A Republican candidate running for Kansas Rep. Lynn Jenkins’ House seat plans to carry out his giveaway of an AR-15 rifle, even in the wake of a Wednesday’s school shooting in Florida by a gunman who used the same kind of weapon.
Tyler Tannahill, who is looking to take Jenkins’ 2nd Congressional District seat, posted on Facebook and Twitter a link for people to enter into an AR-15 giveaway on Feb. 13, the day before the shooting.
The Facebook post has since been deleted, but the Twitter post still remains. The contest is still active on Tannahill’s campaign page.
“An an avid sportsman, I’m excited to announce our first AR-15 Giveaway!” Tannahill wrote on Twitter. “You can earn multiple entries and no purchase is necessary to win! Enter today.”
As an avid sportsman, I’m excited to announce our first AR-15 Giveaway! You can earn multiple entries and no purchase is necessary to win! Enter today: https://t.co/YH6iCluNTz #KS02 #ksleg #2a #GunGiveaway pic.twitter.com/qpYTpPuk4Y
— Tyler Tannahill (@TannahillTweets) February 13, 2018
The giveaway was planned last month to coincide with the Kansas Republican Convention this weekend in Wichita, Kan.
“Me and my team talked about what to do after the shooting,” Tannahill told the Washington Examiner. ”I believe there does need to be a dialogue on how to address the issue on safety at schools and the mental health issue we do face in this country.”
Wednesday night, Tannahill posted on social media that he and his wife were “heartbroken to learn of the tragedy today at a Florida school.” He also said there were things that could be done to help and provided a solution that did not involved gun control.
“I am a firm believer in the Second Amendment,” Tannahill said about why he chose to continue the contest following Wednesday’s events in Florida. “Teachers should be able to open carry if they do choose and be trained to take care of children should they be injured in the classroom as they wait from EMTs to arrive.”
In his post, Tannahill included a link to a nonprofit program called Buckeye Firearms Foundation FASTER, which provides school teachers and staff with “practical violence response training” in the event of an armed threat to students.
“One side always attacks the other side on thoughts and prayers and not having a solution,” Tannahill said, referring to the criticism of those who send prayers to victims and their families, but remain inactive on gun control regulations. “I am trying to find a solution and mine is the FASTER program that I believe would save lives.”
Tannahill said he decided to run for Congress because he wanted to tackle and solve the tough issues.
“I am a pro-life candidate. I am a pro-gun candidate. But we can continue the dialogue. How do we keep the Second Amendment and keep our country safe?” Tannahill posed.
