The National Rifle Association announced Tuesday it is cancelling the annual meetings and exhibits that were to be held in Houston, Texas over Labor Day weekend.
The organization is citing concerns over “the safety of our NRA family and community.” This would have been the gala 150th anniversary celebration for the organization.
“We make this difficult decision after analyzing relevant data regarding COVID-19 in Harris County, Texas,” NRA said in an announcement. “We also consulted with medical professionals, local officials, major sponsors & exhibitors, and many NRA members before arriving at this decision.”
The annual meeting could have drawn thousands of NRA members to Houston, while at the same time there have been murmurs in the firearms community that attendance would likely be down because of the timing. The Labor Day weekend traditionally seen American families participating in outdoor activities rather than attend a convention.
“The NRA’s top priority is ensuring the health and well-being of our members, staff, sponsors, and supporters,” the announcement stated. “We are mindful that NRA Annual Meeting patrons will return home to family, friends and co-workers from all over the country, so any impacts from the virus could have broader implications. Those are among the reasons why we decided to cancel our 2021 event.”
In May 2022, the NRA is scheduled to hold its annual convention in Louisville.
