Tim McGraw’s Sandy Hook Benefit Concert Stirs Major Debate, Billy Currington Backs Out Of Gig
After the concert announcement was made, McGraw and his opening acts, Billy Currington and Chase Bryant, began to receive backlash for supporting what some are calling an “anti-gun” organization. Controversy began when conservative website Breitbart.com published an article calling the event a “gun control fundraiser.” However, Sandy Hook Promise does not consider itself “anti-gun.” In fact, the organization’s mission promotes “firearm safety & security.”
Sandy Hook Promise supports the 2nd Amendment and is not anti-gun. We recognize an individual’s right to bear arms and support millions of law-abiding citizens in the United States who own firearms.
Our primary focus is preventing children from being harmed by gun violence. Our programs encompass things like community-based prevention, supporting social and emotional learning in schools, teaching Mental Health First Aid, teaching kids how to be inclusive at school, and helping people to know the signs of someone who may be in a mental crisis.
We also believe in gun safety, which you can see in our program “Keep It Safe and Secure”.
We support policy that helps identify, intervene and stop at-risk individuals from hurting themselves or others. And, we support laws that will help to keep firearms out of the hands of dangerously ill people and criminals, as well as out of the reach of children to prevent unintentional shooting deaths and injuries that have become much too frequent.
In the wake of the social media firestorm that ensued after the concert announcement, Billy Currington has decided not to perform at the show.
“I’ve never been one to take on controversial issues – I’m a singer. I do feel strongly about honoring and supporting the Sandy Hook community and will be making a donation to a local organization,” Currington wrote on his Facebook page on Thursday. “I appreciate people’s freedom and passion for whatever cause they want to support, however, I am choosing to step aside from this fundraiser and will focus instead on the rest of the tour dates as I look forward to being on the road with Tim and Chase and having a blast with all of the fans.”
Also on Thursday, McGraw released a written statement to The Washington Post to clarify any misinformation about the concert.
“Let me be clear regarding the concert for Sandy Hook given much of the erroneous reporting thus far. As a gun owner, I support gun ownership,” he wrote. “I also believe that with gun ownership comes the responsibility of education and safety — most certainly when it relates to what we value most, our children. I can’t imagine anyone who disagrees with that.”
“Through a personal connection, I saw first-hand how the Sandy Hook tragedy affected families and I felt their pain. The concert is meant to do something good for a community that is recovering,” he added.
It appears that Chase Bryant is still on the bill, however, the concert date is not listed on his website.
Angry comments continue to pour in on the artists’ social media pages.
