Tim Mcgraw has become emblematic of country music superstardom across his more than three decades in the industry. The star of song and the film screen under his famous black hat can do wonders with a song, even turning it into a movement, as he did with “Humble and Kind” by Lori McKenna.
Another movement inspiring the Louisiana-born star is the surge in stopping gun violence sparked by Parkland, FL teens.
Tim McGraw routinely asserts that his role as husband and father supersedes any flashy hardware on his mantelpiece or walls. The devotion between Tim McGraw and Faith Hill was displayed for all to see from countless stages across the country in their third incarnation of their Soul2Soul Tour.
The couple still has some 2018 dates on the road to extend that tour, and they are nominated for an ACM award as best duo this year, following the success of their duets album, “The Rest of Our Life.”
Fatherhood, family, and faith are resonating themes on any Tim McGraw record. As an artist and parent, he makes it clear that what a man leaves in this short life matters, and no one knows just how brief the stay on the planet will be. Tim McGraw felt the pain of grieving fathers following the Parkland, Florida Stoneman Douglas High School shooting and discovered a very personal connection he never expected. It's not surprising that the tragedy moved the superstar to speak out on Twitter to applaud corporate changes to gun sales.
It may take several tries, but the youth of Parkland, Florida have support from across the globe now, and not one breath or thought of giving up until changes become validated by law. In the meantime. It doesn't hurt that Tim McGraw and some other strong singing company are taking up the cause.
‘Not about the Second Amendment’
Even from executive levels of government, thus far, the only recognizable movement toward making substantial or meaningful change regarding gun sales has been from mouths talking. The tearful, totally sincere emotion of teens and parents who have been put directly in the sights of shooters with assault weapons moved the president to a very proactive, even radical stance, but the action to make those kinds of weapons less available is again stalled, less than a month after the massacre.
This morning's headlines bear the hopeful news that the Florida Senate has passed a bill named after Marjory Stoneman Douglas, requiring that the age to purchase a firearm be raised from 18 to 21. A clause calling for teachers to be armed was removed, and the measure still has to be passed by the state House of Representatives and the governor.
Tim McGraw specifically gave cyber shout-outs to Dick's Sporting Goods, Walmart, Kroger, and LLBean for making their own corporate restrictions on gun sales, and making it policy to raise age requirements to 21. REI, which sells a vast range of outdoor equipment and apparel, took things a step further, not accepting sales through Vista Outdoor due to that merchandiser’s ties to manufacturers of firearms.
Both Tim McGraw and Faith Hill have been ambassadors of sorts since few major stars in country music are taking strong stands on gun control. Nonetheless, they are not alone. The Brothers Osborne, Cam, and Kacey Musgraves are openly adamant in pleas for talk to turn to permanent changes in laws. McGraw dismays that “They want to make it about the Second Amendment every time it's brought up. It's not about the Second Amendment,” the father insisted. He reiterated that “common sense” has to come into any provisions allowing the purchase of a gun, for the safety of children, and for our whole society, as Faith Hill elaborated.
“We all want a safe country,” Hill declared, and she laid responsibility on everyone, citizens, the government, and the NRA, in ensuring safety.
Faith is looking forward to going into her 50s and glowingly gushed that her wrinkles were a statement that “I've laughed a lot,” and that every mother dreams that her child has the same joys to look to in his or her future. A critical step to reaching that future is ensuring that “military weapons” are never “in the hands of civilians,” according to Hill.
Thank you @DICKS for taking a stand to promote a meaningful discussion for the safety of our kids! @Walmart, @kroger, and @LLBean too. https://t.co/HHPnAq6MYD
— Tim McGraw (@TheTimMcGraw) March 3, 2018
Listen, learn, and change
In an earlier Instagram post, Tim McGraw paid tribute to Stoneman Douglas teacher, Scott Beigel, who was a close friend of a longtime associate of McGraw's.
The 6 degrees of separation came clear when McGraw learned that the two had been camp counselors together, and that kindred connection to teach and help youth was amplified in its highest form as Beigel laid his body on top of students to shield them from bullets. The singing father of three daughters named Beigel “a true hero,” and simultaneously praised the youth for “lifting their voices -- challenging us to listen, learn, and make real changes.”
March 24 will be evidence of more “living proof” proclaiming that gun violence must stop, as youth across the country join in the March for Our Lives. Never is a hard word to say, and it seems much harder to put into law, but with a push from those with an audience like Tim McGraw, #NeverAgain will be realized.
