Tennessee Rep. Andy Ogles’ Family Christmas Card Featuring AR-15s Resurfaces After Nashville School Shooting

Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tennessee), the congressional representative for Nashville, Tennessee, was criticized after a 2021 Christmas photo of the representative’s family holding AR-15 assault weapons resurfaced.

Ogles, whose district includes the scene of the March 27 Covenant School shooting where six people died, responded to the violence with “thoughts and prayers.”

“My family and I are devastated by the tragedy that took place at The Covenant School in Nashville this morning,” the representative said on Monday. “We are sending our thoughts and prayers to the families of those lost. As a father of three, I am utterly heartbroken by this senseless act of violence.”

The resurfaced photo, featuring his wife and three kids, features one Christmas tree and four assault rifles.

“MERRY CHRISTMAS! The Ogles Family,” a post on Facebook with the picture reads. “The very atmosphere of firearms anywhere and everywhere restrains evil interference – they deserve a place of honor with all that’s good.”

Gun control advocates resurfaced the photo on Twitter to rebuke the congressman.

“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,” Fred Guttenberg, a father whose daughter was killed in the 2018 Parkland, Florida shooting tweeted. “Tennessee Rep [Ogles], is this you with your family?”

Article by Ben Shimkus