The National Rifle Association will host its annual convention this weekend, and on the first day of the convention, firearms will be barred from entering the Dallas facility hosting the NRA.
According to a bulletin from the United States Secret Service, firearms, along with knives, laser pointers and a variety of other items will be banned from the facility. This is because Vice President Mike Pence is scheduled to appear on Friday.
Civilians are generally prohibited from carrying weapons when the Vice President or President is present, and a meeting of the NRA is no exception.
"Due to the attendance of the Vice President of the United States at the NRA-ILA Leadership Forum on Friday, May 4, the U.S. Secret Service will be responsible for event security around the Arena at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center," a statement on the NRA's website said. "As a result, firearms and firearm accessories, knives or weapons of any kind will be prohibited in the forum prior to and during his attendance"
CNN is also reporting that President Donald Trump will attend on Friday The firearm ban only extends for Friday's sessions, and not for Saturday or Sunday.
Some survivors of the Parkland, Florida school shooting, and backers of the March for Our Lives movement said it is hypocritical that a group that decries gun control regulations won't be allowed to have its members carry weapons.
"The NRA has evolved into such a hilarious parody of itself," Stoneman Douglas High School student said on Twitter in response to the weapon ban announcement.
Leaders of the March for Our Lives have made the NRA a target of theirs, decrying politicians who accept campaign contributions from the group.
"Wait wait wait wait wait wait you’re telling me to make the VP safe there aren’t any weapons around but when it comes to children they want guns everywhere?" Matt Deisch, leader of the March for Our Lives campaign, and a former Stoneman Douglas high school student, said on Twitter. "Can someone explain this to me? Because it sounds like the NRA wants to protect people who help them sell guns, not kids."
A petition calling for Pence to cancel his appearance at the NRA convention has drawn nearly 45,000 virtual signatures.
A similar firearm ban was enacted at last year's NRA Leadership Forum due to Trump's attendance.
