President Donald Trump left the White House Friday to travel to Indianapolis, Indiana for the National Rifle Association (NRA) convention. The President delivered a speech before the attendees that raised eyebrows and criticism.
One area of contention is Trump's use of the mass shooting in Paris, France to advocate for fewer sensible gun control laws, like universal background checks. Repeating the NRA rhetoric of the "good guy with a gun," Trump claimed if only the "other side" in the Paris mass shooting had one gun, things would have turned out differently.
But the exploitation of the Paris tragedy was not the most disturbing part for many. It was the choice by President Trump to act out the gesture of shooting with his hand while relaying his version of events in France.
Watch video here.
Trump's argument for loosening gun laws in America is a mass shooting in France that happened in 2015. "If there w… https://t.co/3zdqJeMJqG— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1556298943.0
@atrupar He's gross.— к pro quo (@к pro quo) 1556299125.0
Despite law enforcement stating when they arrive at a scene of a shooting, the "good guy with a gun" is a "second gunman" that they do not have time to suss out, the NRA brings up this rhetoric after almost every mass shooting. The exception being when the victims have been Black or Muslim.
TRUMP: "We know that the only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun." https://t.co/cTJgvosuhq— Aaron Rupar (@Aaron Rupar) 1556298081.0
People wondered why Trump had to go back to 2015 and to Paris, France when numerous mass shootings occur annually in the United States. Many of the domestic mass shootings involved people who legally purchased or owned guns under existing lenient gun laws in the United States.
@atrupar Dit he mention the Las Vegas shooting?— myreille (@myreille) 1556299019.0
@atrupar If that was genuinely the case, why aren't there less mass shootings in the US?— Sue C (@Sue C) 1556302298.0
@atrupar Strange he forgets about Las Vegas.— Beth Bryson (@Beth Bryson) 1556299464.0
@maddezmom @atrupar He conveniently forgets things. You know, always in the moment for the benefit of the audience in front of him.— The octopus said… (@The octopus said…) 1556299742.0
@atrupar A whole different story like Las Vegas was in 2017! Oh, wait....— Jem “Human Scum” W (@Jem “Human Scum” W) 1556299633.0
@atrupar @realDonaldTrump https://t.co/WDr3oMxMgA— Peter Gedge (@Peter Gedge) 1556303862.0
They also called out the President's favorite validation for his claims: many people say, many debates had, many experts...
Others called out flaws in the logic of one or more people consuming alcohol while carrying weapons being able to act quickly and efficiently in a crisis.
@atrupar He thinks one gun, wielded by someone totally caught off guard and who might have been drinking in a dark… https://t.co/Cfb2ACcTtw— Chloe D (@Chloe D) 1556299405.0
@atrupar There were also suicide bombers in the Paris attacks. Does Trump think everyone should strap on a bomb, j… https://t.co/nywksbEafK— Oreo (@Oreo) 1556301201.0
@atrupar Wait, is he really advocating for people to bring guns into nightclubs..?— The Dumpster Fire (@The Dumpster Fire) 1556300827.0
@atrupar Kinda like we hear about a 2012 crime that couldn't have been stopped by any law, but could have been stop… https://t.co/FcnCMvOI1S— Lilburner (@Lilburner) 1556305122.0
@atrupar Yeah so I can get shot by another good guy who is panicking.— Firecracker (@Firecracker) 1556300754.0
The NRA is one of the largest gun rights lobbies in the United States, donating millions to mostly Republican candidates and campaigning to block laws for universal background checks and making it illegal for those convicted of domestic abuse or stalking to own a firearm. The organization recently faced backlash after ties to Russian operatives and funding were revealed.