Thousands of members of the gun lobby organization National Rifle Association (NRA), including former US President Donald Trump, spoke out vehemently against gun control at their annual meeting in Houston, Texas on Friday (local time).

The association stands for "the basic human right to self-defense," said association chief Wayne LaPierre.

Every year, "more than a million Americans" use their guns for protection.

The debate about reforming gun laws flared up again on Tuesday after a shooting spree at an elementary school in the small town of Uvalde, Texas.

The 18-year-old perpetrator had shot 19 children and two teachers.

According to the daily newspaper "Houston Chronicle", hundreds of people demonstrated against the NRA in front of the meeting place.

The annual meeting is also a firearms fair.

Trump warned of control laws in his appearance before the gun lobbyists.

These did not prevent school massacres.

Every school needs metal detectors and armed police or security guards.

These measures are “not a question of money, but of political will”.

If he becomes president again, he will take action against violent crime with unprecedented severity, Trump said.

313 children under the age of twelve shot dead

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner had asked the NRA to delay the gathering to "give families time to bury their children."

The NRA said in a statement that the killer was a "lonely mentally disturbed killer."

We have deep sympathy for the victims.

Several country and western musicians canceled their performances at the NRA convention, according to media reports.

The NRA states on its website that it has five million members.

For several years, the association has been plagued by internal disputes and financial problems.

Firearms expert Mike Spies from thetrace.org specialist service told PBS that the NRA has lost influence in recent years.

However, a "gun culture" has developed in parts of the population and the image of the gunman as a protector.

Republican politicians needed these voters.

According to the non-profit Gun Violence Archive, 313 children under the age of 12 will have been shot dead in the United States in 2021.

There are an estimated 400 million privately owned firearms in the country.

White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre has accused the NRA of contributing to gun violence.

The association represents the interests of arms manufacturers who market their products to young adults. American President Joe Biden is expected in Uvalde on Sunday.