Tim McGraw Concert Scheduled for Friday in Hartford

The Tim McGraw concert to benefit Sandy Hook Promise is only two days away.

The CT Post is reporting that some of the backlash the country singer received when he first announced the show has subsided.

In April, opener Billy Currington dropped out of show amid the backlash.

The CT Post reports that although second amendment supporters in Connecticut are not happy with McGraw’s decision to align himself with an organization they believe is trying to erode their rights, there are no plans to protest the big charity event Friday night in Hartford.

To sign up for Newtown breaking news alerts and more, click here.

McGraw released a statement to the Washington Post that said he simply wanted to do something good for a community that is still recovering from gun violence.

“Let me be clear regarding the concert for Sandy Hook given much of the erroneous reporting thus far. As a gun owner, I support gun ownership,” McGraw said. “I also believe that with gun ownership comes the responsibility of education and safety – most certainly when it relates to what we value most, our children. I can’t imagine anyone who disagrees with that.”

Related

• Tim McGraw to Headline Sandy Hook Promise Concert
• Backlash Continues: Opener Drops Out of Tim McGraw Sandy Hook Promise Concert

McGraw has said that 100 percent of the net proceeds will go to benefit the Sandy Hook Promise with a mission of protecting children from gun violence.

“Out of this tragedy a group was formed that made a promise to honor the lives lost and turn it into a moment of transformation,” McGraw said. “Sandy Hook Promise teaches that we can do something to protect our children from gun violence. I want to be a part of that promise – as a father and as a friend.”

The concert is close to his heart. Touring band fiddle player Dean Brown is a longtime friend of Mark Barden, a musician and father of a child that was killed in the 2012 shooting.

The Sandy Hook Promise non-profit was created after the shooting and is led by family members of the shooting victims and community members.

It lists its mission as:

• Protect children from gun violence so no other parent experiences the loss of their child by engaging and empowering parents and communities with targeted prevention programs in the areas of mental wellness early-identification & intervention, social & emotional development and firearm safety & security.
• Help our community through this tragedy by providing resources and programs that foster connection, resiliency and overall wellness.

The organization gives tips on how to spot the signs and symptoms of a mental illness and if that person could be a danger to themselves and others. It points to a U.S. Secret Service and U.S. Department of education analysis that seven out of 10 acts of gun violence are preceded by at least one other person being told an act of violence would be committed.

Sandy Hook Promise also advocates for responsible gun ownership, including locking-up guns, according to its website.

The organization also encourages children, teens, and young adults to reach out to others and be socially inclusive.