WASHINGTON (SW): Donald Trump has slammed Hillary Clinton as "heartless" for backing restrictions on gun ownership that he said would leave Americans in high-crime areas unable to protect themselves.
Trump's remarks came at the National Rifle Association convention in Louisville, Kentucky on Friday.
The gun rights organisation endorsed the presumptive Republican nominee ahead of his remarks, despite Trump's previous support for measures like an assault weapons ban that the NRA vigorously opposes, Al Jazeera reported.
Trump centered his remarks on Clinton, claiming she would seek to "abolish" the Second Amendment through the Supreme Court and release violent criminals if elected president.
He also challenged Clinton to follow his lead and release a list of potential Supreme Court nominees.
In his speech, Trump referred to her as "Heartless Hillary" – a new nickname from the branding expert for his potential Democratic opponent – for backing restrictions aimed at reducing gun deaths, saying her proposals would instead leave law-abiding citizens exposed to criminals.
"She's putting the most vulnerable Americans in jeopardy," Trump said. He added that women in particular would be at risk, a nod to what he's said will be a security-focused appeal to women in the general election.
Trump heads into the fall campaign with stunningly high disapproval ratings with women. The supremely confident Trump appeared to acknowledge that weakness, saying that while his poll numbers with men are strong, "I like women more than men."
NRA leaders were blistering in their condemnation of Clinton, accusing her of threatening Americans' freedom and being driven by personal greed. During one speech, an NRA leader briefly played a video showing Clinton barking like dog.
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