Parkland Kids 'Props' To Push 'Anti-Gun Agenda': TN Gov. Hopeful

FRANKLIN, TN -- Franklin businessman and Tennessee Republican gubernatorial hopeful Bill Lee said survivors of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting are being used as "props" by "the liberal media, the teacher’s unions and the far left lobby" to push an "anti-gun agenda."

Lee's statement comes in the wake of the latest candidates' forum Tuesday at Lipscomb University. Venerable WKRN anchor Bob Mueller asked each candidate for a single-word answer on whether protests against gun violence - of which students of the Parkland, Fla. high school have become the public face - have had a positive or negative impact on the debate about gun control.

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Former Nashville mayor Karl Dean and State Rep. Craig Fitzhugh, both Democrats, said "positive" and were joined in that sentiment by two Republicans: State House Speaker Beth Harwell and Knoxville businessman and former state economic development director Randy Boyd. Only Lee said the protests had a negative impact. U.S. Rep. Diane Black, also a Republican, did not attend the forum.

Lee attempted to expound on his answer, saying "I think they’ve had a negative impact because I think what they have done is raised a conversation around removing the rights ...," before Mueller cut him off, reminding him to limit it to one word.

After the forum, Lee issued a statement explaining his answer.

"This is common sense: law-abiding citizens should not be punished for the actions of criminals," he wrote. "These kids have been through a horrible tragedy. But I’ve been sickened by how the liberal media, the teacher’s unions and the far left lobby have used these kids as props to push their anti-gun agenda."

The latest Vanderbilt Poll, released Thursday, shows a overwhelming majority of Tennessee's Republicans agree with Lee. The poll found that 74 percent of self-identified Republicans said the protests have had a negative impact on the gun control debate. Overall, half of Tennesseans said the protests have had a positive impact with 47 percent saying negative.

After 14 students and three teachers were killed at the Parkland high school Feb. 14, a handful of students have emerged as the public face of movement against gun violence, spearheading the March For Our Lives event and student walkouts nationwide.

Photo via Bill Lee for Governor, used with permission