An online petition that has called for the Republican National Convention to allow guns on the premises has over 42,000 supporters and is close to being sent out to the party’s remaining candidates.
The petition, loaded on Change.org, wants the Republican Party to allow guns in the Quicken Loans Arena, where the Republican National Convention will be held in Cleveland, Ohio between July 18 to July 21. The convention will draw thousands of delegates and around 15,000 members of the press.
The arena forbids firearms and handguns on its property, citing Ohio law that says a private entity can ban weapons on its premises.
The petition, which has a stated goal of getting 50,000 signatures, says that policy is a “direct affront to the Second Amendment and puts all attendees at risk.” The individuals that started the position, including a user named “The Hyperationalist,” will be delivered to the arena, the Republican National Committee, the three remaining GOP candidates, and RNC Chairman Reince Priebus.
The Change.org petition has already caught the attention of GOP frontrunner Donald Trump. The businessman weighed in on the call to allow firearms this weekend, saying while he is a supporter of the Second Amendment, he would need to take a closer look and “read the fine print.”
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Ohio Gov. John Kasich haven’t commented yet.
