Two weeks after mass shootings in Texas and Ohio killed more than 30 people, about 300 Atlanta-area Republicans gathered for an annual marksmanship and barbecue event in Smyrna where they stressed the importance of safe gun ownership.
The event drew the ire of state Democrats, who said the 11th Congressional District GOP’s decision to hold its marksmanship event, which raises money for local and state Republican candidates and elected officials, was insensitive.
The event held at the Adventure Outdoors store and indoor gun range in Smyrna had been planned for months, 11th District GOP event Chairman Ashford Schwall said. Regardless, Schwall said it was disingenuous to try to tie the carnage from the Texas and Ohio shootings to the event.
“To me, that’s like canceling a NASCAR race because there was an accident,” he said.
State Sen. Jen Jordan, an Atlanta Democrat who lives in Georgia's 11th District, said on Twitter last week that she was disappointed the event, featuring remarks from National Rifle Association President Carolyn Meadows, was being held so soon after the shooting.
“Marksmanship Event just two weeks after #ElPaso and #Dayton mass shootings?” she wrote. “And GA Republicans wonder why it has lost support of so many suburban women.”
Organizers said they believe the attention helped push the fundraiser to its largest attendance, with about 300 people registering to participate in either the marksmanship competition or the barbecue.
“I guess we can thank Senator Jen Jordan for that,” said 11th District GOP Chairman Brad Carver, a longtime Capitol lobbyist and party activist. “A couple people actually specifically commented on (other news coverage) and then signed up.”
As blasts from the gun range below the event space vibrated the store’s second floor, Meadows delivered keynote remarks where she called herself a “Second Amendment-believing grandma” and praised Gov. Brian Kemp for his campaign promise to keep the state’s gun laws intact.
“We do respet the Second Amendment and the rights of all law-abiding gun owners,” she said. “We’re fortunate to have statewide leaders who reflect those views.”
Jordan told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution she understands that it’s difficult to call off a planned fundraiser based on news events, but she said she wished the district’s Republicans didn’t give Meadows a prominent speaking role.
The senator, who has proposed legislation that would allow judges to require that those convicted of family violence be banned from possessing guns and supported other legislation that puts additional restrictions on gun use and ownership, said she has seen local affiliates of the NRA work to defeat them all.
“Amplifying and legitimizing the NRA like they are doing I think just shows that Republicans in this state have absolutely no intention of doing what the majority of people in this state and this country want — which is to adopt reforms that are going to at least try to prevent these mass shootings,” she said.
After the Texas and Ohio shootings, President Donald Trump suggested expanding background checks and passing a federal "red flag law," which would give judges the ability to confiscate the weapons of people who pose a threat to themselves or others.
Meadows urged attendees to oppose those proposals.
“The point is to bully us into retreating from what we know is right — ain’t gonna happen,” she said. “The proposals being discussed … in response to those evil acts two weeks ago only infringe on the rights of good Americans, not the criminals.”
Coleman Williamson, a Buckhead resident who serves on the board of Georgia Log Cabin Republicans, said he would never support anything that allows the government to take someone’s weapons from them.
“I’m against the red flag law, but I am (for) the institutionalization of those who have gone through due process,” he said. “I believe that mental illness is a problem in society.”
BALANCED COVERAGE
The debate over gun rights versus gun control is divisive, and these types of controversial stories receive special treatment. We always try to present as much information as possible so readers can reach their own conclusions. To do that, we present multiple points of view. Today’s story includes comments from state Sen. Jen Jordan and National Rifle Association President Carolyn Meadows. Jordan has proposed legislation that would make it possible to take guns away from people convicted of family violence. Meadows has stressed that law-abiding citizens must have their right to possess firearms protected.
Stay on top of what’s happening in Georgia government and politics at www.ajc.com/politics.
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