Firearms Owners Against Crime
Institute for Legal, Legislative and Educational Action
Institute for Legal, Legislative and Educational Action
On Saturday, country singer Jason Aldean dropped the music video to his new single “Try That in a Small Town”, and almost as quickly perpetually offended anti-gun activists like Shannon Watts were expressing their outrage; not because of any slights to big cities on the part of Aldean, but because he dared to sing about the unpopularity of gun control in rural America when just a few years ago he was at least somewhat supportive of Watts’ agenda.
“Got a gun that my granddad gave me/they say one day they’re gonna round up/Well, that shit might fly in the city/Good luck.”
First off, if Watts isn’t interested in rounding up guns, then why be bothered by this at all? Supposedly she’s only interested in “reasonable” and “common sense” measures, not gun confiscation, so what’s the issue?
I think we all know the answer. Despite those claims of moderation, Watts and the other thought leaders of the gun control lobby aren’t interested in common sense or common ground with gun owners. They’re working to obliterate our right to keep and bear arms, and Aldean’s lyrics are a proverbial slap in the face, especially when just a few years ago Watts could count on him being at least somewhat amendable to her agenda.
Months after the October 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas, Aldean told the Associated Press that guns were “too easy to get.”
“It’s too easy to get guns, first and foremost,” he said. “When you can walk in somewhere and you can get one in five minutes, do a background check that takes five minutes, like, how in-depth is that background check?”
He added in the interview that he had avoided speaking about gun control in the past, calling it a “no-win situation.”
“I think no matter what you say, whether you’re for gun control or not, I mean, you’re setting yourself up to be crucified in the public eye or in the media,” he said.
In Watts’ world, Aldean’s new song would probably go something like this:
Got a gun that my granddad gave me
But I decided to give it away
Got myself a $50 gift card
At my small town gun buyback yesterday
Preacher Bob was standing in line
Along with my old ex Sally Mae
We all decided Shannon Watts was right
so we all gave our guns away
How well do you think that would go over with Aldean’s fan base?
I honestly have no idea where Aldean stands on gun control these days, but I’m positive he knows where most of his audience comes down on the issue, and they’re not standing with Shannon.
I live a few miles outside of one of those small towns that Aldean is singing about, and I can tell you that the attitude expressed in “Try That in a Small Town” is pretty much spot on, at least in my neck of the woods. We’re looking to be left alone, not spoiling for a fight, but if it ever comes down to it the gun owners where I live aren’t going to stand in line to turn in our banned firearms or to give up our fundamental rights.
As for Aldean himself, I hope that he won’t shy away any longer from talking about his views on the Second Amendment. While there’s something to be said about letting the music speak for itself, we’re also at a point in time where 2A supporters need to be loud and proud in defense of their rights; even country stars with their own private security detail.