The country music community was heartbroken after the tragedy at Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas and now two of the genre’s strongest voices are speaking up about gun control.
Superstar couple Faith Hill and Tim McGraw spoke with Billboard about gun safety in the wake of the October tragedy where 59 lives were lost and over 500 people were injured.
McGraw, 50, made it clear that he believes Americans can support the second amendment and ‘common sense’ gun control at the same time.
‘They want to make it about the Second Amendment every time it’s brought up. It’s not about the Second Amendment,’ explained the hunting enthusiast.
Using their platform: Superstar couple Faith Hill and Tim McGraw spoke with Billboard about gun safety in the wake of the October tragedy where 59 lives were lost and over 500 people were injured.
‘Look, I’m a bird hunter — I love to wing-shoot,’ the Humble And Kind singer said.
‘However, there is some common sense that’s necessary when it comes to gun control.
‘[People] want to make it about the Second Amendment every time it’s brought up. It’s not about the Second Amendment.’
Tim’s wife of 21 years expressed her consternation over what kind of weapons people have access to these days.
‘It’s not about the Second Amendment’: Explained McGraw, who is a longtime hunting enthusiast (pictured 2017)
‘The doctors that [treated] the wounded, they saw wounds like you’d see in war,’ the Breath singer said, ‘That’s not right.’
‘Military weapons should not be in the hands of civilians.’
Faith didn’t point fingers, telling Billboard: ‘It’s everyone’s responsibility, including the government and the National Rifle Association, to tell the truth. We all want a safe country.’
The couple and longtime collaborators were quick to respond after the October 1 shooting, sharing their thoughts and prayers in a lengthy Instagram caption.
‘The world has endured so many tragedies this year,’ the caption began, ‘Each one heart wrenching in its own unique way. And then this morning.
Speaking up: Faith expressed her consternation over what kind of weapons people have access to these days, telling the magazine, ‘Military weapons should not be in the hands of civilians’ (pictured at the CMA Awards in Nashville on Wednesday)
‘We can’t even begin to express all of our feelings waking up to the news that country music fans lost their lives in a tragic shooting last night in Las Vegas.
‘Knowing so many people working at the show and worrying for their well-being and safety.
‘And the fans. Above all our hearts break for each and every one of them affected by this senseless act.
‘Let us help each other find a way to deal with the emotional trauma of these difficult times,’ the caption concluded.
Faith and Tim’s December cover of Billboard magazine is on newsstands now.