Former US President and current presidential candidate Donald Trump used the annual conference of the powerful gun lobby NRA for a campaign appearance, calling on gun owners to vote. Trump promised on Saturday (local time) in Dallas, Texas, before a cheering audience that he would stand up for their rights and freedoms, change the country and make America great again.
With him in the White House, Trump said, those who tried to take Americans’ guns would run into a huge wall. “Their dreams of taking away your God-given rights will disappear when the polls close on November 5.”
Criticism of Biden
The NRA is one of the most powerful lobbying groups in the United States. The number of members is in the millions. Lobbyists have enormous influence on politics. The NRA pumps large sums of money into election campaigns and judges members of parliament based on their positions on gun issues – as a kind of handout to its members about who to vote for and who not. Trump said to cheers from those in attendance that it was a “true honor to be here today and receive the support of the proud American patriots of the NRA.”
Trump also used his appearance to launch sharp verbal attacks on his Democratic opponent, US President Joe Biden – and was applauded by those in the room. He said he was looking forward to the debates with Biden and, given Biden’s age (81), called for a drug test before the match. Biden was in the state of Georgia on Saturday to seek support, especially among black voters.
So far, little success has been achieved in changing gun laws
The 77-year-old Trump wants to move back into the White House for the Republicans after the presidential elections. He is currently due to appear in court New York in connection with hush money payments to a Porn actress responsible and regularly spends many hours in court for days on end. If he wasn’t in the race, none of this would exist, Trump said.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott said at the meeting that Trump’s re-election depends on the NRA’s efforts. If its members organized and participated in elections, no organization in America could win. “With your help, we will re-elect Donald Trump as president, a freedom fighter who will put America first.”
The right to bear arms is enshrined in the US Constitution. No one dares to touch this Second Amendment from the 18th century. It was created for a time when the US was largely undeveloped wilderness and its inhabitants lived far away from urban areas. There were no submachine guns or assault rifles then. But every citizen’s right to a gun remains. For many Americans it is sacred.
Efforts to introduce stricter gun laws have been unsuccessful for years, mainly because Republicans oppose them. And because the gun lobby, especially the NRA, vigorously opposes any attempt to more closely regulate gun ownership.