May 19th 2024.
During his speech at the National Rifle Association's annual meeting in Texas on Saturday, former President Donald Trump urged gun owners to vote in the 2024 election. The NRA had officially endorsed Trump just before he took the stage, and he wasted no time in rallying their support. "We've got to get gun owners to vote," Trump declared, addressing the thousands of NRA members in the audience. He went on to appeal to their rebellious nature, saying, "I think you're a rebellious bunch. But let's be rebellious and vote this time."
In his passionate speech, Trump emphasized the importance of the Second Amendment and how it is "very much on the ballot" in the upcoming election. He warned that if Democratic President Joe Biden were to win a second term, he would come for their guns. Trump also pointed to Biden's 40-year record of trying to limit gun ownership, stating that he has a history of trying to "rip firearms out of the hands of law-abiding citizens."
The Biden administration has taken steps to address gun violence, including a new rule to close a loophole that allows unlicensed dealers to sell guns without performing background checks. However, Trump remains committed to defending the Second Amendment, which he believes is "under siege." He has even referred to himself as "the best friend gun owners have ever had in the White House" as the country continues to face record numbers of deaths due to mass shootings.
Last year alone, there were 42 mass killings and 217 deaths, making it one of the deadliest years on record. Trump's opponent, Biden, has criticized him for his response to these tragedies, particularly his remarks after a school shooting in Iowa. Trump had initially called the incident "very terrible," but later said that the country needed to "get over it" and "move forward."
During his speech, Trump also took aim at independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., calling him "radical left" and "a disaster." He also reminded the audience that Kennedy had once referred to the NRA as a "terror group." Trump urged them not to waste their vote on Kennedy, saying, "He calls you a terrorist group, and I call you the backbone of America."
Trump also announced that he would be speaking at the Libertarian Party's convention next week and urged its members to vote for him. "We have to join with them," he said. "We have to get that three per cent because we can't take a chance on Joe Biden winning."
Earlier in the day, Trump's campaign and the Republican National Committee had announced the creation of a new coalition called "Gun Owners for Trump." This coalition includes gun rights activists and members of the firearms industry. In contrast, Biden has made tackling gun violence a top priority in his administration and reelection campaign. He has created the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention and has called for a ban on assault weapons.
Biden's spokesman, Ammar Moussa, criticized Trump's speech, saying, "Tonight, Donald Trump confirmed that he will do exactly what the NRA tells him to do — even if it means more death, more shootings, and more suffering." However, during his presidency, there were moments when Trump had pledged to strengthen gun laws, particularly after the mass shooting in Parkland, Florida. He had promised to be "very strong on background checks" and even claimed he would stand up to the NRA. However, he later backtracked, citing a lack of political support.
In addition to his stance on gun rights, Trump also brought up the ongoing criminal cases against him, suggesting that they were politically motivated because he is running against Biden. "Never forget our enemies want to take away my freedom because I will never let them take away your freedom," he declared.
Trump also spoke about other hot-button issues, including his border policies and abortion. He pledged to order the largest domestic deportation operation and warned Republicans not to be too extreme on abortion if they want to remain electable. "In my opinion, Republicans have not been talking about it intelligently," Trump stated. "They haven't been talking about it with knowledge. Remember, speak from your heart. But you also have to get elected again."
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