(Reuters] – Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott has decided not to attend in person Friday’s National Rifle Association annual meeting (NRA), which begins on Friday. It comes days after Uvalde Elementary School shooting that resulted in the deaths of 19 school children and their teachers, NBC News reports.

Houston is the venue for the NRA convention. There, Republicans from all over America will be speaking. The gun-rights group will be addressed by Ted Cruz, Senator from Texas, and Donald Trump the former President.

NBC News reports that Abbott will address the group using recorded remarks. He will also make a return visit to Uvalde. After meeting with officials from the state and town, he will host a press conference.

Recent shootings have reignited national discussion about U.S. gun law laws. The Uvalde massacre occurred just 10 days after an avowed white extremist attacked a Buffalo supermarket that was located in a predominantly Black area of Buffalo.

President Joe Biden has vowed, along with fellow Democrats to press for gun control reforms, even if Republicans resist. Biden is scheduled to fly to Uvalde Sunday.

Abbott is running for re-election in November. He stated that strict gun laws don’t prevent violence. He cited New York as an example. Policymakers should focus instead on prevention and mental health treatment.

The NRA as well as Abbott’s offices did not respond outside of regular business hours to any requests for comment.