DALLAS– Former President Donald Trump is expected to address thousands of National Rifle Association members in Texas a day after campaigning in Minnesota in the midst of his silent trial.
Trump has vowed to continue defending the Second Amendment and called himself “the best friend gun owners have ever had in the White House” as the country faces a record number of deaths from mass shootings. Last year ended with 42 mass murders and 217 deaths, making it one of the deadliest years on record.
The presumptive Republican presidential nominee has been criticized by President Joe Biden, specifically for remarks he made earlier this year following a school shooting in Iowa that he called “very terrible,” only to later say that “we have to get over it.” . We have to move forward.”
Speaking Friday at a campaign event in Minnesota, Trump said: “You know, it’s an incredible thing. People who have guns, people who legitimately have guns, love guns and use them for the right purposes, but they tend to vote very little and yet they have to vote for us. There is no one left to vote for because the Democrats want to take away their guns and they will take away their guns.”
He added: “That’s why I’m going to speak to the NRA tomorrow to say, ‘You need to get out and vote.’”
When Trump was president, there were times when he promised to strengthen gun laws. After a mass shooting at a high school in Parkland, Florida, that killed 17 people and injured 17 others, Trump told survivors and family members that he would be “very strong on background checks.” He claimed he would take on the NRA, but then backed off, saying “there wasn’t a lot of political support.”
On Saturday, he is expected to deliver the keynote address as the powerful gun lobby holds a forum in Dallas. Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott will also speak at the convention. Prominent gun safety groups that have previously supported Biden are planning to hold a rally near the convention center where the gun lobby plans to meet.
Although Trump sees strong support in Texas, Democrats think they have a chance at an upset in November, with former NFL player U.S. Rep. Colin Allred leading a weak campaign to unseat Republican Sen. Ted Cruz. No Democrat has won statewide office in Texas in 30 years, which is the longest streak of its kind in the US.
On Friday, Trump campaigned in Minnesota after attending his son Barron’s high school graduation in Florida.
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