A few days after the massacre at an elementary school in Texas, the powerful gun lobby met in the same state. Ex-President Trump knows what the audience there wants to hear. Not fewer, but even more weapons should be the solution to prevent such tragedies in the future.
After the massacre at an elementary school in Texas, former US President Donald Trump defended the often lax gun laws in the United States. "The existence of evil is one of the very best reasons to arm law-abiding citizens," Trump said in the evening (local time) in Houston, Texas at the annual meeting of the powerful NRA gun lobby.
"Cynical politicians" tried to take advantage of crying families to increase their own power and curtail constitutional rights, Trump said. They pushed their "extreme political agenda". After the bloodbath in which an 18-year-old shot 19 schoolchildren and two teachers, US President Joe Biden made clear calls for stricter gun laws.
Trump argued the reason for such acts was mental health issues and broken families. He called for metal detectors and an armed security guard for every school in the United States. "New technologies" should ensure that no unauthorized person can enter the school with a weapon. Teachers should also be allowed to carry weapons.
With regard to funding, Trump delivered a dig at Ukraine. "If the United States can send $40 billion to Ukraine, we should be able to do whatever it takes to protect our children at home," he said. Trump called the massacre a "cruel and barbaric atrocity" by a "runaway madman."
Some speakers had canceled their attendance at the NRA meeting after the horrific bloodbath. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott no longer spoke personally, but sent a pre-recorded video statement. Trump commented on these cancellations - but without naming names. "Unlike others, I didn't disappoint you by not showing up," he said.
