After Flags Burned At Concert, IL Gun Org Defends Singer Jason Aldean

TINLEY PARK, IL — A well-established and long-standing rifle association in Illinois spoke out Thursday, days after American flags were burned during a protest at country singer Jason Aldean's concert in Tinley Park.

A group of 20 protesters gathered outside the concert Saturday at Credit Union 1 Amphitheater in Tinley Park, shouting to the crowd over a microphone and setting an American flag ablaze in a display of contempt toward the singer. The group from Revolution Club Chicago showed up to protest the show, namely over Aldean's song, "Try That In A Small Town." The song's controversial nature has listeners divided, with some describing its lyrics as pro-gun, pro-lynching and racist messaging.

Describing itself as "legendary," and "one of the oldest and most respected gun organizations" in the country, the Illinois State Rifle Association on Thursday released a statement supporting Aldean and the song, saying it "generated a lot of buzz, and even more controversy, but the lyrics represent what we’ve been fighting for as an organization for the last 120 years."

The group also issued Aldean a complimentary lifetime membership, complete with a membership card in his name.

Aldean, 46, stirred backlash with his song, in large part due to its accompanying music video, in which Aldean performs at Maury County Courthouse in Columbia, Tennessee. The courthouse is the site of the 1946 Columbia race riot and the 1927 mob lynching of an 18-year-old Black teenager named Henry Choate, the Associated Press reports. Mixed with performance footage of Aldean are news clips of violent riots and flag burning. CMT removed the video from the air just days after its July debut.

"Cuss out a cop, spit in his face / Stomp on the flag and light it up / Yeah, ya think you're tough," Aldean's lyrics read. "Got a gun that my granddad gave me / They say one day they're gonna round up / Well, that shit might fly in the city, good luck / Try that in a small town."

In a release provided to Patch, the association praised the song's message that aligns with the group's plight to preserve "the lawful right to protect yourself, your family and your community from danger," the association wrote.

"It’s not about promoting violence—it’s about preventing violence and allowing law-abiding citizens to defend themselves and others from those who wish to do harm."

One protester in video from the concert is seen setting the flag on fire. Another protester dangled an additional flag over the flames, letting it catch fire as police surrounded the group and announced the protest was considered an unlawful assembly. Police can be heard threatening intervention with physical or chemical means if the protest continued.

Aldean, who has been a staunch Conservative and outspoken supporter of former President Donald Trump, refuted claims then that he was trying to stoke outrage, calling those allegations "not only meritless but dangerous," the Associated Press wrote.

No arrests were made following the protest.

"Since 1903, the Illinois State Rifle Association – one of the oldest and most respected gun organizations in the United States, has fought to protect the right to bear arms for all law-abiding citizens, not just in Illinois, but across the country," the association wrote. "And as we celebrate our 120th anniversary this year, we remain dedicated to our mission of gun rights advocacy; teaching men, women and young adults through our ISRA Training Academy on proper firearm safety and training; and lobbying elected officials in Springfield and Washington, DC."

Aldean has not made a statement on the incident in Tinley Park.