United States – Donald Trump, the former President and the Republican candidate for the 2024 presidential election, said that he would be able to reverse gun regulations instituted by the current Democratic president, Joe Biden, in his speech to the National Rifle Association on Saturday, during which he was awarded the organization’s endorsement.
Call to NRA Voters
His speech to thousands of NRA members at the group’s annual Leadership Forum in Dallas offered little in the way of the new policy but did include encouragement to get NRA voters out to the polls in November, as reported by Reuters.
Trump said in his long-time speech of more than 90 minutes, ranging from his criminal trials to trade and immigration: “We’ve got to get gun owners to vote”.
“I think you’re a rebellious bunch. But let’s be rebellious and vote this time.”
The NRA has cosponsored Trump three times 2016, 2020 and 2024.
The organization had supported Trump from 2017-2021 as he ushered in three conservatory justices to the Supreme Court and undertook a series of policies favoured by advocates of the gun lobby. That included opening up firearms to the essential businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
While delivering the speech, Trump reiterated a campaign promise to dismiss the ATF director on the first day of a potential government. He claimed that the agency which is responsible for the implementation of gun laws in the U.S. was overzealous, often denying firearm owners licenses on unreasonable terms.
Most Republicans are against strict gun laws because they believe that they have a right to own a gun as dictated by the Second Amendment in the Constitution. That position is still maintained even as many mass shootings have occurred, with many Democrats calling for gun control.
“In my second term, we will roll back every Biden attack on the Second Amendment. The attacks are coming fast and furious,” Trump said.
Rollback of Biden’s Policies
After the speech, the Biden campaign attacked Trump for choosing the wishes of the gun lobby over progress in safety. Trump and Biden have agreed to compete in the general election on November 5.
“Tonight, Donald Trump confirmed that he will do exactly what the NRA tells him to do – even if it means more death, more shootings, and more suffering,” Biden campaign spokesperson Ammar Moussa said.
During his speech, Trump discussed his false claim that he won the election in 2020 and spoke negatively about Biden, charging his rival with corruption and personal misconduct.
Trump also vented his fury in a series of attacks on third-ranked presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is competing against both candidates.
Partisan Divide on Gun Control
Polls indicate that gun control measures are polarizing in the United States of America despite most of the respondents endorsing some restrictions.
According to a March Reuters/Ipsos survey, 53% of respondents said the government should control firearms ownership and 38% disagreed. Only 35% of Republicans surveyed said the government should intervene.
The four-day annual NRA convention attracted thousands of gun lovers and traders, with many of the mostly Republican attendees sporting Trump paraphernalia.