HOUSTON, TX - MAY 03: Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin speaks during the 2013 NRA Annual Meeting and Exhibits at the George R. Brown Convention Center on May 3, 2013 in Houston, Texas. More than 70,000 peope are expected to attend the NRA's 3-day annual meeting that features nearly 550 exhibitors, gun trade show and a political rally. The Show runs from May 3-5. Credit: Getty Images
HOUSTON (TheBlaze/AP) -- Former Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin says recent mass shootings have prompted leaders in Washington, D.C., to exploit tragedy in order to limit the freedoms of law-abiding people.
Palin spoke at the National Rifle Association's convention Friday afternoon in Houston.
She said while she and others were saddened and angered by December's shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Connecticut, the emotions that have resulted from it won't make anybody safer and won't "protect the good guys' rights."
The former governor of Alaska asked those at the convention to "keep the faith" and "stand up and fight for our freedoms."
Palin also went after New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, mocking him for his nanny-state policies.
"Now I see that the mayor of New York now wants to ban public displays of legal tobacco products,” she said, referring to the mayor’s push to force stores to essentially hide tobacco products. The former Alaska governor then pulled out a tin of what looked like chewing tobacco and said, "Don't make me do it."
Watch her entire speech via Mediaite:
Featured image via AFP/Getty
