The exteriors of the NRA>
The National Rifle Association Convention held its annual convention in Houston — in the same state where 19 children and two adults were killed when a gunman opened fire at an elementary school a couple of days before.
Former President Donald Trump still appeared at the convention despite the absences of Abbott, Patrick and other politicians. Without mentioning them by name, Trump said "unlike some others, I didn't disappoint you by not showing up today."
After that swipe, Trump read the names of the victims of the Uvalde shooting, which was followed by a gong. He touched on some of the themes pushed earlier by Sen. Ted Cruz — blaming broken families and mental illness. He called for a single point of entry for school security and contended that "gun free zones" at schools make them unsafe.