Live Updates: NRA Convention — And Trump — Come To Atlanta

WABE News | WABE

April 28th, 2017

The National Rifle Association Convention kicked off in Atlanta Thursday, and, today, Donald Trump will become the first sitting president to address a the annual meeting in more than 30 years.

The last president to address an NRA convention was Ronald Reagan, who spoke to the 1983 gathering, according to the powerful gun rights lobby. Trump’s appearance in Atlanta is expected to spark significant protests, in particular a die-in in Woodruff Park. 

The NRA, which estimated forum attendance would surpass 70,000 members, is pushing for federal legislation to make any state’s concealed-carry permits valid nationwide. Opponents say the move would effectively turn the weakest gun standards in the nation into the law of the land. 

WABE will be providing coverage of the day’s events with help from the Associated Press.

Giffords Criticizes Trump’s Speech

Former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords says the nation needs a president who is serious about preserving the rights of gun owners while also finding solutions to gun violence. And she contends Donald Trump is not that president.

Giffords says the majority of Americans want commonsense solutions to prevent gun violence. Her comments on Trump followed his afternoon address to the annual meeting of the NRA.

Giffords, a Democrat, was shot in the head in a 2011 shooting in Tucson that left six people dead. She has since co-founded a gun violence prevention organization.

Trump Praises Handel, Insults Warren

President Donald Trump has taken the stage at the NRA annual meeting — a return to the most powerful gun lobby where he garnered significant support during last year’s election.

Trump declared to the crowd: “The eight-year assault on your Second-amendment freedoms has come to a crashing end.”

He also praised Karen Handel, the Republican candidate for Georgia’s 6th District Congressional Seat, as the speech kicked off.

He dusted off an old insult against Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who he said could be his opponent in 2020, calling her “Pocahontas.” 

Trump was referring to Warren’s self-proclaimed Native American heritage, which came up during her run for Senate in 2012. 

Trump is the first sitting president since 1983 to address the NRA annual meeting. It’s being held in Atlanta through the weekend.

Trump Arrives In Atlanta

Trump has arrived at Hartsfield Jackson Airport ahead of his speech at the NRA Leadership Forum. 

Gov. Nathan Deal, his wife, and Karen Handel were on hand to welcome the president. 

Speakers Take The Stage 

Speakers took the stage at the conference just ahead of Trump’s arrival. Oliver North began this part of the forum with an Invocation 

It ended with the crowd yelling “Amen!” The group then segued into the Pledge of Allegiance and the national anthem.

Chris Cox, who serves as executive director of the NRA’s  Institute for Legislative Action praised Vice President Mike Pence and other Trump administration officials and introduced a video that slammed Hillary Clinton. 

Cox was scheduled to introduce Trump.

Others expected to speak include Wayne LaPierre, NRA vice president; Sen. Ted Cruz; Lt. Col. Allen West; and Sen. David Perdue.

Protesters March Toward Centennial Park

Protesters who had gathered at Woodruff Park were marching toward Centennial Park ahead of Trump’s speech. 

They were advocating gun control as part of a “Disarm Hate” demonstration planned by The Georgia Alliance for Social Justice and partners.

Protesters carried signs supporting background checks for gun sales and criticizing NRA political donations as blood money.

Several speakers at an initial gathering at Woodruff Park encouraged a crowd of about 70 people to get involved in state and federal politics.

Who Are The Convention Goers?

Pat and William Henry are here to see Trump. They used to be NRA members, but they let their membership lapse.

“We do have a concealed carry license, so we’ll probably take a look around to see what we can’t live without” Pat Henry said.

They are in support of the wall – their opinion is forged by events that happened to them individually. A close friend’s son was killed by an illegal immigrant who was able to evade police and make it back to Mexico, where the government will not extradite him to the US, Pat said.

Nancy Merryl-Robertson is a native Texan who lives in Roswell, and she hasn’t been able to attend one of these conventions before. She’s a firearm instructor and supports campus carry.

“I definitely think there should be a campus carry bill, and I think that training needs to come along with that,” she said. “I don’t know that I would make it a mandatory law, but I would strongly, STRONGLY suggest that if you’re going to carry, that you get training.”

No Guns Allowed — At Least During Speech

No guns at a gun convention? That seems contradictory but at least for the forum where President Donald Trump will speak at the National Rifle Association, attendees aren’t allowed to bring in firearms.

Guns are allowed in most public places in Georgia, including the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta where the NRA is holding its annual meeting through the weekend. But as with most presidential appearances, firearms aren’t allowed.

The NRA was providing lockers for free so people could stow their firearms while inside the room where Trump was to speak Friday afternoon.

Also, each person entering the hall at the center had to go through metal detectors and have bags inspected.

“Die-in” Planned At Woodruff Park 

A crown is gathering for a “die-in” is scheduled at Woodruff Park in response to the NRA convention. Gun control advocates will lie on the ground of the park to represent victims of gun violence. 

According to the Atlanta Jounal Constitution, the event is an offshoot of regular protests urging Republican Sen. David Perdue to hold town halls. 

“The battle to hold our elected officials accountable is just beginning,” said Caroline Stover, an organizer of the Resist Trump Tuesday movement in Georgia, told the AJC. “We will continue to demand a town hall meeting with our Georgia members of Congress and insist on their support for issues we care about.“

Gov. Deal At The Convention

Gov. Nathan Deal was on had to welcome the convention goers to Atlanta, where he vowed to protect Second Amendment rights “appropriately.”

“On behalf of over 10 million Georgians I am here to say welcome to the great state of Georgia,” Deal said. “This is now the 8th largest state in the United States. …We do what we can at the state level to make sure that it (the 2nd amendment) is protected.”

Others on hand were NRA board members Richard Childress and Peter Brownnell, and the group’s president Allan Cors.

WABE reporter Al Such and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

Related

Top Stories