For the 12th straight year, the National Rifle Association’s National Police Shooting Championships are once again in Albuquerque, but this could be the last time the city hosts it

Hide Transcript Show Transcript

WEBVTT BRANDON EVANS EXPLAINS. REPORTER: THIS IS SHOOTING RANGE PARK IN WEST ALBUQUERQUE. NRA OFFICIALS SAY HUNDREDS OF COMPETITORS REPRESENTING DOZENS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES WILL COMPETE HERE OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS. >> THE NRA NATIONAL POLICE SHOOTING CHAMPIONSHIPS HAVE BEEN HELD HERE FOR THE LAST 12 YEARS, BUT THE WAY THINGS STAND NOW, IT COULD BE THE LAST YEAR THEY ARE HELD IN ALBUQUERQUE. REPORTER: THAT IS BECAUSE MAYOR TIME KELLER SAYS HE WILL NOT CONTINUE A CONTRACT WITH THE NRA TO KEEP THE EVENT HERE. KELLER SAYS THE APD’S FINNANCIAL SUPPORT AND MANPOWER THEY HAVE TO PUT IN TO HELP HOST THE EVENT OUTWEIGHS THE MONEY THE IT BRINGS TO THE CITY. -- THE EVENT BRINGS TO THE CITY. >> I THINK NET-NET ALL IN, IT IS NOT A VERY GOOD FIT FOR OUR CITY RIGHT NOW. REPORTER: KELLER SAYS THE NRA ITSELF ALSO PLAYED A PART IN HIS DECISION. >> I THINK ON ONE HAND, THERE IS JUST A PRAGMATISM ABOUT US MAKING A DECISION THAT THIS IS NOT A GOOD FIT, BUT IT DOES NOT HELP THEIR CASE THAT THEY ARE ONE OF THE MOST DIVISIVE ORGANIZATIONS IN THE COUNTRY, AND THEY ARE ALSO AN ORGANIZATION THAT I THINK ARE OUT OF STEP WITH WHAT HAPPENING IN REPECT TO GUN VIOLENCE. REPORTER: NRA OFFICIALS ARE NOT RESPONDING TO THE MAYOR’S COMMENTS, BUT DID RELEASE A STATEMENT SAYING, IN PART, WE ARE EXPLORING OUR OPTIONS REGARDING THE FUTURE OF THE NRA NATIONAL POLICE SHOOTING CHAMPIONSHIPS IN ALBUQUERQUE, AND HAVE NO ADDITIONAL COMMENT OR INFORMATION AVAILABLE YET TO OFFER BEYOND THE FACT THAT WE ARE PROUD OF WHAT THIS COMPETITION HAS GROWN INTO OVER THE YEARS, AND PLAN TO CONTINUE HOSTING THE EVENT, WHETHER IN ALBUQUERQUE OR ELSEWHERE. KOAT ACT 7 N

Advertisement Annual NRA event will not return to Albuquerque next year For the 12th straight year, the National Rifle Association’s National Police Shooting Championships are once again in Albuquerque, but this could be the last time the city hosts it Share Shares Copy Link Copy

For the 12th straight year, the National Rifle Association’s National Police Shooting Championships are once again in Albuquerque, but this could be the last time the city hosts this annual event.NRA officials said hundreds of competitors representing dozens of law enforcement agencies will compete at Shooting Range Park over the next few days. It may be the last time. Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller said he canceled the contract with the NRA that would keep the event in Albuquerque. Keller said the Albuquerque Police Department's financial support and the manpower they put in to help host it outweighs the money the event brings to the city. “I think net-net all in, it's not a very good fit for our city right now,” Keller said. Keller said what the NRA stands for also played a part in his decision. “I think on one hand, there's just a pragmatism about us making a decision that this isn't a good fit, but it doesn't help their case that they're one of the most divisive organizations in the country, and they are also an organization that I think are out of step with what’s happening in respect to gun violence,” Keller said. NRA officials are not responding to the mayor's comments, but they did release a statement, saying in part: “We¹re exploring our options regarding the future of the NRA National Police Shooting Championships in Albuquerque, and have no additional comment or information available yet to offer beyond the fact that we are proud of what this competition has grown into over the years, and plan to continue hosting the event, whether in Albuquerque or elsewhere.” The NRA National Police Shooting Championships wrap up Wednesday.