TUCSON, ARIZ. ? The National Rifle Assn. and its high-profile leader, Charlton Heston went ahead with a rally here Wednesday, two days after a flunking student who collected guns shot three professors to death before killing himself.

An estimated 700 people attended the rally at the Tucson Convention Center, about four miles from the University of Arizona’s nursing school, where Monday’s shootings took place.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Matt Salmon was scheduled to appear at the event but did not attend. NRA officials said Salmon canceled all Tucson appearances out of respect for the shooting victims.

A few dozen people protested outside.

“We’re here to tell Charlton Heston to go the hell home,” said Sean Hammond, 31, of Tucson. “We just had the worst shooting in the history of Tucson just two days ago.”

Tucson resident Mike Middono, 41, who attended the rally, disagreed.

“That tragedy would not have happened if more people had guns,” he said.