The American firearms organization, the National Rifle Association (NRA), opened its annual convention in Houston on Friday, days after a gruesome shooting at a Texas school that killed 19 children and two teachers.
This is an opportunity to reflects about what happened in Uvalde, the organization says, which has already removed from itself all responsibility for this tragedy.
In addition to the participation of former Republican President Donald Trump, other party figures, such as conservative Texas Senator Ted Cruz, will attend the convention.
Republican Governor Greg Abbott, a prominent gun rights advocate and candidate for re-election this year, will not make the trip, but will discuss NRA members in a pre-recorded video.
However, some star singers chose not to come along. Among them, singer Don McLean, known for his songs American Piewho felt it would be disrespectful for him to perform there.
Artist Lee Greenwood, whose patriotic achievement God bless the USA pace the meetings of Donald Trump, also preferred to cancel his concert.
There is also another notable disadvantage, the maker of the AR-15 semi-automatic rifle used by the author of the shot.
At dawn, thousands of gun supporters marched outside the Houston Convention Center, filled with manufacturers ’booths displaying semi-automatic rifles and hunting equipment.
I have guns in every room in my houselaughed a man in his 60s, when asked if the rifle he was thinking of buying would come first.
Demonstration against convention
But in the afternoon, a large demonstration was planned by supporters of the ban on assault rifles whose slogan was stop killing children.
Democrat Beto O’Rourke, who will face Greg Abbott in the gubernatorial election in November, is expected to join them.
The NRA, which claims five million members, also pointed out that to ensure the safety of Mr. Trump – to whom the organization donated tens of millions of dollars during his two presidential campaigns – the guns were prohibited in the room.
Source: Radio-Canada
