The National Rifle Association (NRA) on Tuesday defended gun rights, two days after a gunman killed 49 people and left 53 others injured at a gay nightclub in Orlando.

"In the aftermath of this terrorist attack, President Obama and Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonJeff Flake: Republicans 'should hold the same position' on SCOTUS vacancy as 2016 Momentum growing among Republicans for Supreme Court vote before Election Day Warning signs flash for Lindsey Graham in South Carolina MORE renewed calls for more gun control, including a ban on whole categories of semi-automatic firearms," Chris Cox, executive director of the NRA Institute for Legislative Action, wrote in a USA Today op-ed.

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"They are desperate to create the illusion that they’re doing something to protect us because their policies can’t and won’t keep us safe. This transparent head-fake should scare every American, because it will do nothing to prevent the next attack," he said.

Cox said "political correctness" allowed for the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history to take place, noting that the FBI had interviewed the shooter multiple times since 2013 and that he maintained a government-approved security license.

"Unfortunately, the Obama administration’s political correctness prevented anything from being done about it," Cox wrote.

Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump Donald John TrumpUS reimposes UN sanctions on Iran amid increasing tensions Jeff Flake: Republicans 'should hold the same position' on SCOTUS vacancy as 2016 Trump supporters chant 'Fill that seat' at North Carolina rally MORE, who the NRA has endorsed, also attacked "political correctness" in a speech following the shooting.

Democrats have renewed calls for gun control followed the attack early Sunday. The gunman used a pistol and an assault-style rifle.

Federal officials are investigating the case for any international terrorism ties but have so far called it an act of domestic terrorism, saying the gunman claimed an affinity for Islamic militant groups.

"Radical Islamic terrorists are not deterred by gun control laws," Cox wrote Tuesday, pointing to attacks in San Bernardino, Calif., Paris and Brussels.