A gathering in a context of mourning. The first American arms lobby, the National Rifle Association, is holding its annual convention on Friday, May 27 in Houston (Texas). An event that comes three days after the killing of 19 schoolchildren in Uvalde, a few hours away, which prompted politicians and country music stars to cancel their visit.
>> Shooting in a school in Texas: how the NRA, the American pro-gun lobby, succeeded in preventing any reform
Former President Donald Trump will be present. The NRA, which claims 5 million members, has also specified that because of the speech of the former head of state and to ensure his safety, firearms would be prohibited in the room.
According to the powerful lobby, the participants in the big meeting “will reflect” to what happened in Uvalde, and “will pray for the victims”. The NRA, attacked by Joe Biden, had cleared itself of all responsibility for the killing.
Outside the building, protesters gathered with signs calling for a ban on assault rifles. Joining them is Democrat Beto O’Rourke, who will face Greg Abbott in the gubernatorial election in November.
The crowd goes wild as Beto takes the stage at the anti-NRA protest in Houston, Texas. pic.twitter.com/CRWPKIHbhI
— steven monacelli (@stevanzetti) May 27, 2022
In an unusual scene, a sign of growing tension over the issue of weapons, he interrupted the governor on Wednesday, in the middle of a press conference, accusing him of being responsible for the tragedy.
The shooting, described as “new Sandy Hook” in the American press, in reference to the appalling massacre in a Connecticut elementary school in 2012, reawakened the traumas of America. The faces of the very young victims, aged 11, 10, 9 and years, broadcast repeatedly on television, and the testimonies of their collapsed relatives have moved the country, relaunching a wave of calls for better regulation of firearms.