Attendees at the National Rifle Association‘s annual meeting in Dallas can carry their firearms — except during the forum where President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence speak Friday.
A White House official said Monday that Trump will attend Friday. Pence had already been slated to speak at Friday’s leadership forum,
The NRA has said on its website that due to Pence’s attendance, the U.S. Secret Service is responsible for security then. It’s standard for the Secret Service to bar firearms from being carried into places visited by the people they protect, regardless of state laws.
Some students at the Parkland, Florida, high school where 17 people were killed in February criticized the NRA on social media for what they see as hypocrisy.
Guns were also banned during Trump’s appearance at the NRA’s annual meeting in Atlanta last year.
#ICYMI @VP Pence has just been announced to speak at the @NRAILA Leadership Forum on May 4 in Dallas, Texas during @AnnualMeetings #NRAAM #2A #NRA
Buy your tickets here ➡️ https://t.co/pFymuCH6kR pic.twitter.com/m1ZBgdDor4
— NRA (@NRA) April 26, 2018
Wait wait wait wait wait wait you're telling me to make the VP safe there aren't any weapons around but when it comes to children they want guns everywhere? Can someone explain this to me? Because it sounds like the NRA wants to protect people who help them sell guns, not kids.
— Matt Deitsch (@MattxRed) April 28, 2018
The NRA has evolved into such a hilarious parody of itself. pic.twitter.com/6Pw6NTQAe6
— Cam (@cameron_kasky) April 28, 2018
On so many levels, this is enlightening. According to the NRA, we should want everyone to have weapons when we are in public. But when they put on a convention, the weapons are a concern? I thought giving everyone a gun was to enhance safety. Am I missing something? https://t.co/f4wgNhJ7RI
— Fred Guttenberg (@fred_guttenberg) April 28, 2018
No, you're not missing anything. The hypocrisy is insulting, and personal.
— JoEllen 🐝🕷️☮🌈🐦🐾 (@sunfish51) April 28, 2018
With a convention full of so many "good guys with guns" wouldn't this be the safest place on earth?
— Peaches (@fingerbobs) April 28, 2018
https://twitter.com/robanderson1971/status/990296395474087937?tfw_creator=blatherat&tfw_site=HuffPost&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.huffingtonpost.com%2Fentry%2Fnra-convention-bans-guns-to-protect-mike-pence-parkland-survivors-jaws-drop_us_5ae4f225e4b04aa23f239924
The Secret Service is in control of security. The NRA is yeilding to them. That said, the NRA should uninvite Pence. My point being, too bad the NRA isn't as concerned about the safety of students as they are about the Veep's. Longtime former NRA member.
— Ken (@kemios) April 28, 2018
No guns allowed at the NRA annual meeting in Dallas prior to and during @VP Mike Pence's visit to the forum. pic.twitter.com/vHKXPtSXjf
— Jeff Paul (@Jeff_Paul) April 30, 2018
Join us in Dallas! Gun Collector Affiliated Clubs have exhibited at @AnnualMeetings since 1954. This year, Collectors Row has 20 displays in 3,400 sq/ft of exhibit space, offering an opportunity to view some of the finest privately owned arms and accouterments in the country. pic.twitter.com/h22D6cltOC
— NRA Museums (@NRA_museums) April 27, 2018