We use cookies on this website. By continuing to use this site without changing your cookie settings, you agree that you are happy to accept our privacy policy and for us to access our cookies on your device.
Transcript/Script((PLAYBOOK SLUG: US – NRA CONFERENCE
HEADLINE: US Gun Lobby Meets in Texas Following Elementary School Shooting
TEASER: Speakers push back against White House calls for tougher gun laws
PUBLISHED AT:
BYLINE: Scott Stearns
DATELINE: Houston
VIDEO EDITOR:
SCRIPT EDITORS: Holly Franko, MPage
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA original, NRA feed
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV _X_ RADIO __
TRT:
VID APPROVED BY:
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITOR NOTES:))
((INTRO))
[[America's largest gun lobby opened its annual convention Friday in Texas, less than 500 kilometres from an elementary school where 19 children and two adults were killed by a teenage gunman with an automatic weapon just days earlier. VOA correspondent Scott Stearns has our story from Houston.]]
((VIDEO: Convention establishing shots))
((NARRATOR))
Organizers say more than 50,000 National Rifle Association members registered to attend this convention. Asked by local officials to consider postponing after the school shooting in Uvalde, the convention opened on schedule with CEO Wayne LaPierre saying every NRA member is in mourning.
((Wayne LaPierre, National Rifle Association CEO))
"We are with this community and all of America in prayer. NRA members are parents. We have sons, daughters and loved ones. These tragedies cause gut-wrenching, unimaginable pain that too many are being forced to go through right now. It's not right. It should never happen again."
((VIDEO: President Biden b-roll from Tuesday Uvalde remarks))
((NARRATOR))
Following the shooting, President Joe Biden called for tougher gun laws to make sure school shootings do not happen again.
((US President Joe Biden))
"The gun manufacturers have spent two decades aggressively marketing assault weapons which make them the most and largest profit. For God's sake, we have to have the courage to stand up to the industry."
((VIDEO: Donald Trump on stage at NRA convention))
((NARRATOR))
Former President Donald Trump told the NRA convention that when Biden blames the gun lobby, he is talking about Americans like them.
((Donald Trump, Former US President))
"This rhetoric is highly divisive and dangerous, and most importantly it's wrong. It has no place in our politics. As always in the wake of these tragedies, the various gun control policies being pushed by the Left would have done nothing to prevent the horror that took place."
((VIDEO: Uvalde shooting b-roll))
((NARRATOR))
Among the gun control policies under discussion is a return to a ban on assault weapons such as the automatic rifle used in Uvalde.
Texas Senator Ted Cruz told the convention that congressional Democrats are trying to exploit school shootings for political gain.
((Sen. Ted Cruz, Republican))
"It's far easier to slander one's political adversaries and demand that responsible citizens forfeit their constitutional rights than it is to examine the culture sickness giving birth to unspeakable acts of evil. It's far less comfortable to ask why despair and isolation and violent hatred is so prevalent in America."
((NARRATOR))
Outside the convention hall, Houston Peace and Justice Center President Bill Crosier said the NRA should not have come.
((Bill Crosier, Houston Peace and Justice Center President))
"I'm insulted that we open up our city and welcome these people who are providing funding for the gun manufacturers and funding for the politicians, the elected officials who are more beholden to them than to us."
((NARRATOR))
The NRA convention advertises 14 acres of "guns and gear" in their exhibition hall with events that include briefings on strategies for supporting pro-gun rights candidates in November midterm elections.
((Scott Stearns, VOA News, Houston))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateMay 27, 2022 23:03 EDT
BylineScott Stearns
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
