Former President Donald Trump is expected to address thousands of members of the National Rifle Association in Texas a day after campaigning in Minnesota in the midst of his hush money trial. Trump has pledged to continue to defend the Second Amendment and has called himself “the best friend gun owners have ever had in the White House” as the United States faces record numbers of deaths due to mass shootings. Last year ended with 42 mass killings and 217 deaths, making it one of the deadliest years on record.
Quick Read
- Donald Trump to Speak at NRA Event in Texas: Former President Donald Trump is scheduled to address the National Rifle Association in Texas, highlighting his strong support for the Second Amendment amidst his presidential campaign.
- Trump’s Self-Description as Gun Owners’ Ally: Trump has described himself as “the best friend gun owners have ever had in the White House,” especially significant as the U.S. experiences a high rate of mass shootings.
- Criticism from President Biden: Trump has been criticized by Democratic President Joe Biden for his comments following a school shooting in Iowa, where Trump initially described the event as “very terrible” but later emphasized the need to move forward.
- Trump’s Call to Action for Gun Owners: In a speech in Minnesota, Trump urged legitimate gun owners to vote for him, claiming that Democrats would take away their guns.
- Vice President Kamala Harris’s Response: Vice President Kamala Harris criticized Trump’s allegiance to the gun lobby and contrasted it with the Biden administration’s efforts to combat gun violence and regulate firearms.
- Trump’s Past and Fluctuating Stance on Gun Control: While Trump has occasionally promised to strengthen gun laws, such as after the Parkland shooting, he has generally reverted to a pro-gun stance, often under political pressure.
- Keynote Address at NRA Forum: Trump’s upcoming keynote speech at the NRA forum in Dallas, where he will likely reiterate his commitment to gun rights, coincides with protests planned by gun safety groups.
- Political Context in Texas: The event takes place as Democrats, led by U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, aim to challenge Republican dominance in Texas, particularly in the upcoming Senate race against Ted Cruz.
The Associated Press has the story:
Trump will address NRA in Texas, saying he’s the best President for gun owners
Newslooks- DALLAS (AP) —
Former President Donald Trump is expected to address thousands of members of the National Rifle Association in Texas a day after campaigning in Minnesota in the midst of his hush money trial. Trump has pledged to continue to defend the Second Amendment and has called himself “the best friend gun owners have ever had in the White House” as the United States faces record numbers of deaths due to mass shootings. Last year ended with 42 mass killings and 217 deaths, making it one of the deadliest years on record.
The presumptive Republican presidential nominee has been criticized by Democratic President Joe Biden, specifically for remarks that Trump made this year after a school shooting in Iowa. Trump called the incident “very terrible” only to later say that “we have to get over it. We have to move forward.”
Speaking Friday in Minnesota, Trump said: “You know, it’s an amazing thing. People that have guns, people that legitimately have guns, they love guns and they use guns for the right purpose, but they tend to vote very little and yet they have to vote for us. There’s nobody else to vote for because the Democrats want to take their guns away and they will take their guns away.”
He added, “That’s why I’m going to be talking to the NRA tomorrow to say, ‘You gotta get out and vote.’”
Vice President Kamala Harris said in a statement before Trump’s NRA appearance that “at a time when guns are the number one cause of death for children and teens in America, Donald Trump is catering to the gun lobby and threatening to make the crisis worse if reelected.” She said she and Biden “will continue to take on the gun lobby to keep Americans safe, while Donald Trump will continue to sacrifice our kids’ and communities’ safety to keep these special interests happy.”
When Trump was president, there were moments when he pledged to strengthen gun laws. After a high school mass shooting in Parkland, Florida, that killed 17 people and wounded 17 others, Trump told survivors and family members that he would be “very strong on background checks.” He claimed he would stand up to the NRA but later he backpedaled, saying there was “not much political support.”
On Saturday, he is expected to give the keynote address as the powerful gun lobby holds a forum in Dallas. Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott will also speak. Prominent gun safety groups that have endorsed Biden are planning to demonstrate near the convention center where the gun lobby plans to meet.
While Trump sees strong support in Texas, Democrats in the state think they have a chance to flip a Senate seat in November with U.S. Rep. Colin Allred leading an underdog campaign to unseat Republican Ted Cruz. No Democrat has won a statewide office in Texas in 30 years, the longest streak of its kind in the country.
