The National Rifle Association, a lobbying group that opposes gun control, held an annual meeting in Texas, where 21 people, including 19 children, were shot dead in elementary school.

Opposition and Republican politicians, including former President Trump, are scheduled to attend the general meeting, while protest rallies were held outside the venue to appeal for stricter gun control.

On the 27th, the annual meeting of the National Rifle Association, a leading lobbying group that opposes gun regulations, began in Houston, Texas, in the southern United States.



In Texas, a man broke into an elementary school and fired a gun on the 24th, killing 21 people, including 19 children, and local mayors and others have called for the general meeting to be cancelled.



Several musicians who were scheduled to perform at the venue declined to appear, and opposition and Republican Governor Abbott also withdrew from attendance, but former President Trump and locally elected senators will attend.

On the other hand, a rally was held outside the venue to protest the holding of the general meeting, and a placard stating "Protect children, not guns" was put up along with pictures of children who died in the incident, appealing for stricter gun control. I did.



Following this shooting, President Biden has emphasized his commitment to tightening gun control.



But last year, a bill to tighten the screening of gun buyers threatens to pass parliament against the Republican Party, which has many members backed by lobbying groups, and there is no hope of effective gun control. It remains.

“Gun control early” Protest rally outside the venue

Hundreds of people gathered outside the venue of the National Rifle Association's annual meeting to protest with a placard stating, "How many children should die to regulate guns?" I raised my voice.



At the rally, a woman who lost her son in a shooting in southern Florida four years ago said, "We must continue to fight to prevent children from losing their lives to guns anymore." I appealed.



A local Houston man who attended the rally expressed anger, saying, "It is an insult to the city that lobbying groups against gun control have held an annual meeting."



Another man said, "I should change the law now to tighten gun control and protect children."



On the other hand, there were scenes in which members of the National Rifle Association argued with participants in the protest rally.



"Americans have the right to have guns. Tighter gun regulations can't stop killing people," said a man who was a member of the group.

"Gun control should be tightened" 65%

According to an opinion poll conducted on the 25th, the day after the shooting incident in Texas, by the American political website "Politico", 65% of the respondents answered that "gun control should be tightened".



This is a 5 point increase compared to a survey conducted about 10 days ago.

By political party that supports it, 86% of the ruling and Democratic supporters said



that gun control should be tightened , while

only 44% of the opposition and Republican supporters. The difference in position is clear depending on the political party

that

supports it.