On May 27, former US President Donald Trump will speak at the National Rifle Association’s Annual Leadership Forum. Ironically, guns will be prohibited during Mr. Trump’s speech at the conference hosted by America’s largest gun lobby. The conference is being held in the aftermath of a horrific mass shooting that occurred earlier this week in a Texas elementary school, killing 21 people (19 students and 2 teachers).
Because the right to own a gun is enshrined in the American Constitution, the National Rifle Association, or NRA, has long lobbied against gun reforms and gun control laws. Gun ownership is widely regarded as a partisan issue, with many Republican representatives opposing gun reform legislation.
The NRA has told NPR that the US Secret Service has seized possession of the event during Mr Trump’s speech. Attendees are not permitted to bring firearms, firearms accessories, or knives, according to the Secret Service. Ammunition, laser pointers, pepper spray, toy guns, backpacks, and other items will also be prohibited, according to the report.
According to NPR, the Secret Service has the “authority to prohibit firearms from entering sites got to visit by our protectees, including those located in open-carry states.”
Open carry states are those in the United States that allow licenced citizens to carry firearms in public.
Wayne LaPierre, the NRA’s executive vice president, has led the organization for nearly three decades and has become one of Washington’s most powerful figures.
He claimed to have played a significant role in Trump’s 2016 election, and Trump’s sons Eric and Donald Jr are representatives who regularly attend NRA events.
