SAN FRANCISCO: A day after a man shot and killed himself inside the Houston International Airport, the National Rifle Association (NRA) began its first conference after the Newton school shooting massacre. It also comes on the heels of a lobbying victory in Washington DC over gun control. Incoming NRA President James Porter, who had been First Vice-President, said the associations current goals were not about gun rights. “This is not a battle about gun rights," Porter said, arguing instead that gun owners must fight “a culture war." “(You) here in this room are the fighters for freedom. We are the protectors," said Porter, an Alabama lawyers whose father served as NRA president from 1959-1960. The theme of the convention is "Stand and Fight." However, it comes on the heels of the latest national gun incident, when a man opened fire at the Houston airport on Thursday. Houston police told Houston's KHOU TV the incident occurred around 2:30 PM local time at a security checkpoint area in Terminal B. A man walked in and fired two shots in the air, according to local reports. Police said an air marshal fired at the suspect, but missed. That's when the man pulled out a gun and shot himself, according to the Associated Press report on the incident. But that wasn't stopping the NRA from moving forward. The massive auditorium was already packed by Friday afternoon for a “leadership forum" with speeches from a who's who of conservative politicians, including Texas Gov. Rick Perry, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, Sarah Palin of Alaska and Jeanine Pirro, the former Westchester County District Attorney. NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre and NRA Institute for Legislative Action Executive Director Chris Cox opened the talks by going after the “liberal media," President Obama and Mayor Bloomberg for blaming recent mass shooting on pro-gun types. “The media and the political elites back in Washington have been ranting and raving, trying to shame peaceful law abiding American gun owners for senseless violence," LaPierre said. “The media and the political elite can lie about us and demonize us all they want, but that won't stop us," he added. “We are Americans. We are proud of it and we are joined to defend our freedom, I promise you." Cox lashed out at NRA critics such as New York's outspoken billionaire mayor. BN
