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Andy Ogles: GOP rep slammed for flaunting guns in 'despicable' Christmas card amid Nashville rampage

Republican Rep Andy Ogles, his wife and two of their three kids posed with the weapons as they stood in front of a decorated Christmas tree

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NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE: A Tennessee congressman is facing huge backlash after his family Christmas photo surfaced where he was seen proudly holding assault rifles along with his family members. This comes after the district witnessed a horrific school shooting on Monday, March 27, in which six people lost their lives. 

Republican Andy Ogles, his wife and two of their three kids posed with the weapons while standing in front a decorated Christmas tree and smiled for the camera in 2021. The wife and the daughter held the deadly weapons which ditto to the one held by Monday’s killer, Audrey Hale, which she used during the Nashville shooting spree. 

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Andy Ogles has no regrets

The politician said he and his family were “devastated by the tragedy" after they heard about the carnage but he came with a shocking reply when asked by NBC if he regretted sharing the Christmas photo. “Why would I regret a photograph with my family exercising my rights to bear arms?” Ogles replied. 

The family’s holiday image had featured the caption, "The very atmosphere of firearms anywhere and everywhere restrains evil interference — they deserve a place of honor with all that’s good,” reports New York Post. Ogles represents Tennessee’s 5th District, which includes Nashville. 

Nashville school shooting

Three 9-year-old students and three employees were tragically killed after a deranged shooter named Audrey Hale opened fire inside the Covenant School, a private Christian school. This is just one of the several mass shootings that the country has seen over the last few years. Public outrage is all-time high and has expressed their concerns regarding the controversial firearm laws that prevail in different states of the country. 

Hale carried out her 14-minute shooting spree around 10.15 am before the responding police officers killed her. In the wake of the shooting, Ogles added in a statement, "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.”

Who is Audrey Hale?

Hale, who was a transgender and identified with he/him pronouns, carried out the attack using two assault rifles and a handgun. The authorites claim that that the killer was a woman and had written a manifesto. Even before carrying out the hineous act, Hale conducted extensive research, authorities have said. Police search the killer's car left near the scene and home and came across evidence of premeditation, including detailed maps.

Hale stormed his way into the school to get in through a locked side entrance, police said. The school had established shooting protocols. The slain children were identified as 9-year-olds Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs and William Kinney, along with school janitor Mike Hill and substitute teacher Cynthia Peak, both 61, and 60-year-old headmistress Katherine Koonce.

One of the children, Hallie, was the daughter of Covenant Church pastor Chad Scruggs.

The Convenant  School issues a statement

On Tuesday, the Covenant School released a statement which stated, "Our community is heartbroken. We are grieving tremendous loss and are in shock coming out of the terror that shattered our school and church.”

Who is Andy Ogles?

Andy Ogles, whose full name is William Andrew Ogles IV is an American politician and businessman who has served as the US representative for Tennessee's 5th congressional district since 2023. A member of the Republican Party, he served as the mayor of Maury County, Tennessee, from 2018 to 2022. 

'The real groomers….'

Andy Ogle's controversial Christmas photo with his family members sparked huge debate among the Twitter users. One user called out the politician's family "The real groomers…." while another tweeted, "The trans shooter that shot those kids was more likely to be a fan of Joe Biden than a fan of his." 

One Twitter user said, "Despicable. Hey Green Hills, you vote for these people bc you think you are safe. You are not." Another mocked Ogles by tweeting, "But remember his heart and prays are with Nashville, TN." One defended the family photograph by tweeting, "Judging by the way they’re holding the guns, they’ve all taken a safety course, or just taught how to handle them properly. Many children get taught at a young age how to hunt, or are taken target shooting."

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