Dallas Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway is urging the National Rifle Association to move its annual convention planned for May 4-6 to another city, ABC News reported.
Caraway's request comes as a stand against gun violence following last week's deadly mass shooting at a Florida high school, saying the NRA would be met with "marches and demonstrations" if it held its three-day conference in Dallas.
"It is a tough call when you ask the NRA to reconsider coming to Dallas, but it is putting all citizens first, and getting them to come to the table and elected officials to come to the table and to address this madness now," Caraway said. "At the end of the day, we need to connect the dots. The NRA needs to step up to the plate, and they need to show leadership."
He added that "I am saddened by the fact that every time that we turn around there is some type of gun violence."
Caraway said he is making the request even though he is a strong believer in the Second Amendment and the NRA moving its event, which is expected to attract some 80,000 gun enthusiasts, could cost the city as much as $40 million, according to some estimates.
"We should not allow people to possess assault rifles and weapons," he said. "While we are worrying about terrorists, we're living in a terrorist society amongst us Americans today."
In response, NRA spokesman Andrew Arulanandam said "No politician anywhere can tell the NRA not to come to their city. We are already there," according to USA Today.
He added that "Dallas, like every American city and community, is populated by NRA members. Our members work in fire stations and police departments. They save lives in local hospitals and own businesses in communities urban and rural throughout this country."
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