Pres. Donald Trump wows Atlanta NRA crowd

Declaring he is proud to be the first president to address the NRA since Ronald Reagan in 1983, President Donald Trump told the convention of Second Amendment defenders on Friday, “Your activism helps safeguard our freedoms.”

The NRA’s endorsement of Republican candidate Trump in May 2016 was the earliest in the organization’s history.  He was greeted with appreciative applause and cheers throughout his speech, but they reached a crescendo when he reminded the NRA members, “Only one candidate came to speak to you, and that person is the President of the United States, speaking to you today.”

The National Rifle Association has more than 5 million members. Those in the audience at the Leadership Forum heard President Trump pledge, “No longer will the government come after lawful gun owners.”

Trump reaffirmed his support of the Second Amendment and gun rights during his keynote speech. “You came through for me,” Trump said, referencing the strong support he received from the NRA during the presidential election. “And I am going to come through for you.”

“The eight-year assault on your Second Amendment freedoms has come to a crashing end,” Trump said to enthusiastic cheers. “You have a true friend and champion in the White House.”

“To the NRA, I can proudly say: I will never, ever let you down.”

If you missed the convention coverage, we have it here.