A florist near Nashville refused to provide decorations for a GOP event featuring former President Donald Trump, and urged other businesses to deny future services to the Republican Party in a call for tougher laws on firearms.
The owners of the FLWR store in Belle Meade, Tennessee, said they “immediately declined” service for the upcoming Republican National Committee (RNC) fundraiser and encouraged “other industry players from events in Nashville to say no to taking money or jobs from the Republican Party until they start making the changes to gun laws that most Americans want.
In a lengthy response to the RNC, owners Alex Vaughan and Quinn Kiesow claimed that while they “respect” the opinions of their conservative clients, the speakers featured at the RNC event go “beyond our comfort level”. The GOP speakers list includes Trump, former Vice President Mike Pence, Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn. And Governor Brian Kemp of Georgia.
“At this time, I cannot ignore the work the RNC has done to create this tragedy and so many others like it,” the FLWR Shop said in reference to the March shooting at the Christian Covenant School.
CBS NEWS ALLEGEDLY BAN STAFF FROM USING ‘TRANSGENDER’ TERM TO REFER TO NASHVILLE SHOOTER
The Nashville FLWR boutique declined to service the RNC. (FLWR Instagram Shop)
The company posted its response to the RNC’s request on social media on Monday, saying the Republican Party is “making this problem worse, such as recent changes to gun laws here in Tennessee.”
“The Republican Party wasted taxpayer dollars and valuable legislative will by banning drag shows, rather than the assault rifles that are used to murder children in their classrooms,” the statement said.
NASHVILLE SCHOOL SHOOTER: CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS CALL ON AG GARLAND TO START HATE CRIME INVESTIGATION
“We will not accept any of your money,” the Tennessee business owners wrote. “The blood of the 3 beautiful babies we lost in Nashville is on that money.”
Christian businesses have faced backlash in the past for refusing services that would go against their religious beliefs, including refusing to bake cakes or create websites for same-sex marriages. However, the FLWR shop was praised on Twitter for its political statement.
Ronna McDaniel, Chairman of the Republican National Committee. (Kyle Grillot/Bloomberg)
“CHEER!!!” a prominent activist account wrote in response to the denial of service.
Despite claims that the GOP is refusing to take action to prevent mass shootings, Gov. Bill Lee, R-Tenn., signed an executive order Wednesday to ensure a more expansive and up-to-date background check process for the purchase of firearms in the State.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“I call on the TN Legislature to pursue a new ‘Protective Law Order’ to separate dangerous individuals from guns, while preserving constitutional rights,” Lee wrote in a Twitter post.
Memorials for the six victims who were killed in a mass shooting are placed outside The Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee, Tuesday, March 28, 2023. Three adults and three children were killed in the school interior. (KR/Mega)
Nashville’s Second Amendment debate was recently thrust into the national spotlight after a transgender gunman opened fire at a Christian school, killing six people, including three children.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Following this horrific incident, three Democratic state lawmakers led an anti-gun protest in the state capitol, resulting in the expulsion of two male lawmakers. Despite violating House rules, the expelled lawmakers were reinstated just days after their removal.