NRA Draws Fire for Gun Ban at Convention

What’s the story?

• Firearms will be banned during speeches by President Donald Trump and VP Mike Pence at Friday's National Rifle Association convention in Dallas.
• Victims of the Parkland, Florida, high school shooting and other gun-control advocates are criticizing the move.

What are gun-control advocates saying?

• Matt Deitsch, a student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School who helped organize the "March for Our Lives" protest, tweeted:

• Fred Guttenberg - whose daughter, Jamie, was among the 17 people killed in the February 14 massacre - tweeted:

What’s the NRA saying?

• The NRA posted a notice explaining the ban was ordered by the U.S. Secret Service, not its organization:

"Due to the attendance of the Vice President of the United States, the U.S. Secret Service will be responsible for event security at the NRA-ILA Leadership Forum. As a result, firearms and firearm accessories, knives or weapons of any kind will be prohibited in the forum prior to and during his attendance."

• NRA spokeswoman Dana Loesch dismissed any claims of hypocrisy, tweeting:

What are gun-rights advocates saying?

In online forum Texas CHL, a gun-rights advocate posted:

"Obviously even republicans and so called leaders don't trust the 'good guys.' I realize it's the VP, but still makes our whole argument look foolish. You may disagree...but in my opinion the very people that claim to protect the [Second Amendment] should never host an event that requires disarming the good guys. Sad. No excuses for this...it makes us look stupid."

What do you think?

Do you find the banning of guns in the NRA convention hypocritical? If the Secret Service can modify gun policy, should the federal government be able to do the same? Should “good guys” be able to carry guns throughout the convention? Hit Take Action and tell your reps, then share your thoughts below.

—Josh Herman

(Photo Credit: Big_Ryan / iStock)