As the National Rifle Association’s annual convention kicked off in Indianapolis, top Republican hopefuls for the 2024 presidential race pledged to protect the Second Amendment, even as mass shootings ravage the country. The event was held just days after mass shootings in Nashville and Louisville, demonstrating that these tragic events have become a fabric of American life that the NRA cannot avoid. NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre believes his group could play a crucial role in the 2024 election. However, both he and other speakers at the event made no mention of solutions to stop gun violence. Former Vice President Mike Pence called for federal funding for armed school officers and more institutions for the mentally ill, while Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said he had resisted implementing any gun restrictions in his state despite opposition. Former President Donald Trump used the event to declare himself the "most pro-gun, pro-Second Amendment president," and as his first speech since being indicted on 34 felony charges in New York relating to a hush-money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, it’s clear that he's using this speech to bolster his bid as the GOP nominee for president in 2024.