Staff Reports
Former President Donald Trump received a roaring reception from Second Amendment advocates on Friday at the National Rifle Association (NRA) annual conference in Indianapolis as he vowed to support the right to bear arms in the United States. He said gun owners need someone who’s “tough” and somebody who “knows what they’re doing” and he feels like he fit the bill.
TRUMP to #NRAConvention: "With your support in 2024, I will be your loyal friend and fearless champion once again as the 47th President of the United States." https://t.co/awGdfgIjGg pic.twitter.com/zXHJh4kHWg
— NEWSMAX (@NEWSMAX) April 14, 2023
Trump, who came to office as a political outsider and astonished the world by winning in 2016, made it clear that he’s not done yet. “With your support, in 2024, I will be your loyal friend and fearless champion once again as the 47th president of the United States,” he said. Trump reminded the crowd that his administration was the most supportive of the Second Amendment, and promised that he would continue to gather support for the right to bear arms.
“People think that being politically conservative these days means taking guns away from people. That’s not what the Founding Fathers had in mind,” Trump declared. He called Democrats “gun-grabbing bureaucrats” and accused them of letting “demented and disturbed individuals” commit school shootings.
Trump also made it clear that the fight for the Second Amendment is far from over, despite all the progress that has been made. He called for “reciprocity” laws, so that those who have a carry permit in their state could then carry anywhere in the U.S. Trump also urged for the immediate passing of federal legislation that is aimed at affirming and strengthening people’s right to defend themselves with a firearm and for the implementation of penalties for “prosecutorial abuse.”
Trump also addressed the recent Nashville school shooting and said, “This is not a gun problem. This is a mental health problem. This is a social problem. This is a cultural problem. This is a spiritual problem.” Trump blamed Democrats for not prioritizing common-sense school safety measures over their “radical gun control agenda,” which he said would do nothing to prevent attacks by demented and disturbed individuals.
Trump concluded by saying that the NRA was a group with which he truly felt a connection. “They’re great people. They love our country,” he said of the organization. “And they’re going to keep America great.” It was clear from the reception he received that Trump’s message resonated with his loyal NRA supporters.
