Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O’Rourke has called on Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (right) to cancel his planned participation in the National Rifle Association (NRA) summit in Houston after the shooting at a Texas elementary school on Tuesday.
Abbott and other high-ranking Republicans, including Senator Ted Cruz (Texas) and former President Trump, must attend the event, which is being touted as a “celebration of the rights of the Second Amendment.” Trump is scheduled to deliver a keynote speech at Friday’s event.
Posting on Twitter late Tuesday, O’Rourke criticized Abbott’s planned presence and urged him to withdraw from the event, saying he would withdraw if there was “any decency.”
“Governor Abbott, if you have any decency, you will immediately withdraw from the NRA Congress this weekend and urge them to hold it everywhere except Texas,” he tweeted.
Governor Abbott, if you have any decency, you will immediately withdraw from the NRA Congress this weekend and urge them to hold it everywhere except Texas.
– Beto O’Rourke (@BetoORourke) May 25, 2022
O’Rourke also criticized the governor in an earlier tweet, saying: “The time to stop Uwalde was right after Sandy Hook. After Santa Fe High School. After El Paso. Instead, Abbott made it easier to carry weapons in public.
Abbott’s office did not immediately respond to a question about whether he planned to attend the event. Hill also approached the NRA for possible changes to the event.
Democrats have renewed calls for tougher gun laws after an 18-year-old gunman opened fire at a primary school in Uwalde, Texas, killing 19 children and two adults.
The long history of burning books the mayor of Uwalde calls O’Rourke “sick son of ab…” after a break
The abbot, who opposes gun control measures, issued a statement Tuesday saying “Texans mourn the victims of this senseless crime and the Uwalde community.”
O’Rourke challenges Abbott in the November election. Abbott currently has a 6.7-point lead in the RealClearPolitics poll.
This week’s NRA event is hosted by the Institute for Legislative Action, the NRA’s lobbying department, and other speakers on the event’s website include South Dakota Gov. Christie Noem (R), and North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson (R). and Representative Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas).
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