 by Julian Spivey
Tim McGraw is doing something that should make him a hero to fans of his genre’s fan base and yet he’s being treated like complete crap because of it. That thing he’s trying to do … save children from being killed via gun violence. McGraw announced earlier this week that he, along with tourmates Billy Currington and Chase Bryant, will be performing a benefit show for the Sandy Hook Promise organization on July 17 when his tour makes its way to the XFINITY Theatre in Hartford, Ct. The Sandy Hook Promise is an organization that was started shortly after 20 elementary school kids were murdered in a mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Sandy Hook, Ct. in December of 2012. The organization is “a moderate, above-the-politics organization that supports sensible non-policy and policy solutions that protect children and prevent gun violence,” according to its website. McGraw, along with The Sandy Hook Promise, are simply trying to stop the senseless death of children through gun violence and yet many fans of country music this week – some proclaiming to be fans of McGraw’s music – are seemingly acting like he’s an anti-constitution terrorist out to take their weapons. Many of these “fans” are refusing to send their money McGraw’s way whether it’s via concert tickets or albums sales or downloads. Among the ignorant comments online were: “Will never listen to Tim McGraw, Billy Currington, or Chase Bryant again. As a matter a fact I will tell everyone about their ignorance.” – Randy James Byrd “I knew his music sucked but now we find out he is a bleeding heart liberal too. He should start recording pop albums with Taylor Swift.” – Chad Hale “I always knew Tim McGraw was into horses. But I guess this confirms it, that he is actually a horses (sic) ass.” – Jeff Zdroik “Want to see a career go down in flames? Watch Tim McGraw in the next year after he pisses off his fan base.” – Jonathan Smith “@TheTimMcGraw If you headline the Sandy Hook gun control concert, I will shred every single one of your CDs I have in my house” – Nick Olsen An artist performing at a concert to stop kids from being gunned down frankly seems like a no brainer. Who wants to see children gunned down? Apparently many conservatives. They’re too ignorant to realize that this benefit has nothing to do with taking their firearms. I’m sure Tim McGraw, who happens to be a hunter, wouldn’t want any part of a benefit that was aiming to take away people’s right to bear arms. But, he’s smart enough – unlike many of these people acting like they were once his fans – to realize that benefiting a program that tries to save the lives of children by stopping gun violence and banning guns are two completely different things. The problem with that is too many pea-brained conservatives can’t read “stop gun violence” without actually seeing “guns are evil/ban all guns/we’re coming to take your guns.” What McGraw is doing here by performing such a benefit is incredibly brave, because he had to have known that some people – maybe not this many though – would react in the ignorantly idiotic manner that they have and it would cause some backlash against him that would possibly hurt his revenue in some way. Most artists, but especially ones in the country music genre, wouldn’t dare to take on a cause that would directly irritate some of their fan base. This is why McGraw’s choice to perform a benefit for The Sandy Hook Promise should be viewed as heroic. Not as a slap against the Founding Fathers as so many are acting like he’s doing. And, for those acting like they were ever fans of Tim McGraw’s music to begin with and they’re going to all of a sudden stop listening to his music – cut the bullshit. If you’re going to stop listening to a musician or buying their music just because they have opinions that differ from yours you weren’t ever a true fan of them anyway. Part of the problem with country music today is everybody’s trying to be the exact same person. The best performers in that genre have always been the ones who stood out from the pack in one way or another – well, maybe for the first time in his career, Tim McGraw is finally standing out.
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