Killer Mike Defends Gun Ownership in Interview With NRA
While many people all across the U.S. are pushing for stricter gun laws in the wake of recent highly publicized mass shootings, Killer Mike is on the opposite end of the spectrum. A staunch gun owner, the Run The Jewels rapper sat down with National Rifle Association TV on Thursday (March 22) and defended his right to bear arms.
Gun laws have been a hot topic in recent weeks, with the shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. serving as the tipping point, leading to demonstrations like National Walk Out Day and the March for Our Lives rallies. The Atlanta MC thinks there's a reason behind the overreaction.
"There was something that the woman who is the NRA spokesperson [Dana Loesch] said and everybody just kinda lost it," Mike recalled. "Dana says that the tears of white mothers are like ratings. And that's so true and it was so sad to hear her acknowledge it, but it's true, and black people know it's true."
The rapper went on to reveal he was firmly against the school Walk Out movement. "I told my kids on the school walkout: ‘I love you. If you walk out that school, walk out my house,'" he said. "We are a gun-owning family. We are a family where my sister farms. We are a family where we'll fish, we'll hunt. But we are not a family that jumps on every single thing an ally of ours does because some stuff we just don't agree with."
Mike used an anecdote to further explain his feelings on the matter, retelling a time he talked with a radio station about his stance. "Very simply: I'm African-American. You know, 54 years out of apartheid. I'm very pro-Second Amendment, this is why," Mike said. "And before you say 'What about the children,' my daughter goes to Savannah State University. There was also a shooting on that campus. Talked to my wife and daughter after that, the decision was we're gonna go to Savannah, she's gonna get a gun and train more."
On Saturday (March 24), people across the globe took to the streets for the March for Our Lives rally. Common and Vic Mensa even performed at the main event in Washington D.C.
Listen to Killer Mike's stance on gun ownership below.
See 22 Hip-Hop-Related Police Raids