Rival activists gathered outside the National Rifle Association convention in Houston on Friday 27 May, to protest for and against guns.

"(It) makes me scared to go back (to school) because I want to live a life and not just die," said Adrienne, 8, outside the NRA's convention.

Mathew, another protester outside the hall said: "Feeling like the living dead because it could be any one of us -- the victim of the next mass shooting."

But despite outrage in many quarters at America's unusually relaxed gun-ownership laws, pro-gun activists were also speaking up outside the NRA's gathering.

"Guns are not evil, it's the people that are committing the crimes," said one so-called 'Second Amendment supporter', calling for more security at schools.

The school where the deadly shooting happened already had its own police force.

May 27, 2022 | Houston, Texas - Crowds gathered outside of the NRA convention to speak up against and for guns.
"Makes me scared to go back (to school) because I want to live a life and not just die" - says Adrienne, 8 years old outside of Houston NRA convention

"Feeling like the living dead because it could be any one of us, the victim of next mass shootings "says Mathew outside NRA convention in Texas

"Guns are not evil, it's the people that are committing the crimes" says 2A supporter outside of the NRA convention in Texas, calls for more security at schools.