Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) said it was “ridiculous” to blame guns for the school shooting that left three children and three adults dead in Nashville earlier this week.
Ogles, whose congressional district includes the location of the school, made the comments to Fox News’ Laura Ingraham on Friday after saying that “the government is up in arms” against the political right.
“This is clearly a very troubled person,” said the shooting suspect, who police identified as Audrey Hale. Hale was shot dead by officers responding to the attack, bringing the death toll to seven.
“The idea that guns are the problem here is absurd. This man has a mental illness and [was] killer,” Ogles said.
He also said hundreds of protesters “rushed and stormed” the Tennessee State Capitol during a protest against gun violence Thursday.
“If you use J6 as a model, everyone should go to jail,” Ogles said on Fox News, referring to the January 6, 2021 riots at the US Capitol in Washington.