The National Rifle Association’s annual meeting[1] here this week, featuring scheduled appearances by President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, is expected to draw tens of thousands of gun-rights advocates and plenty of protests. Here’s what you need to know about the group’s first convention in Texas since 2013.
Supporters call it 'the premier Second Amendment celebration'The three-day event begins Friday at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center. Hundreds of vendors, including all of the country’s major firearm companies, will be spread out over 650,000 square feet offering their wares to hunters, gamers, ranchers and gun enthusiasts. There are also training and advocacy events, concerts and the organization's annual membership meeting.
More than 70,000 people are expected to attend.
“It’s the premier Second Amendment celebration in the United States,” said NRA spokesman Jason Brown.
As an NRA member and the legislative director of the Texas State Rifle Association, Alice Tripp has been to several of the annual meetings. She said they’re “absolutely huge” and draw passionate gun owners from all over the country.
“It’s important to them to never miss one,” Tripp said. “It’s the family vacation. And God bless them. I’m all for it.”
Protests and counter-events already plannedSince the NRA's last annual meeting, gun-control advocates have been galvanized by multiple mass shootings including the deadliest in U.S. history, at a Las Vegas concert[2]; Texas' most deadly, at a church in Sutherland Springs[3]; and one at a school in Parkland, Florida, that sparked nationwide protests[4].
Opponents of the NRA, which also acts as a powerful lobbying group, and proponents for stricter gun-control laws are planning multiple[5] protests,[6] a “die-in”[7] and advocacy training
