Corker thanks visitors, touts gun rights at NRA event

Tennessee is a friendly home for gunmakers and gun owners, U.S. Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., told a room packed with gun rights supporters Friday afternoon at the National Rifle Association's annual meeting in Nashville.

Corker was the only elected Tennessee official to speak at the NRA event. Gov. Bill Haslam, who has a dubious history with the gun rights group, was not invited to speak.

Corker mentioned gun rights — "I don't have to tout my second amendment record. I have a record to prove it" — but focused more on welcoming people to the state for the convention.

He heralded local gun manufacturer Barrett, and noted the well-publicized decision by Beretta to leave Maryland and move to Tennessee.

Joking he was the most relaxed politician on the stage since he's not running for president, he asked NRA members to be engaged in vetting the dozen or so GOP presidential hopefuls slated to also speak at the NRA event.

Any candidate will be focused in part on the ongoing nuclear negotiations with Iran. As chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Corker pledged to do his part from congress.

"I'm doing everything in our congress to ensure Iran does not get a nuclear weapon," Corker said.

Republican contenders Jeb Bush, Scott Walker, Ted Cruz and others are scheduled to speak later today. Follow www.Tennessean.com for full coverage throughout the day.

Reach Dave Boucher at 615-259-8892 and on Twitter @Dave_Boucher1.