Dallas official urges NRA to move convention in May

DALLAS -- A top elected official in Dallas says the "madness" of school shootings must stop and is asking the NRA to hold its annual convention elsewhere.

Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway told reporters Monday that the nation's largest gun lobby will face "marches and demonstrations" if it holds its three-day May convention in Dallas.

He said the NRA has a responsibility to help establish gun laws that prevent mass shootings.

His comments came days after a gunman killed 17 people at a South Florida high school.

NRA spokesman Andrew Arulanandam said the organization has no plans to scrap the convention, which is to take place at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center.

"Dallas, like every American city and community, is populated by NRA members. ... No politician anywhere can tell the NRA not to come to their city. We are already there," he said.

Democratic Mayor Mike Rawlings said in a statement that a contract was signed in 2012 allowing the NRA to use the city's convention center. As pro tem, Caraway serves as mayor in Rawlings' absence.

Caraway said his position against the NRA convention is a personal one, despite being a gun owner himself.

"It is a tough call when you ask the NRA to reconsider coming to Dallas, but it is putting citizens first and getting them to come to the table and elected officials to come to the table and to address this madness now," he said.

Information for this article was contributed by staff members of The Associated Press and by Kristine Phillips of The Washington Post.

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