Following the Texas school tragedy, former US President Donald Trump opposed calls for tighter gun laws, stating that moral Americans should be able to protect themselves against “evil” with firearms.
He told NRA members that “The presence of evil in our world does not justify disarming law-abiding citizens… One of the strongest arguments for arming law-abiding persons is the existence of evil.”
Trump’s comments come three days after a gun massacre at a Texas elementary school sparked a raging debate about gun control in the United States.
The left’s various gun control plans would have done nothing to prevent the tragedy. “None,” he stated emphatically.
On Tuesday, an 18-year-old gunman opened fire at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, killing 19 children and two adults with a lawfully purchased AR-15-style rifle, making it the state’s bloodiest school shooting.
Before arguing that gun control efforts are “grotesque,” Trump read aloud the names of all 19 youngsters, whom he portrayed as victims of an out-of-control “lunatic.”
To ultimately secure our schools and defend our children, we must all come together, Republican and Democrat, in every state and at every level of government… “What we need right now is a complete security revamp at all of our institutions,” he added.
After the murders, several speakers, including Texas Governor Greg Abbott, cancelled their appearances at the NRA’s annual “Leadership Forum,” but Trump stated on Wednesday that he would not be one of them.
President Joe Biden, who chastised the US gun lobby after the massacres, is set to visit Uvalde on Sunday with first wife Jill Biden to “grieve with the people,” according to White House officials.
The NRA is the country’s most prominent gun rights organisation, albeit its clout has decreased as it has become embroiled in legal fights stemming from a corruption scandal.
Although it stated ahead of Trump’s address that audience members would not be allowed to carry firearms, it has resisted most programmes aimed at preventing mass shootings, including expanded background checks on gun purchases.
Republicans in Congress have proposed “hardening” schools by adding more security, such as armed guards stationed at a single entry and exit point, rather than imposing gun ownership prohibitions.
They’ve also mentioned the importance of focusing on mental health, while critics note out that other countries with tougher gun laws suffer similar difficulties and don’t have as many mass shootings.
According to the Gun Violence Archive, there have been 214 mass shootings in the US this year.
There was a racist massacre at a grocery in a Black Buffalo area just 10 days before the Texas shootings.
