Tim McGraw Defends Sandy Hook Benefit Concert After Backlash From Pro-Gun Fans
Music

While the country star plans to keep the concert, which pro-gun critics call a 'gun control fundraiser' going on, his opening act Billy Currington has decided to drop out.

AceShowbiz - Tim McGraw has been criticized over his plan to play a Sandy Hook benefit concert in Hartford, Connecticut this summer. Pro-gun critics are calling out the country superstar on social media, deeming him a hypocrite for supporting what they call a "gun control fundraiser" aimed to raise funds for Sandy Hook Promise, an organization that seeks to protect children from gun violence.

McGraw then issued a statement to the Washington Post on Friday, April 17 in response to the criticism. "Let me be clear regarding the concert for Sandy Hook given much of the erroneous reporting thus far," he said. "As a gun owner, I support gun ownership, I also believe that with gun ownership comes the responsibility of education and safety - most certainly when it relates to what we value most, our children. I can't imagine anyone who disagrees with that."

"Through a personal connection, I saw firsthand how the Sandy Hook tragedy affected families and I felt their pain. The concert is meant to do something good for a community that is recovering," he added.

The Sandy Hook benefit concert is scheduled to take place on July 17 at Hartford's XFINITY Theatre. McGraw wanted to play the fundraiser for Sandy Hook Promise because the fiddle player of his band is a friend of a parent whose kid was among those died in a December 2012 shooting incident at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown.

The event was originally set to feature opening acts Billy Currington and Chase Bryant, who have also been picked to support McGraw's tour. However, the former chose to drop out of the show following the backlash and later explained his decision in a Facebook post.

"I've never been one to take on controversial issues - I'm a singer," he wrote. "I do feel strongly about honoring and supporting the Sandy Hook community and will be making a donation to a local organization. I appreciate people's freedom and passion for whatever cause they want to support, however, I am choosing to step aside from this fundraiser and will focus instead on the rest of the tour dates as I look forward to being on the road with Tim and Chase and having a blast with all of the fans."

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