The National Rifle Association (NRA) has announced that its annual convention, which is slated to take place in Houston on Sept. 3-5, is canceled.
According to the NRA statement, “Due to concern over the safety of our NRA family and community, we regret to inform you that we have decided to cancel the 2021 Annual Meeting & Exhibits.”
The NRA Annual Meeting would have brought tens of thousands of NRA members and pro-Second Amendment supporters to the Houston area from across the U.S. The annual convention features a vast exhibit of firearms, accessories, and group seminars and gatherings.
“We made this difficult decision after analyzing relevant data regarding COVID-19 in Harris County, Texas,” the NRA stated. “We also consulted with medical professionals, local officials, major sponsors, exhibitors, and many NRA members before arriving at this decision.”
In addition to its concern about attendees, the NRA statement mentions, “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.”
The cancellation’s economic impact on the Harris County economy is unclear, but it is sure to be in the millions of lost revenue.
The NRA said plans continue to be underway for the Celebration of Freedom event that will take place in Louisville in May 2022.
