance the political campaigns of hundreds of members of Congress, both Democrats and Republicans, according to the Open Secrets database maintained by the Center for Responsible Politics.
Protests in Houston
Protests in Houston against the National Rifle Association.
Thousands of people held signs with messages such as “Ban assault rifles now” and “When will you love your children more than guns?” #Noticiasi99 pic.twitter.com/eDO1xnBod1— Radio i99 98.9FM (@radioi99) May 27, 2022
Thousands of people gathered this Friday around the convention center in Houston (Texas, USA) to protest against the celebration of the annual conference of the National Rifle Association (NRA, in English) after the shooting
Tuesday against a college in that state.
According to the images transmitted by local media, the protesters came equipped with posters with messages such as “Ban assault rifles now,” “When will you love your kids more than guns?” and “Assault rifles are for murder.”
Numerous posters contained messages critical of former US President Donald Trump (2017-2021).
The demonstrators also chanted slogans such as “shame” or “let’s throw him out
in the election,” referring to Abbot.
INTERNATIONAL WRITING
*With information from Efe and AFP.
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