Earlier in August, Atlanta’s Music Midtown music festival was canceled due to Georgia’s gun laws, the Safe Carry Protection Act, which critics dubbed the “Guns Everywhere” law, which allows guns to be carried in bars, churches, schools. , private businesses (when the owners permit), and on publicly owned land like Piedmont Park, where Music Midtown is held. A Georgia-based gun rights activist named Phillip Evans initially opposed the festival’s gun ban, writing on his blog that he contacted Live Nation president Peter Conlon to say the ban was impossible to enforce. Evans also posted on Music Midtown’s Facebook page, encouraging ticket holders to file a lawsuit against Live Nation for their “stated intent to violate your rights.” Now, in a new interview with Billboard , Evans says he would challenge Live Nation’s general gun policy in Georgia amphitheaters.
Describing himself as a “hardcore music fan” who believes Live Nation “needs to follow a law,” Evans says he will continue to oppose Georgia’s gun ban and wouldn’t rule out showing up to events armed: “For a long time now, I’ve wanted to see It’s been a lot of pop and 70s acts that I have,” he says. “So at some point I plan to fight it because I really want to go to one of those concerts and uphold my right to self-defense.”
When asked if she understood bringing a gun to shows as a security threat, Evans said, “It might not be relatable to some people because some people are afraid of guns and they’re scared when they see someone with a gun,” he says. because it’s in them, because they’re afraid of a gun in their hands. They’re afraid, ‘Well, if I have a gun and I get angry while I’m driving, I might shoot someone.’ They’re projecting that irrational fear of harming others.”
Vulture notes that Evans’ challenge was successful against Music Midtown, which was due to take place in September, because their event has a short-term lease on a public space. An amphitheater poses more of a challenge, however, as these rooms have long-term leases; In 2019, Evans came after the Atlanta Botanical Garden in the same park, but the Georgia Supreme Court ruled that the Garden could enforce the gun ban for long-term rentals.
