Parkland students criticize NRA for banning guns at upcoming Pence event

Parkland survivors criticized the National Rifle Association after it banned guns from Vice President Mike Pence’s upcoming speech at the organization’s annual convention later this week. The NRA posted a disclaimer on the NRA-ILA Leadership Forum event page, saying that due to Pence’s attendance, Secret Service will be responsible for event security. Therefore, “firearms and firearm accessories, knives or weapons of any kind will be prohibited in the forum prior to and during his attendance." President Donald Trump will also reportedly speak at the convention and firearms will be banned for his portion as well. Cameron Kasky, a survivor of the Parkland school shooting, tweeted a screen shot of the note and wrote: “The NRA has evolved into such a hilarious parody of itself.“ Matt Deitsch, a Parkland student who helped organize the March for Our Lives rally, replied to Kasky’s tweet saying that the NRA will keep Pence safe without any weapons “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,” Deitsch wrote on Twitter. The ban, however, is not for the whole weekend. The NRA on its site said that “lawfully carried firearms will be permitted“ during the convention. Fred Guttenberg, father of 14-year-old Jaime Guttenberg who was killed in the Parkland attack, also still criticized the ban. “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?“ the father tweeted. The annual meeting will take place May 3-6 in Dallas, with Pence scheduled to speak Friday. source: https://www.politico.com/story/2018/04/30/nra-backlash-parkland-students-pence-event-559762 #Headlines by: rmorin@politico.com (Rebecca Morin)

Original Post: https://www.politico.com/story/2018/04/30/nra-backlash-parkland-students-pence-event-559762