A spokeswoman for the National Rifle Association said the group’s leadership forum this year set a new high for attendance.
“New record attendance for #NRAAM: 87,154 law-abiding attendees over the three-day weekend in Dallas. #2A,” Dana Loesch, a spokeswoman for the NRA, tweeted Monday.
New record attendance for #NRAAM: 87,154 law-abiding attendees over the three-day weekend in Dallas. #2A
— Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) May 7, 2018
“BREAKING: Thank you to all 87,154 attendees who came to #NRAAM in Dallas! Together, we set a new record! We can’t wait to do it again next year! #2A #DontMessWithTexas,” the NRA tweeted.
BREAKING: Thank you to all 87,154 attendees who came to #NRAAM in Dallas! Together, we set a new record! We can’t wait to do it again next year! #2A #DontMessWithTexas pic.twitter.com/4vjvSeFd6V
— NRA (@NRA) May 7, 2018
The NRA’s annual conference took place last week in Dallas, and featured appearances by President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence.
During his speech, Trump urged GOP voters to head to the polls this year to ensure Republicans maintain their majorities in the House and Senate.
The president warned voters they “cannot get complacent” and criticized Democrats for “obstructing” his agenda.
Trump also spoke to concerns over the reaction his appearance at the NRA’s conference would elicit.
“You know, before today a couple people, political people, came up to me. They said, ‘You know, going to the NRA convention and speaking today, that will be very controversial. It might not be popular,'” the president said. “You know what I said? ‘Bye-bye. Gotta get on the plane.'”
The NRA was at the center of controversy following the Feb. 14 shooting at a high school in Parkland, Fla., that left 17 dead.
Following the shooting, students from the Florida school mobilized in opposition to the NRA and called on Congress to pass stricter gun laws.
Protesters gathered outside the NRA’s conference to demand more restrictions on firearms while counter-protests also took place.
Trump has a close relationship with the NRA. But during a meeting of a bipartisan group of senators following the Parkland shooting, the president accused Republicans of being “afraid” of the pro-Second Amendment group.
