Sheryl Crow, Jason Isbell, Rosanne Cash Rip Tennessee Lawmakers Over Gun Laws After Nashville School Shooting
Rosanne Cash, Jason Isbell, Sheryl Crow, and Margo Price were just some members of the Nashville music community calling out Tennessee politicians over the state’s gun laws following a mass shooting at a private Christian school on Monday morning that left seven dead, including the shooter.
One of the more powerful responses to the shooting came Wednesday, from country songwriter Eric Paslay. “I’m heartbroken and angry that kids are paying the price for adults clinging so hard to their guns,” he wrote in part on social media. “I keep looking for answers. The only answers I’m seeing that have real results are in other countries. Maybe, for once, we should let go of our pride and make changes for the love of our families.”
Cash and Crow along with Nashville singer-songwriter Will Hoge, all responded to Republican state senator Marsha Blackburn’s tweet on Monday saying how she and her husband Chuck were “heartbroken” over the tragedy.
“Don’t even,” Cash replied. “You vote against every common sense gun control bill that comes across your desk, you’ve taken over $1 million from the NRA and you rank 14th in all Congress for NRA contributions. Spare us the hand-wringing.”
Crow asked Blackburn to “please pass sensible gun laws so that the children of Tennessee and America at large might attend school without risk of being gunned down.”
“Please let us, your constituents, know when you and Chuck’s hearts are broken enough to lead to action dear Senator,” replied Hoge. (Hoge blasted politicians’ empty condolences in the song “Thoughts & Prayers” after another mass shooting — five years ago.)
Isbell challenged Tennessee’s Republican governor, Bill Lee. “Something can be done Bill,” he wrote, “you just don’t have the spine for it.”
Price also called out Gov. Lee in a tweet that referenced the state’s ongoing spate of anti-LGBTQ legislation. “Can I ask you, @GovBillLee why you passed permit less carry in 2021? Our children are dying and being shot in school but you’re more worried about drag queens than smart gun laws?” Price wrote. “You have blood on your hands.”
Country singer Mickey Guyton couldn’t contain her outrage. “As a mother, I’m pissed the fuck off,” she tweeted. “Shame on every single politician ok with doing nothing as CHILDREN are getting assassinated on an everyday basis in a place that is supposed to be their safe haven.”
Old Crow Medicine Show leader Ketch Secor also shared his rage in a viscerally raw and tearful video on Instagram. “If you’re a teacher we stand with you. We’re not going to be pushed around anymore by people who think the right to have an assault rifle is OK,” he said. “Fuck your assault rifle.”
Three children and three adult staff members were killed at the Covenant School, a private Christian school at Covenant Presbyterian Church in the southwest corner of Nashville. Metro Nashville Police Department identified the shooter as 28-year-old Audrey Hale, who was armed with three weapons, including two assault-rifle-style firearms. During a Tuesday press briefing, Police said Hale had legally purchased seven firearms at various stores in Nashville and that Hale was also being treated for what Police described as an “emotional disorder.”
Nathan Followill, the drummer for Nashville area rock group Kings of Leon, tweeted that the shooting happened near his own son’s school. “Multiple children dead but let’s make sure that the gunman has his 2nd Amendment rights. Fuck you Bill Lee and fuck the NRA,” he wrote. In another tweet, he said, “Sending my kids to school shouldn’t feel like sending them to a war zone that they may not come home from. This is all so sad and nothing is ever done about it expect for thoughts and prayers from those at home cleaning their assault rifles.”