Critics Call Out NRA For Banning Guns During Mike Pence Appearance

The National Rifle Association will ban all firearms, knives and weapons of any kind at its 2018 NRA-ILA Leadership Forum this Friday to protect Vice President Mike Pence’s safety.

“Due to the attendance of the Vice President of the United States, the U.S. Secret Service will be responsible for event security at the NRA-ILA Leadership Forum,” a notice on the NRA’s website said. “As a result, firearms and firearm accessories, knives or weapons of any kind will be prohibited in the forum prior to and during his attendance.”

The NRA will also ban ammunition, backpacks and toy guns at the forum. Secret Service officials told NPR that it is common for the agency to coordinate the Vice President’s security rather than a host organization or venue.

Critics were quick to point out the irony of a gun ban by the NRA. Never Again activists spoke out on Twitter about the matter.

“The NRA has evolved into such a hilarious parody of itself,” Never Again founder and Parkland High School student Cameron Kasky tweeted.

Incredulous, another Never Again member, Matt Deitsch, replied to Kasky’s tweet.

“Wait wait wait wait wait wait you’re telling me to make the VP safe there aren’t any weapons around but when it comes to children they want guns everywhere?” Deitsch wrote on Twitter. “Can someone explain this to me? Because it sounds like the NRA wants to protect people who help them sell guns, not kids.”

Wait wait wait wait wait wait you’re telling me to make the VP safe there aren’t any weapons around 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.

— Matt Deitsch (@MattxRed) April 28, 2018

Fred Guttenberg, whose daughter Jamie was killed in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting on Valentine’s Day, also spoke out about the gun ban.

“On so many levels, this is enlightening,” Guttenberg wrote on Twitter. “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?”

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? https://t.co/f4wgNhJ7RI

— Fred Guttenberg (@fred_guttenberg) April 28, 2018

“The responses that I am receiving for calling out the hypocrisy in the removal of guns from the NRA convention is comical. Yes, I not only understand the need to protect the President and the VP, I agree with it and expect it. That said, it is recognition that guns can kill,” Guttenberg wrote a few days later. “This is a removal of guns from a public building. The NRA should be true to its values and ask the President and VP not to come if they cannot protect them with all of those armed citizens. I think all citizens should be protected from the murderous impact of guns.”