Vice President Mike Pence is scheduled to speak at the National Rifle Association's 2018 convention in Dallas on May 4. However, in a surprising twist, gun owners eager to attend the event will be barred from bringing firearms to the event.
While the startling announcement from the organization is igniting criticism from both members and gun control advocates, the NRA says the U.S. Secret Service is enforcing the firearms ban. They are not allowing any type of weapon, gun parts, drones, or ammunition while Pence is in the room.
Per a report from the Washington Post, the NRA gun prohibition only applies to the Pence speech. Carrying firearms will be permitted in the convention center and hotel. Still, gun-toting attendees must comply with federal, state, and local laws while attending the meeting.
Although the NRA claims the prohibition complies with Secret Security standard protocol, some gun control advocates, specifically several students from Parkland, Florida, are calling the ban hypocritical.
"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?" said Matt Deitsch, a Parkland school graduate and strategist for the March for Our Lives protest. "Because it sounds like the NRA wants to protect people who help them sell guns, not kids."
Another student, Cameron Kasky called the pro-gun group "a hilarious parody of itself." David Hogg also weighed in by requesting Vice President Pence to cancel the NRA event.
