NRA cancels annual meeting in Houston due to COVID-19 concerns

The National Rifle Association (NRA) has come up with a decision to cancel what is usually the largest event on its annual calendar for the second year in a row due to the novel coronavirus.

The gun-rights group took to its website and said, “Due to concern over the safety of our NRA family and community, we regret to inform you that we have decided to cancel the 2021 Annual Meeting & Exhibits.”

According to media reports, the annual meeting was scheduled to take place in Houston, Texas, over the Labor Day weekend. In the 2020 meeting, it was supposed to be in Nashville until it too was scrapped over health concerns.

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In the past the annual meetings have been heavily promoted to the NRA’s roughly 5 million members, filling large convention centres with attendees and exhibitors.

According to the Daily Beast report, this year’s step back follows pressure to scrap the event from gun manufacturers who had signed up to exhibit at the event.

In a statement, the NRA said, “We made this difficult decision after analyzing relevant data regarding COVID-19 in Harris County, Texas.”

“We also consulted with medical professionals, local officials, major sponsors & exhibitors, and many NRA members before arriving at this decision. The NRA Annual Meeting welcomes tens of thousands of people, and involves many events, meetings, and social gatherings,” it added.

“The NRA’s top priority is ensuring the health and well-being of our members, staff, sponsors, and supporters.  We are mindful that NRA Annual Meeting patrons will return home to family, friends and co-workers from all over the country, so any impacts from the virus could have broader implications. Those are among the reasons why we decided to cancel our 2021 event,” the NRA further added.

It also comes at a time when the NRA is facing a financial crunch and calls to dissolve the organization from New York attorney general Letitia James, who is suing it in New York state court.