Hundreds of protestors flooded the Tennessee Capitol Building on Thursday to rally for gun control following the deadly shooting at the Covenant school by a transgender attacker.
The protesters climbed the steps of the Capitol as choral music played in the background while they carried signs and chanted, “what do we want? Gun control! When do we want it? Now!”
Finally made my way inside the Capitol where the rally has expanded.
— Chris O’Brien (@THEChrisOB) March 30, 2023
Rallygoers have made a tunnel as House members walk into the chamber.@WKRN #TNLeg23 pic.twitter.com/ItgnJcDliA
However, the protestors never indicated how Second Amendment restrictions could have stopped the 28-year-old from opening fire at the Christian school.
One protestor’s sign read “Make Murder More Difficult,” while another read “do better, Tim,” referring to Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.).
RT @MarkKelly_News: Tune to News 2 @ 11. We are covering this developing story from the TN Capitol building. A protest demanding stricter gun laws. @WKRN https://t.co/pSLgj352I1
— Kenley Hargett (@kenleyontv) March 30, 2023
WKRN’s Chris O’Brien pointed out that some protestors called out, “where is Marsha?” referring to Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn), which she and Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn) have introduced legislation to set aside $900 million in grants so that schools can hire off-duty police officers, retired officers, and veterans, to help keep students and staff safe.
Hundreds are gathered at the state Capitol in downtown Nashville following Monday’s Covenant School shooting. They’re chanting, holding signs and calling for gun reform. pic.twitter.com/VQqLvsiJBP
— Nashville Scene (@NashvilleScene) March 30, 2023
The rally was planned by AWAKE, a Tennessee nonprofit dedicated to improving conditions for women and children in the state. A day before, they recruited protestors to form at the state’s capitol building to demand more gun control.
“Then we will sing, and we will let our elected officials know we demand an end to gun violence, and we demand common sense gun laws,” the social media post read.
On Monday, Audrey “Aiden” Hale fatally shot six people, including three children. Despite being under medical care for an “emotional disorder,” the transgender attacker somehow possessed seven weapons. Hale was shot dead on the scene by police officers following the shooting inside the school.