DNC takes aim at Trump’s gun rhetoric with billboards near NRA conference in Texas

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) is launching mobile billboards Saturday in Dallas targeting former President Trump for his rhetoric on gun violence and reform.

The billboards, which accuse Trump of putting the gun lobby ahead of Texas families, were placed in the area outside the venue where he is scheduled to give a speech before the National Rifle Association (NRA) convention.

They feature quotes the former president has made about recent gun violence and the actions they argue show where his loyalties lie.

The DNC specifically pointed to comments made by the former president during a campaign stop in Iowa earlier this year after a school shooting left one dead and several injured. Trump shared his condolences for the victims and their families, but then called on his supporters to “move on.”

“From telling survivors of gun violence to ‘get over it’ to blocking commonsense reforms that would save lives, Donald Trump has bent the knee to the NRA and the gun lobby at every turn,” said DNC spokesman Cameron Niven, in a statement shared with The Hill.

“Under his presidency, the homicide rate soared after Donald Trump decided to roll back reforms that made it easier for criminals to carry guns,” he continued. “If he returns to the White House, Trump will continue to put the NRA and the gun lobby ahead of the safety of American families.”

In its statement, the DNC also praised President Biden’s dedication to gun safety initiatives.

“In stark contrast, President Biden and Vice President Harris stood up to the gun lobby by passing the strongest federal gun safety legislation in nearly thirty years,” Niven wrote. “As long as Trump sides with the NRA on the safety of our children, voters will side with President Biden in November.”

Saturday’s speech marks the ninth time the presumptive Republican nominee has spoken before the gun rights group. In his final speech, the former president promised NRA members stronger protections for their Second Amendment rights if he is re-elected in November.

“I promise you this, with me at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, no one will lay a finger on your firearms — just like it happened for four years when I was your president,” Trump said at an NRA event in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in February. (…) “I will defend these glorious words: ‘they shall not be infringed’”.

Trump’s appearance also comes at a time when the NRA leadership is going through a tumultuous period. The group’s head, Wayne LaPierre, stepped down in January before he and other employees faced a civil lawsuit.

This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story