Texas governor Greg Abbott’s office announced that he will not be attending the upcoming National Rifle Association forum. Multiple Republican politicians attracted criticism after they agreed to attend the event, which is scheduled just days after a Texas school shooting in Uvalde that killed more than 20 people.
Instead of attending the event, Abbott will be travelling to the rural town of Uvalde. He will also reportedly visit the Robb Elementary School, where the shooting happened on Tuesday.
Also Read: After abortion rights, how US gun laws have drawn attention to SCOTUS
However, this does not mean Abbott would not participate in the controversial event. The Republican governor will be recording a video address that will be played at the event in Houston, Texas. He was earlier scheduled to deliver a live address.
In the aftermath of the deadly shooting, the pressure was turned up on Republican lawmakers to not attend the event. Many conceded. House Representative Dan Crenshaw and Senator John Cornyn have already pulled out.
So far, former United States President Donald Trump, Senator Ted Cruz and South Dakota’s governor Kristi Noem have not announced their withdrawal, NBC News reported.
The White House has denounced the upcoming NRA meeting in Houston. Karine Jean-Pierre, the new White House press secretary, also announced President Joe Biden’s upcoming visit to Uvalde.
Also Read: Texas school shooting: Gunman entered unhindered, more details disclosed
Jean-Pierre said in a statement, “What is inappropriate is that the leadership of the National Rifle Association has proven time and time again, that they are contributing to the problem of gun violence, not trying to solve it.”
“It is shameful that the NRA and their allies have stood in the way of every attempt to advance measures that we all know will save lives,” she added during a White House briefing.
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden will travel to Uvalde, Texas, on Sunday to console families and honor victims of Tuesday’s mass school shooting.
