A group of young far-left activists protested in favor of gun control in Sumner County Friday.
A coalition called Protect Guns Not Kids is a pop-up group that has gained traction by protesting against guns across Tennessee, including at the Tennessee Capitol, after a mass shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville that claimed six lives.
One of the protestors, Natalie Schilling, spoke to reporters.
“To remind them they work for these folks, they work for these residents, and we want to remind him that this is not his sole power to make all of these decisions. He has to listen to his constituents,” she reportedly said. “This is not just a right or left issue; everyone can agree that we don’t want to be having gun violence on our streets. We can protect the Second Amendment and protect our kids at the same time.”
The group is actively fundraising for a campaign against Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee (R).
“Today is a testament to the incredible organizing work of our movement,” the group said Friday on Twitter. “The fight for change happens in Davidson and Williamson and Sumner and Hamilton. We will not let justice be deferred any longer!”
Consider donating to support our work in securing the special session! https://t.co/kkknw6TUqT
— Protect Kids Not Guns 🧡 (@KidsNotGunsTN) June 16, 2023
“Consider donating to support our work in securing the special session!” the group added, linking to a GoFundMe page. That page has raised just over $2700 at the time of publication.
According to the report, the Protect Kids Not Guns Coalition plans to continue protesting, even outside of Davidson County, before a special session of the General Assembly.
It is unclear how the group is funded.
Lee called the special session to address gun control, and has called for red flag laws, drawing the ire of conservatives across the state.
Despite Lee’s concessions to the political left, far-left agitators still plan to wreak havoc during the special session.
The Republican-led Tennessee House has made it clear that it will not support red flag laws.
“Any red flag law is a non-starter for House Republicans,” the House majority party said on Twitter. “Our caucus is focused on finding solutions that prevent dangerous individuals from harming the public and preserve the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens. We have always been open to working with Governor Lee on measures that fit within that framework.”
Last week, the House Majority Whip Johnny Garrett (R-Goodlettsville) told The Tennessee Star that he has spoken to Lee about the matter.
“There is no red flag proposal from Gov. Lee to consider as our caucus will not support the destruction of our citizens’ constitutional rights,” said Garrett. “I have been in contact with the governor and have expressed the desire to address mental illness through treatment and resources for those who may be a threat to themselves and others. These conversations will continue, and we’ll determine the best ways we can help these individuals in crisis while improving public safety in communities across our state.”
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Pete D’Abrosca is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Pete on Twitter.
Photo “Gun Protest” by Chip Vincent.
Interestingly, I just did an internet search for; “Protect Kids Not Guns”, and found only two sites that appeared to be promoting their message, the rest of the hits (I only scrubbed through 2 pages of search results) were all about selling T-shirts with Protect Kids Not Guns printed on them.
Never let a crisis go to waste.
Always, John, and as it was down through history, so is it now:
Both oligarch and tyrant mistrust the people and therefore deprive them of their arms.” —Aristotle (384 BC—322 BC)
2021 National Firearms Survey – revised in 2022-
Consistent with other recent survey research, the survey finds an overall rate of adult firearm ownership of 31.9%, suggesting that in excess of 81.4 million Americans aged 18 and over own firearms.
The survey further finds that approximately a third of gun owners (31.1%) have used a firearm to defend themselves or their property, often on more than one occasion, and it estimates that guns are used defensively by firearms owners in approximately 1.67 million incidents per year. https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4109494
The reason those people can protest freely is because of firearms! Critical thinking in America is over!
“Stop Gun Violence” 100% agree. Gov Lee should mandate Stop and Frisk IMMEDIATELY, we need to get guns out of the hands on violent Democrats.
Since the school shooting was committed by a “ transgender” should transgenders be considered unfit to possess firearms? Transgenders by definition are mentally disturbed individuals whether some may accept it or not. These people need to be educated on the extreme importance of our 2nd amendment if they want to remain a free people. Totalitarian governments /dictatorships take away the firearms from their people.
. “So in typical leftist fashion it’s penalize the many for the misdeeds of the few.” —Steve Allen
Right, this reactionary citizen disarmament is a collectivist religion of imposed guilt and punishment.
Not that in all gun control, the government and politicians always EXEMPT THEMSELVES in violation of “the equal protection of the laws” (14th Amendment) which is one of two which ended slavery in all its aspects. Gun control for the people is PRO SLAVERY.
Protect kids like everyone else who are protected—and they are protected with guns. If no guns are to protect kids, then none for the politicians, wealthy elite class, pro athletes, celebrities, media corporations, etc, etc.
If “the equal protection of the laws” (14th Amendment) is applied, then the anti gun side will back off. Denying guns for self defense was, always has been and is, a chief aspect of slavery.
These left wing extremists need to realize that the majority of Tennesseans don’t support their radical approach to gun control. The people being influenced by these left wing extremists need to realize that law abiding gun owning Tennesseans are sick and tired of the lies being told and are willing to fight to keep their rights given by the US Constitution.
“This is not just a right or left issue; everyone can agree that we don’t want to be having gun violence on our streets.”
Anyone who takes the time on a daily basis to read the uncensored news knows that it’s not straight, white, adult males who are causing all of this street violence. So in typical leftist fashion it’s penalize the many for the misdeeds of the few.
Just like the global warming hysteria, individuals who have been on the earth for less than 20 years think they have all the answers.
The ignorance is astounding.
The narrative they espouse, “Protect kids not guns” needs to be rebutted with the fact that we stand for “Protect Liberty, not oppression”. This is about far more than catchy slogans and branding. This organized group needs to be reminded (or taught for the first time) of Tiananmen Square and the fact that they can protest in the street is solely due to the fact that the 2nd Amendment keeps our government (and outside aggressors) at bay.