A Tennessee congressman who reps the district where six people were killed in a school shooting Monday is under fire over a family Christmas photo showing him and kin proudly holding assault rifles.
Republican Rep. Andy Ogles, his wife and two of their three kids posed with the weapons as they stood in front of a decorated Christmas tree and smiled for the camera in 2021.
The wife and daughter held assault rifles, a particularly deadly weapon that Monday’s killer, Audrey Hale, toted during her Nashville rampage.
After this week’s shooting, the pol said he and his family were “devastated by the tragedy,” but when asked by NBC if he regretted sharing the Christmas photo, Ogles replied: “Why would I regret a photograph with my family exercising my rights to bear arms?”
The family’s holiday image had featured the caption: “The very atmosphere of firearms anywhere and everywhere restrains evil interference — they deserve a place of honor with all that’s good.”
Ogles represents Tennessee’s 5th District, which includes Nashville.
Three 9-year-old students and three employees were killed Monday when Hale opened fire inside the Covenant School, a private Christian school.
Hale carried out her 14-minute shooting spree around 10:15 a.m. before being killed by responding police officers.
Ogles added in his statement in the wake of the shooting, “We are sending our thoughts and prayers to the families of those lost.
“As a father of three, I am utterly heartbroken by this senseless act of violence.”
But his statement was met with criticism from some.
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“This you?” an apparently incredulous Twitter user wrote alongside the Christmas photo.
Another responded to Ogles’ statement with the same photo, writing: “We see you.”
Ogles’ office could not immediately be reached for comment by The Post on Monday.
Police said Hale carried out the attack using two assault rifles and a handgun. Hale — who was transgender and identified with he/him pronouns, although cops refer to the killer as a woman — had written a manifesto.
The shooter conducted extensive research before the attack, authorities have said.
Police who searched Hale’s car, which was left near the scene, and home discovered evidence of premeditation, including detailed maps.
Hale blasted her way into the school to get in through a locked side entrance, police said. The school had established shooting protocols.
Slain were 9-year-olds Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs and William Kinney, along with school janitor Mike Hill and substitute teacher Cynthia Peak, both 61, and 60-year-old headmistress Katherine Koonce.
One of the children, Hallie, was the daughter of Covenant Church pastor Chad Scruggs.
Koonce, an educator for over 23 years, joined the school as the headmistress in 2016. Koonce’s daughter, Anna, also worked at the school as a faculty and student assistant.
The Covenant School released a statement Tuesday that said: “Our community is heartbroken. We are grieving tremendous loss and are in shock coming out of the terror that shattered our school and church.”
Authorities have since released several videos related to the attack, including police body-camera footage and a clip showing Hale navigating through the school to unleash her carnage.
Guns have been a central issue in Tennessee politics, as Republicans such as Ogles push for more rights to bear arms. Issues related to LGBTQ+ rights and abortion are also at the forefront of the state’s politics.
Rep. Tim Burchett, another Tennessee Republican, told the Recount after Monday’s shooting, “Three precious little kids lost their lives and I believe three adults … and the shooter, of course.”
He called it a “horrible, horrible situation,” but added, “We’re not gonna fix it.
“Criminals are going to be criminals,” he said. “And my daddy fought in the Second World War, fought in the Pacific, fought the Japanese, and he told me, he said, ‘Buddy … if somebody want to take you out and doesn’t mind losing their life, there’s not a whole heck of a lot you can do about it.’”
Hale’s former classmate Averianna Patton recently shared chilling messages she exchanged with the killer minutes before the bloodbath.
Patton told NewsChannel5 that Hale messaged her at 9:57 a.m., writing, “So basically that post I made on here about you, that was basically a suicide note. I’m planning to die today.
“THIS IS NOT A JOKE!!! …You’ll probably hear about me on the news after I die,” Hale added.
“This is my last goodbye. I love you … See you again in another life.”
She signed the missive “Audrey (Aiden).”
Additional reporting by Haley Brown
