Children among protesters outside NRA convention as gun reform debate heats up after Texas school shooting

Three days after a mass shooting at Robb Elementary in Uvalde

Texas left 19 children and two adults dead

the National Rifle Association kicked off its annual convention about 280 miles away in Houston.

Facing shrinking membership and revenue and on the heels of a nationwide gun reform debate

keynote speakers such as former President Donald Trump attended the convention

that is scheduled to continue through Sunday, according to the NRA's website.

During the convention, Trump criticized Republicans who decided not to attend

after the shooting in Uvalde, saying, "unlike some, I didn't disappoint you by not showing up."

He also called the latest push for gun reform a politically-motivated one.