Hundreds of people protested for gun control outside the annual National Rifle Assn. convention in Houston Friday, just two days after the massacre of 21 people, including 19 children in Uvalde, while inside gun rights advocates perused vendor displays selling firearms and accessories and told reporters their right to bear arms is under attack.
HOUSTON — Hundreds of people protested for gun control outside the annual National Rifle Assn. convention here Friday, days after the country’s latest mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, in which 21 people were killed, including 19 children.
Riley, who grew up hunting and trained with automatic rifles in the military, said the age limit to buy AR-15-style rifles should be raised and training required, as it is in the military. Police barred protesters from crossing the street to confront convention attendees. But attendees occasionally crossed to interact with protesters.
“We protect our banks, our sporting events, our politicians. Why don’t we protect our kids?” he said.“Many of my friends are the same way, especially the ones that are former military. There has to be some leeway” on gun control, she said. “It’s really hard when the answer you hear is, ‘Arm the teachers.’ I don’t want that with my 5-year-olds.”
“The various gun control policies being advanced by the left would have done nothing to prevent the tragedy,” Trump said of the Uvalde massacre. “How many tragedies will it take for them to set aside their far-left agenda and do what it takes?” “It’s scary. There could be potential shooters in there buying guns for future events,” she said, gesturing to the convention center. “I can’t keep them out of school forever.”
“My husband has rifles, but assault rifles are unnecessary,” said Askandi, 65, a retired bank trust officer from Houston. Beth Dragoo, 63, who brought her 9-year-old grandson Aiden to the convention from Central Texas, said more needs to be done to secure schools. Nearby, Chris Jensen wore a T-shirt featuring an AR-15-style rifle that said, “I prefer dangerous freedom over peaceful slavery.”
After the shooting, some Texas Democrats and Republicans have said they plan to push “commonsense gun laws,” such as more extensive background checks, red flag laws and increasing the age limit for buying AR-15-style rifles from 18 to 21. But many expect the NRA to mount lobbying efforts to block such measures, as they have in the past.
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