Gun rights group endorses Trump for US president

The National Rifle Association on Friday endorsed Donald Trump for US president, saying it was time to unite behind the Republican or "kiss your guns goodbye" if Hillary Clinton is elected, AFP reports.
"We have to unite and we have to unite right now," Chris Cox, head of the NRA's lobbying arm, said at the gun rights group's annual convention in Louisville, Kentucky.
"So on behalf of the thousands of patriots in this room, the five million NRA members across this country, and the tens of millions who support us, I'm officially announcing the NRA's endorsement of Donald Trump for president."
The NRA's endorsement of a Republican nominee is no surprise.
But the timing is notable because it came months earlier than in the previous two election cycles, suggesting the nation's largest gun-rights advocacy group was seeking to help the Republican Party unite conservatives fractured over Trump.
The group's chief executive Wayne LaPierre declared it was time to prevent Clinton, the Democratic frontrunner, from gaining the White House and appointing a new justice to fill a Supreme Court vacancy.
"If she gets just one Supreme Court nomination, Hillary's court will hold that the (US Constitution's) Second Amendment is a government right, not an individual right, and you can kiss your guns goodbye," LaPierre said.
Trump was welcomed warmly as he received the endorsement, promising: "I will not let you down."
"We're getting rid of gun-free zones, OK? I can tell you," Trump said to loud applause.
He also took aim at President Barack Obama's executive orders on reducing gun violence issued after December's San Bernardino shootings, including the plan to crack down on unregulated Internet gun sales.
"They'll be un-signed the first hour that I'm in office," Trump pledged.
The New York billionaire touted his own support for gun rights, boasting that he is a "long-term" NRA member and one of 13 million Americans with permits to carry firearms.
"I happen to be one of them," he said. "Nobody knows that. Boy, would I surprise somebody if they hit Trump."
He also quipped that his sons are avid shooters with so many guns that "sometimes even I get a little bit concerned."
Trump sought to paint former secretary of state Clinton as an anti-gun radical and "dictator" who will take away Americans' constitutional right to bear arms.
"The Second Amendment is under a threat like never before," Trump declared.
"Crooked Hillary Clinton is the most anti-gun, anti-Second-Amendment candidate ever to run for office."
Clinton has made reducing gun violence a key plan of her campaign platform.
Speaking Sunday at the majority black Canaan Christian Church, also in Louisville, Clinton pledged to build on Obama's efforts to keep firearms out of the wrong hands.
"But it also means we... have to combat the culture of gun violence," she said. "For too

Gun rights group endorses Trump for US president

The National Rifle Association on Friday endorsed Donald Trump for US president, saying it was time to unite behind the Republican or kiss your guns goodbye if Hillary Clinton is elected, AFP reports. We have to unite and we have to unite right now, Chris Cox, head of the NRAs lobbying arm, said at the gun rights groups annual convention in Louisville, Kentucky. So on behalf of the thousands of patriots in this room, the five million NRA members across this country, and the tens of millions who support us, Im officially announcing the NRAs endorsement of Donald Trump for president. The NRAs endorsement of a Republican nominee is no surprise. But the timing is notable because it came months earlier than in the previous two election cycles, suggesting the nations largest gun-rights advocacy group was seeking to help the Republican Party unite conservatives fractured over Trump. The groups chief executive Wayne LaPierre declared it was time to prevent Clinton, the Democratic frontrunner, from gaining the White House and appointing a new justice to fill a Supreme Court vacancy. If she gets just one Supreme Court nomination, Hillarys court will hold that the (US Constitutions) Second Amendment is a government right, not an individual right, and you can kiss your guns goodbye, LaPierre said. Trump was welcomed warmly as he received the endorsement, promising: I will not let you down. Were getting rid of gun-free zones, OK? I can tell you, Trump said to loud applause. He also took aim at President Barack Obamas executive orders on reducing gun violence issued after Decembers San Bernardino shootings, including the plan to crack down on unregulated Internet gun sales. Theyll be un-signed the first hour that Im in office, Trump pledged. The New York billionaire touted his own support for gun rights, boasting that he is a long-term NRA member and one of 13 million Americans with permits to carry firearms. I happen to be one of them, he said. Nobody knows that. Boy, would I surprise somebody if they hit Trump. He also quipped that his sons are avid shooters with so many guns that sometimes even I get a little bit concerned. Trump sought to paint former secretary of state Clinton as an anti-gun radical and dictator who will take away Americans constitutional right to bear arms. The Second Amendment is under a threat like never before, Trump declared. Crooked Hillary Clinton is the most anti-gun, anti-Second-Amendment candidate ever to run for office. Clinton has made reducing gun violence a key plan of her campaign platform. Speaking Sunday at the majority black Canaan Christian Church, also in Louisville, Clinton pledged to build on Obamas efforts to keep firearms out of the wrong hands. But it also means we... have to combat the culture of gun violence, she said. For too