After a shooter killed three children and three adults at the Covenant School in Tennessee on Monday, US Representative Andrew Ogles of Tennessee, who represents the Nashville district where the school is located, said he was “utterly heartbroken” by the tragedy.
But gun control advocates and Democrats quickly criticized a previous social media post by the Republican lawmaker: a 2021 Christmas photo of Ogles and his family flashing wide smiles and toting guns, including two of the children.
In the caption of the photo, which shows the family brandishing their firearms in front of a decorated tree, Ogles wrote “MERRY CHRISTMAS!”
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He also included a quote that is often falsely attributed to George Washington: “The very atmosphere of firearms anywhere and everywhere restrains evil interference — they deserve a place with all that’s good.”
After the mass shooting, many condemned Ogles’ ostentatious embrace of firearms, arguing that the attack in his district could have been prevented with stricter gun control policies.
Ogles, 51, is a staunch proponent of the Second Amendment. As Maury County mayor, he signed a resolution that declared his region a sanctuary community for the constitutional right to bear arms. When he ran for Congress, he vowed to fight to protect gun ownership rights. And in Congress, he has cosponsored legislation that would allow people to carry licenses to carry a weapon in any other state and that would prohibit the creation of a federal firearms registry.
“Disarming the people is the most effective way to enslave them, and we must remain vigilant when anyone seeks to erode our civil liberties,” his campaign website reads. “The rights of the people to keep and bear arms, protect themselves and their families, and prevent tyrannical rule is a fundamental liberty.”
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THIS is last year's Christmas card from Tennessee Rep. Andy Ogles, a Republican who represents the district that Covenant School is in in Nashville. #tnleg pic.twitter.com/IpkLzZs5m5
— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) March 27, 2023
This post from December 2021 remains on the Facebook page of Republican Tennessee Congressman Andy Ogles, whose district includes the site of today's Nashville school shooting. pic.twitter.com/lfEDymbbYN
— Joey Garrison (@joeygarrison) March 27, 2023
On Monday, Ogles said he and his family were “devastated” by the mass shooting, which police said was carried out by a former student of the Christian elementary school, and offered their “thoughts and prayers to the families of those lost.”
“As a father of three, I am utterly heartbroken by this senseless act of violence,” he said. “I am closely monitoring the situation and working with local officials.”
Critics were quick to pounce.
Fred Guttenberg, who became an activist against gun violence after his daughter, Jamie Guttenberg, was killed in the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in 2018, tweeted the Christmas photo of Ogles and his family and said the “tragedy of the latest mass shooting is listening to Tennessee politicians who refuse to call it a shooting but who engaged in behavior that caused this to be more likely when they glorify guns.”
“Tennessee Rep @AndyOgles, is this you with your family?” he asked.
US Representative Veronica Escobar, a Democrat from Texas, also retweeted the picture, asking: “How much more bloodshed will it take?”
“It’s. The. Guns,” she said.
Ogles wasn’t the only Republican congressman from Tennessee under scrutiny.
Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) on school shootings:
— Brennan Murphy (@brenonade) March 28, 2023
"We're not gonna fix it." pic.twitter.com/yZZCbJleUA
While standing on the steps of the Capitol after the Nashville school shooting, US Representative Tim Burchett told a reporter “we’re not gonna fix it” and “criminals are gonna be criminals.”
Pressed on whether he believes Congress has a role to play in preventing shootings, Burchett demurred. He instead suggested that “we change people’s hearts” and called for a Christian revival.
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“I don’t see any real role that we could do other than mess things up,” he said.
Asked what should be done to protect children like his daughter, Burchett said, “Well, we homeschool her, but that’s our decision ... It suited our needs much better.”
Police are working to determine a motive for the shooting, the latest episode of gun violence in the United States.
See more reactions below:
This is Rep Andy Ogles and family. He represents Nashville. I don’t think he is the best example of a role model. I’m sorry but I don’t pic.twitter.com/briLl56aJm
— Treat Williams (@Rtreatwilliams) March 27, 2023
Hey @AndyOgles it’s me, your employer constituent. I can’t help but notice your statement about the shooting that killed my friend is missing from your Twitter timeline. Your heartbreak’s as fake as your resume. https://t.co/ugnnChKOmz
— Anna Caudill (@AnnaCaudill4) March 27, 2023
Happy Festivus
— Black Mommy Activist, PhD🎙 (@kayewhitehead) March 28, 2023
From Nashville Congressman @AndyOgles, his fam & and their guns
This is the The Same place where 3 children and 3 adults were just killed by an assault rifle. There is a real sickness in this country as guns are NOW the Leading cause of death for our children! pic.twitter.com/kkqVcNxUes
Wow!!! These people are cowards. Let this happen to one of their kids and let’s see how they fell. Sad part, there are a lot of people that voted for this kind of foolishness…And will do it again
— Stephanie Mills (@PrettyMill1) March 28, 2023
At least he's honest. They're not going to fix it. The voters are going to have to do it for them.
— Paige McKenzie ☀️ (@hauntedsunshine) March 28, 2023
If you're not willing to be part of finding a solution, or event trying, then you're part of the problem. This is true in every aspect of life, society, and government. For a lawmaker to see the #1 cause of childhood death and say "we're not going to fix it." is cowardice.
— Josh Chavis (@JoshChavis65) March 28, 2023
Shannon Larson can be reached at shannon.larson@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @shannonlarson98.