Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams slammed her Republican opponent, incumbent Governor Brian Kemp, in a statement in which she blamed her opponent for the cancellation of an annual music festival in Atlanta reportedly due to Georgia's permissible gun laws.
Earlier this year during his primary battle with Trump-backed David Perdue, Kemp had successfully pushed for legislation removing restrictions on carrying concealed weapons.
But the cancellation of Atlanta's Midtown Music Festival that was supposed to be held in Atlanta's Piedmont Park on September 17-18 was reportedly due to an earlier law allowing firearms in public places.
\u201cStacey Abrams hammers Kemp following reports cancellation of Atlanta music festival linked to Georgia gun laws https://t.co/8VQu15ll5j\u201d— Fox News (@Fox News) 1659482701
Event organizers wanted to avoid potential lawsuits for trying to ban firearms on festival grounds.
\u201cGreat job @BrianKempGA for getting Music Midtown canceled. How many millions of dollars is Atlanta going to lose because of your BS gun law? Georgia,time to boot Kemp. Vote @staceyabrams for Governor. \n#OneGeorgia\n#MusicMidtown\n#Canceled \nhttps://t.co/uXeaLOTSIa\u201d— Enact the Fairness Doctrine\ud83c\udf3b\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 \ud83d\udc99\ud83d\udc99\ud83c\udf0a\ud83c\udf0a (@Enact the Fairness Doctrine\ud83c\udf3b\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 \ud83d\udc99\ud83d\udc99\ud83c\udf0a\ud83c\udf0a) 1659373265
Known as the "guns everywhere" law, then-Republican Governor Nathan Deal signed the state's "Safe Carry Protection Act" in 2014.
It allowed licensed gun owners in the state to carry firearms in public, like bars, churches, and schools, that were previously off limits.
\u201c@staceyabrams You should talk more about how you want to roll back the crazy 2014 law that just killed the Midtown Music Festival. A lot of Georgians are really, really mad.\u201d— Stacey Abrams (@Stacey Abrams) 1659374745
\u201cThanks to LAX GOP GUN LAWS, it is now ILLEGAL to ban guns from public events in Georgia! INSANE! NOBODY IS SAFE ANYWHERE ANY MORE!\n\nStacey Abrams hammers Kemp following reports cancellation of Atlanta music festival linked to Georgia gun laws https://t.co/tEU66kKfMi #SmartNews\u201d— Jerry Breen (@Jerry Breen) 1659485084
According to an exclusive statement provided to Fox News Digital, Abrams blasted Kemp for prioritizing Georgia's permissible gun laws and “endangering" the state economy.
She alleged the festival cancellation will cost the state $50 million over the loss of jobs and small businesses that rely on the annual music festival attended by tens of thousands of people.
\u201c@audio_bob688 @mmpadellan The lost revenue is real. We were flying family in from around the country, booked lodging, whole weekend. Prepared to spend $. Now having to cancel everything. Rs in GA used to care about revenue. No more.\u201d— BrooklynDad_Defiant!\u262e\ufe0f (@BrooklynDad_Defiant!\u262e\ufe0f) 1659376282
"Brian Kemp is putting a dangerous agenda on guns ahead of Georgia's economy and growing jobs," said Abrams in the statement.
"Once again, Georgians' best interests are taking a backseat to Kemp's political ambitions—and our state is forced to pay the price at a rate of $50 million lost from our economy."
The voting rights activist—who is trying to unseat Kemp in November—continued:
"Georgians deserve leadership that will work hard to fight rising crime rates and implement common sense gun safety proposals while protecting our state's economic growth."
"Kemp may only think about the needs of his right-wing base, but as governor, I will work hard to protect the lives and livelihoods of all Georgians."
\u201c@mmpadellan Vote for Stacey Abrams!\u201d— BrooklynDad_Defiant!\u262e\ufe0f (@BrooklynDad_Defiant!\u262e\ufe0f) 1659376282
\u201cI\u2019d love to visit Georgia, I really would. And this music festival could have been really cool, but Georgia gun laws are terrifying. Really hope Stacey Abrams can become governor and make the state the better place it deserves. \nhttps://t.co/pvH7nzG0nY\u201d— Allie | fuck the patriarchy \ud83e\udd0c\ud83d\ude18 (@Allie | fuck the patriarchy \ud83e\udd0c\ud83d\ude18) 1659447667
\u201cHere's a great reason to vote for @staceyabrams & turn Georgia blue again & again. Let's get Kemp out of office & get some real gun reform in this state! It's Kemp's laws that have given violent criminals & others the ability to get guns & cancel this! https://t.co/92NPgS5bN9\u201d— Michele of the Brown Ajah (@Michele of the Brown Ajah) 1659386637
\u201cImagine cancelling a revenue generating music festival for this. Who in their right mind wants anyone to bring even one gun where 50,000 people are gathered? Get it together, GA and vote for @staceyabrams!\u201d— Rage Monkey (@Rage Monkey) 1659373642
Live Nation Entertainment Inc.—the organizer of Midtown Music Festival—announced on Facebook the event was canceled “due to circumstances beyond our control."
An insider believed the reason for the cancellation was because Georgia's gun laws would not allow organizers to ban firearms on the premises.
\u201cAlcohol\ud83c\udf7b\ud83e\udd43\ud83c\udf77 & permit-less gun carry, NOT a good mix.\nIt\u2019s just shit waiting to jump off.\nI\u2019ve attended the festival, but I\u2019d not go w alcohol & permit-less \ud83d\udd2bcarry. Atlanta's Music Midtown Fest Canceled do to Georgia Gun Laws. Vote \u2066@staceyabrams\u2069 https://t.co/XPrG8IkpAN\u201d— Huston McKinney, CPA (@Huston McKinney, CPA) 1659442739
Democratic House Minority Leader James Beverly said in a statement the festival was canceled “because artists don’t feel safe to perform in a state with senseless gun laws.”
Headliners at the event would have included My Chemical Romance, Future, Jack White and Fallout Boy.
