Former President Donald Trump has penciled in a stop at the National Rifle Association’s annual Great American Outdoor Show in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, next month to reiterate his support for the Second Amendment and gun rights.
While Trump has long been supportive of the NRA and a regular speaker at their more formal annual convention, his plan to speak in Harrisburg gives him an opportunity to reach out to regular members and a broader audience of anglers, hunters, and outdoors enthusiasts.
The show at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex is the largest of its kind and features acres of sporting goods and fishing and hunting guides. The show was saved by the NRA in 2013 after the former organizer banned the showing of sporting rifles following the 2012 Newtown, Connecticut, school shooting. Most exhibitors withdrew in protest.
This will be the first year it also includes a dose of politics. We’re told that it is the brainchild of new NRA-ILA Executive Director Randy Kozuch, the group’s top lobbyist.
Kozuch said, “President Trump’s presence at the Great American Outdoor Show is a testament to his ongoing commitment to our constitutional freedoms. His leadership has been crucial in safeguarding the rights of hunters, sportsmen, and all Americans who cherish our outdoor heritage.”
NRA President Charles Cotton added, “President Trump’s unwavering support for the Second Amendment and his track record of protecting the rights of gun owners make him an exemplary speaker for this momentous event. His fellow NRA members can’t wait to hear from him.”
It will be the eighth time Trump has addressed an NRA convention or show.
His speech to the NRA Presidential Forum on Feb. 9 comes as he is firming up his position as the likely GOP nominee for president and as the NRA continues its fight in a New York court over allegations of misusing funds.
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It also comes as the Biden administration is trying to ban AR-15-style sporting rifles and backing efforts in states to ban guns and accessories.
The NRA said, “Fellow NRA members are eagerly anticipating President Trump’s eighth address, reflecting their continued support and interest in his views on Second Amendment rights and related policies.”