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Gun enthusiasts gather for annual NRA conference Gun enthusiasts gather for annual NRA conference
(about 3 hours later)
Tens of thousands of gun enthusiasts have gathered in Texas for the National Rifle Association (NRA) conference.Tens of thousands of gun enthusiasts have gathered in Texas for the National Rifle Association (NRA) conference.
The convention comes weeks after the powerful US gun rights group's opposition helped kill a gun control bill in the US Senate.The convention comes weeks after the powerful US gun rights group's opposition helped kill a gun control bill in the US Senate.
Meanwhile, gun control groups plan counter-demonstrations surrounding the convention in Houston. Meanwhile, gun control groups planned counter-demonstrations surrounding the convention in Houston.
The long-dormant US gun debate revived after a December school shooting in which 26 people were killed.The long-dormant US gun debate revived after a December school shooting in which 26 people were killed.
Twenty children were among the dead at a primary school in Newtown, Connecticut.Twenty children were among the dead at a primary school in Newtown, Connecticut.
"We view it as an opening battle in what will be a multi-year war," said NRA spokesman Andrew Arulanandam of the defeated Senate proposal. On Friday, the NRA's incoming president James Porter issued a challenge to President Barack Obama, saying the group's mission extended beyond gun rights into the broader political sphere.
"We're definitely not resting on our laurels." "This is not a battle about gun rights," he said, adding NRA members were engaged in "a culture war''.
'Political cloak''Political cloak'
Last month the background checks proposal fell six votes short of the 60 needed to advance in the Senate. It had support from almost all Senate Democrats and President Barack Obama, but faced almost unanimous Republican opposition. On the stage at the George Brown Convention Center in Houston, NRA Executive Vice-President Wayne LaPierre told the crowd politicians and the media had repeatedly lied about the organisation and attempted to marginalise gun rights.
"NRA members have stared those anti-gun elitists straight in the eye, and we've stared them down," Mr LaPierre told the cheering crowd.
"We will never back away from our resolve to defend our rights and the rights of all law abiding American gun owners."
Last month the background checks proposal fell six votes short of the 60 needed to advance in the Senate. It had support from almost all Senate Democrats and President Barack Obama, but faced near unanimous Republican opposition.
Opinion polls have repeatedly shown more than 80% of Americans support a wider system of background checks to keep people with criminal histories from purchasing guns.Opinion polls have repeatedly shown more than 80% of Americans support a wider system of background checks to keep people with criminal histories from purchasing guns.
About 70,000 people are expected to attend the conference in Houston, where they will browse new products from weapons manufacturers and hunting outfitters and sign up for hunting excursions around the world. About 70,000 people were expected to attend the conference in Houston, where they will browse new products from weapons manufacturers and hunting outfitters and sign up for hunting excursions around the world.
There will also be a demonstration called Stand and Fight, organised by conservative commentator Glenn Beck, and speeches from high-profile gun rights activists including former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, Texas Governor Rick Perry and Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal.There will also be a demonstration called Stand and Fight, organised by conservative commentator Glenn Beck, and speeches from high-profile gun rights activists including former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, Texas Governor Rick Perry and Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal.
In the wake of the Newtown shootings, some states including New York, Colorado and Connecticut have passed gun control legislation, while laws have been loosened in South Dakota, Wyoming and Arkansas.In the wake of the Newtown shootings, some states including New York, Colorado and Connecticut have passed gun control legislation, while laws have been loosened in South Dakota, Wyoming and Arkansas.
In an opinion piece for the Houston Chronicle, NRA Executive Vice-President Wayne LaPierre said efforts to restrict gun ownership amounted to an attempt to undo the US Constitution's second amendment, which gun rights groups say guarantees individuals' right to keep and bear arms. Following the Newtown shootings, the NRA called for armed guards in US schools.
"Almost from the moment of the tragedy in Newtown, it became apparent that the ensuing push for a wide variety of new anti-gun laws had a lot less to do with school safety than it did with a decades-long crusade to destroy the Second Amendment," he wrote.
"NRA members exemplify everything that's good and right about America."
Following the Newtown shootings, the NRA called for placing armed guards in US schools.
Meanwhile, military veterans who disagree with the NRA are planning a counter-demonstration called Occupy the NRA, and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense were due to rally.Meanwhile, military veterans who disagree with the NRA are planning a counter-demonstration called Occupy the NRA, and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense were due to rally.
Texas state lawmaker Garnet Coleman, a Democrat whose district is hosting the conference, said he did not plan to attend.Texas state lawmaker Garnet Coleman, a Democrat whose district is hosting the conference, said he did not plan to attend.
"Clearly, the sales and promotion of firearms is big business," he said. "This is business with politics as the cloak.""Clearly, the sales and promotion of firearms is big business," he said. "This is business with politics as the cloak."