Texas school shooting: Gov. Abbott to skip NRA convention, will return to Uvalde

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has canceled his appearance at Friday’s National Rifle Association convention in Houston, deciding instead to hold a news conference in Uvalde, the site of a mass shooting on Tuesday that claimed the lives of 19 elementary school students and two teachers.

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Abbott had been scheduled to speak alongside former President Donald Trump and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, but will deliver “pre-recorded remarks,” his spokesperson, Mark Miner, told the Houston Chronicle.

It will be Abbott’s second visit to Uvalde since 18-year-old Salvador Ramos opened fire at Robb Elementary School on Tuesday, The Dallas Morning News reported.

Abbott will hold the news conference at 3:30 p.m. CDT, the governor’s office announced.

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden are expected to travel to Uvalde on Sunday.

Organizers for the NRA convention said it will “reflect on” the deadly shooting in Uvalde, NPR reported.

>> Texas school shooting: President Biden, first lady to visit Uvalde on Sunday

The original schedule for the convention had Abbott speaking at 2:37 p.m. CDT after NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre and before South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, the Morning News reported.

Earlier Thursday, “American Pie” singer Don McLean backed out of his scheduled appearance at the convention, saying it would be “disrespectful” to sing in the aftermath of the nation’s latest mass shooting, NPR reported.

McLean was scheduled to perform Saturday night during the NRA’s “Grand Ole Night of Freedom” concert, according to The Washington Post.

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Photos: Meghan Markle, Uvalde residents pay tribute to Texas shooting victims Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, leaves flowers at a memorial site, Thursday, May 26, 2022, for the victims killed in this week's elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

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Photos: Texas school shooting victims remembered at Uvalde vigil Esmeralda Bravo, 63, sheds tears while holding a photo of her granddaughter, Nevaeh, one of the Robb Elementary School shooting victims, during a prayer vigil in Uvalde, Texas, Wednesday, May 25, 2022. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

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