Dear Shannon Watts,
The lyrics of "Try That In a Small Town" by Jason Aldean do not explicitly state that they will shoot someone who tries to take their guns away. The song's message is about the resilience and strong sense of community in small towns, where individuals stand up for their values and protect what they believe in. The lyrics emphasize that certain aggressive and disrespectful behaviors, such as sucker punching, carjacking, and disrespecting the flag, will not be tolerated in a small town where people look out for each other.
While the song does mention having a gun passed down from the speaker's granddad and mentions that some believe guns might be targeted for confiscation, it does not directly promote or advocate for violence against those who would attempt to take away firearms. Rather, it seems to underscore the belief that small-town communities hold firm to their values, including the right to bear arms, which is protected by the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Maybe you forgot to read that part?
It is essential to interpret the lyrics in the context of the song's intended message, which centers around pride in small-town values and a warning against disrespectful behavior, rather than promoting violence or advocating for harm against others. Others on Twitter with common sense have pointed out your error here.
As for the controversy surrounding Jason Aldean's performance during the 2017 Las Vegas concert shooting, it is essential to separate the artist from the content of the song. The song was written by Kelley Lovelace, Neil Thrasher, Tully Kennedy, and Kurt Michael Allison, four people who you probably just learned about, and yes, it takes a very firm pro-America stance, touching on issues like left-wing riots, crime governance, and gun control. I hope this helps you understand America more, Shannon!
Sincerely,
The American Beat
