For a second year, the National Rifle Association has canceled its largest convention and fundraiser due to the coronavirus.
The gun rights group said late Tuesday that it had no choice as cases of COVID-19 surged in the host city of Houston.
“We make this difficult decision after analyzing relevant data regarding COVID-19 in Harris County,” said a statement. “The NRA’s top priority is ensuring the health and well-being of our members, staff, sponsors and supporters,” it added.
There had been reports that some sponsors and participants were bailing as reports of the virus spreading in the Houston area exploded.
The convention is more than just a gun show and fundraiser. It also promotes grassroots efforts to protect the Second Amendment, especially key with President Joe Biden still pushing efforts to ban and tax guns.
Gun advocates, while disappointed, agreed that the NRA did the right thing in shutting down the convention that annually draws thousands.
“As sad as I am not to cover the Annual Meetings for Bearing Arms and catch up with many friends from around the country, I have to say I think this was the right decision for the organization to make. Houston’s not a great place to gather together with tens of thousands of our fellow Second Amendment supporters at the moment,” said Cam Edwards, editor of Bearingarms.com.
The 2022 convention is slated for Louisville, Kentucky, in May.
