Kacey Musgraves Suggests Arming Everyone With A Gun Following Pulse Orlando Shooting
Kacey Musgraves is known for being at odds with the conservative values traditionally associated with country music, but a recent tweet had her liberally minded fans up in arms.
Brooklyn, NY // June 11th @NorthsideFest pic.twitter.com/IMajHlBF4m
— KACEY MUSGRAVES (@KaceyMusgraves) June 13, 2016
The country singer took to social media following the shooting at gay club Pulse in Orlando, Florida. Firstly, to express her condolences to the friends and families of those who had lost loved ones in the attack, she tweeted,
Crying as I read about Orlando. I can’t believe it. I don’t understand. And especially at such a happy place!? Feeling sick.
— KACEY MUSGRAVES (@KaceyMusgraves) June 12, 2016
Later, Kacey came back to make her own suggestion about how the country could deal with minimizing the damage waged by ISIS attacks on American soil. Kacey wondered if it wouldn’t be better if more people in the U.S. were armed — a comment that Musgraves subsequently deleted.
¨Let’s go back to saloon days when every muthaf**ka is carrying a revolver and anyone walking in to disturb the peace might maybe think twice.¨
Although the responses have since been deleted along with the original post, an outpour of disgust came from many of Kacey’s followers who accused her of both politicizing the tragedy and making and offering an insensible solution to terrorism. Sensing a public relations scandal, Musgraves took down the offending post and offered an apology.
Look. Emotions are high today. Mine included. Just hating hate. Lots of opinions in the mix. LOVE is the only true answer. Hard subject tho.
— KACEY MUSGRAVES (@KaceyMusgraves) June 12, 2016
Unfortunately for Kacey, not everyone was quick to let her off. Several users faulted Musgraves for not only bringing pro-gun sentiments into the mix, but also for making what appeared to be a joke in the fallout after the Pulse nightclub tragedy.
@KaceyMusgraves just apologize for a horribly insensitive and ignorant tweet and stop there.
— Viv (@okayviv) June 12, 2016
@KaceyMusgraves your tweet was horribly insensitive and wrong. You encouraged gun violence.
— Team Vicki Soto (@TeamVickiSoto) June 12, 2016
@KaceyMusgraves @mrBobbyBones it’s actually a pretty easy subject. PEOPLE’S LIVES BEFORE GUNS! How is that so hard?!
— Dustin Allen (@dusteallen) June 12, 2016
@KaceyMusgraves No. You were wrong. You honestly need to reflect on your words and think before you tweet.
— groan woman (@kyayigirl) June 12, 2016
That’s not to say that Kacey angered everyone with her words. Some of Musgraves’ other followers felt that her critics were being unnecessarily harsh over what was just a 160-character misstep. Even more supportive of the singer were others who said that they actually agreed with her original tweet entirely.
@KaceyMusgraves We are all human so everyone just calm down and go drink a beer and salute everyone that didn’t get to finish theirs. Love
— stephani wells (@misswells11) June 13, 2016
@KaceyMusgraves I loved the tweet! It works up here in Idaho! Keep doing you! Sew love where you find hate.
— Eric (@EGfullsails) June 12, 2016
@KaceyMusgraves Why it is so hard for some people to comprehend, “The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun”
— Stephen Jacobs (@lonestarpicker) June 12, 2016
@KaceyMusgraves You’re a beautiful & amazing person Kacey! I read many disturbing tweets today, yours wasn’t one of them… your fans get it
— Vincent Neiteler (@Vinnii86) June 12, 2016
@KaceyMusgraves Don’t worry about and Follow Your Arrow! No need to apologize to anyone! We love you because you speak from the heart.
— Buddy Callicoat (@osubuddy777) June 13, 2016
@KaceyMusgraves It was not insensitive. Her passion for people is what drives us to way to protect people. Singing by the fire won’t get it
— PJ2nWV (@1BlackGSD) June 12, 2016
@KaceyMusgraves How is passing a law banning assault weapons a “hard subject”? Please clarify.
— Mark S. (@GiantsFan_58) June 12, 2016
What are your thoughts on Kacey Musgraves’ pro-gun tweet following the Pulse Orlando shooting?
[Image via Paul Hackett/Getty Images]
