Marco Rubio: We are at a Turning Point with the Second Amendment and National Security

I've attended, or at least watched via the video feed in the convention center, or after I returned home, a number of NRA Annual Meeting Leadership Forum speeches since they began in 2008.  More times than not, speakers touch on the Second Amendment then go on to a laundry list of other issues that would fit more with a GOP Convention than a non-partisan organization.  While it may be safe to say a lot of gun owners fall on the conservative side of the aisle, what about those gun owners who aren't?  Are we discouraging those folks from being NRA members? 

Despite the fact there are very few national Democrats who vote the right way on the Second Amendment issue, resulting in most of the organization's national support going to Republicans, there are still states around the country that have Democrats who support the Second Amendment.  They receive support from the NRA when they are on the right side of the issue.  The NRA is a non-partisan single issue organization.  Support that issue and the NRA will support your re-election.

So, it was refreshing to hear Florida Senator Marco Rubio use his time Friday to speak almost entirely on the Second Amendment and how it relates to national security. The phrase "The Second Amendment is the Original Home Land Security" isn't just a slogan, and Rubio made the case on how the right to keep and bear arms and how it intersects with national security. 

Guns and Politics at First Day of NRA Annual Meeting

While thousands walked the exhibit floor, a sold out crowd heard a line up of GOP current and former elected officials tout there ability to protect our Second Amendment rights as well as other issues they believe are important to those in the crowd.

Senator Ted Cruz and Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker received some of the loudest applause from the audience. Cruz claimed he was the one who had consistently fought for conservative  principles, even when it was not popular.  Walker talked about his modest upbringing.

Jeb Bush, who has been tagged as the "establishment" candidate, said he would put his record on the Second Amendment while Governor of Florida up against any other candidate.

Former Governor Rick Perry said he is undecided on whether he will run again but gave a spirited speech none the less. Not long after I received a fundraising email from Perry's PAC touting his Life Membership in the NRA.

Other speakers included Governor Bobby Jindal, Donald Trump, and Marco Rubio.  You can watch all of the speeches of the day at NRANEWS.COM.  You can also watch today's Annual Meeting of Members live on several NRA video platforms, including NRANews.