© 2024 WUKY
background_fid.jpg
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

NRA Endorses Trump At Louisville Convention

Associated Press

Apparent Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump won the National Rifle Association's official backing at the group's annual convention in Louisville Friday.

The gathering offered Trump another chance to cement his conservative bona fides and calm the nerves of establishment figures wary of the reality star’s shifting views on guns. In 2000, Trump threw support behind the assault weapons ban and longer waiting periods. That runs counter to his current positions, which downplay the effectiveness of both.

In his speech, Trump called Clinton the most “anti-gun, anti-Second Amendment” candidate to run for president and warned a receptive audience the former secretary of state would take away their firearms.

"So many of her decisions have been bad, so I think we're going to do really, really well," the real estate mogul told the audience. "I look forward to the debates."

Factcheck.org calls the gun-grabbing charge a distortion of Clinton's proposals, which would expand background checks, reinstate the 1994 "assault weapons" ban signed by her husband, President Bill Clinton, and close the so-called "Charleston Loophole."

Anticipating the attacks, the Clinton campaign sent a fundraising email to supporters ahead of the address saying the gun lobby is wealthy and powerful and Hillary will work to close gaps in the law that land guns in the hands of "stalkers, domestic abusers, and other dangerous criminals."

The de facto GOP nominee also highlighted terrorist attacks in France and San Bernardino, California as instances when more guns in the hands of bystanders would have prevented bloodshed. Trump also promised to rid the country of "gun free zones."

In a conference call Thursday Democratic U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth offered the White House hopeful a less warm reception, saying Trump is “pandering to the worst instincts and most polarizing and extreme elements of society.”

NRA's Institute for Legislative Action executive director Chris Cox announced the gun rights group's official endorsement of Trump just prior to the candidate's address. Kentucky Senators Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul, along with Gov. Matt Bevin, are all scheduled to speak during the conference.

Josh James fell in love with college radio at Western Kentucky University's student station, New Rock 92 (now Revolution 91.7). After working as a DJ and program director, he knew he wanted to come home to Lexington and try his hand in public radio.
Related Content