Georgia's Gun Laws Are Forcing Atlanta's Midtown Music Festival to Cancel This Year

[R Merm]

Source: Rolling Stone

On Monday, Live Nation announced that the festival — set to take place in September — was canceled, stating only, “[D]ue to circumstances beyond our control, Music Midtown will no longer be taking place this year. We are looking forward to reuniting in September and hope we can get back to enjoying the festival together again soon.”

Though Live Nation did not officially give a reason for the cancellation, sources who worked with the festival confirmed to Rolling Stone that Georgia’s gun laws were to blame. Since 2011, Music Midtown has taken place at Piedmont Park in Atlanta, and parks are among the various public spaces in Georgia where guns are allowed to be carried. The festival, as a temporary user of the park, does not have the standing to supersede that law and enforce its own ban. (The festival’s website stated that “Weapons or explosives of any kind” are prohibited.)

Read more: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/music-midtown-atlanta-canceled-georgia-gun-laws-1390754/ and https://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta-news/breaking-2022-music-midtown-festival-canceled/Z4WIDXAK6NHMRGUQLEIIORAZDU/

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Everything needs to be sacrificed for the sanctity of guns.

[Turbineguy]

1. This is good.

Once everybody is barricaded in their homes, held prisoner by the gunners, they will be unhappy.

How are you going to buy new guns without a job?

Of course, since there's no future, you could spend what you squirreled away for retirement.

[erronis]

27. And in desperation, you may need to take out your grievances on those hiding.

Don't forget, those guns need feeding too. Bullets are meant to be used.

[tblue37]

2. We have ceded public spaces to the potential mass shooters.

[sanatanadharma]

3. Wow! An hour after I wrote the following, an example of my premise

When the economics of society are severely disrupted by peoples' response to public guns, then things will change.
Imagine a giant super-market filled with shopping carts filled with food abandoned in the aisles.
Imagine empty church pews, deserted amusement parks, empty malls, unsold concert tickets, overfilled graveyards ...

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=16989146

[3Hotdogs]

9. --- empty church pews ---

Now, that's something I can get behind.

If Jesus runs out of money to spread his hate, maybe the 'Pastors" will take a day off from their buggering, porn watching, and pedophilia. They can use one Sunday a month to tell the rubes left in the seats that guns for everybody ain't the best idea. it's also gotta occur to a few of them that dead parishioners don't tithe.

[Traildogbob]

10. Love it

The Modern Jesus needs cash???? Hell, the original Jesus would have spread his message on Social Media if he had it, for free, as he did on foot. These billionaire preachers need to be shown, you don’t need cash for a Jesus podcast. At least not the amount that is paid nationwide annually for all types of Spreading the word. Most of the cost of infrastructure for mega churches are insane. The 30 or more churches in my tiny little county in WNC are occupying property that could generate tax revenue, that would actually help people. Not brainwash them.

[erronis]

29. Good points. Doubt the pretend jeezus-worshipers will be smart enough, however.

They'll prolly just switch jobs and become politicians, or used-weapons dealers.

[raccoon]

19. And that was a great post. Nt

[Marcuse]

38. Logic.

[bucolic_frolic]

4. Terrorizing the populace into cowered submission is not good for the economy

Cancelling events. I've had conversations with people fearing trips to the store. They just want to get the minimum and get out of there. None of it is good for business.

[calimary]

22. Maybe business needs to be kicked in the teeth to force the change we need.

If it’s money they worship, then that’s what they should be denied them.

[bronxiteforever]

5. The USA is one giant active shooter paradise

Parades, kindergartens, high schools, middle schools, open air concerts of rap or rock or country music, malls, supermarkets, sports venues, churches, synagogues etc.
Land of the free,home of the shot.

By the way, how quickly we all forget about the mass of victims who survive gunshots but now live their lives in disability and pain.

Mama said the pistol is the devil's right hand
The devil's right hand, the devil's right hand
Mama says the pistol is the devil's right hand
Steve Earle

[patphil]

21. All those kids that grew up playing 1st person shoot-em-up computer games want real guns.

And unfortunately, the computer games have become real for far too many people in this country.
And also unfortunately, too many government officials and Supreme Court Judges have no problem with first person shooters in our schools, churches, malls, and streets.
As long as the political and judicial situation doesn't change, the death toll will remain at current levels, or even go up as more lethal weapons are sold to anyone who wants one.

[Handler]

28. Well I grew up watching The Three Stooges and I can't remember when I poked someone in the

eyes with my fingers. I think your logic is flawed.

[DBoon]

35. I gre up watching Star Trek

I have yet to launch myself into space

[bronxiteforever]

30. Other countries with similar rates of video game play don't have similar rates of gun violence

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2022-06-17/the-argument-that-violent-video-games-spur-mass-shootings-is-losing-steam

Studies carried out over many years have repeatedly disproven any connection between playing violent video games and committing acts of violence.

[pandr32]

6. Ill bet this will happen more and more.

Covid closures made people crazy because they had lost their freedoms amid restrictions. What I hope to see is that when guns are the reason for not gathering people for events that reason be clearly stated. Guns are a huge liability. Incidents of gun violence have become common and now can be anticipated.

[purr-rat beauty]

7. Just a small price to pay for Freedom

Uh, wait a second!

[oldsoftie]

8. Guns have BEEN allowed in GA parks for years.

I don't really get this unless there's something else going on. I've been to events at Piedmont that had metal detectors before. I haven't been to Music midtown.

[Phoenix61]

11. It's explained in the article. nt

[oldsoftie]

14. Doesnt say that current law would stop them. Only that they don't know

They've had it every year & that guy hasn't been able to do anything about it. Sounds like a cop out to me. If thats the reason they should come out and SAY it. Plenty of other areas in ATL that would love the business. Like I said, I've been thru detectors for other events at that park. There's only one reason they'd have them.

[Phoenix61]

17. Yes it does.

“Evans first brought this challenge in 2014, not long after then-Governor Nathan Deal signed a new state law — that had become known as the “guns everywhere” bill — which expanded where guns were permitted throughout the state.
Despite that expansion, Evans ultimately lost his case against the Botanical Garden, with the Georgia Supreme Court ruling that the Garden’s ban was valid since it leased its property long-term from the City of Atlanta. But because that ruling didn’t speak on short-term tenants of public property — such as Music Midtown — Evans argued he would likely prevail in a similar case against the festival.”

[oldsoftie]

20. EVANS says he'd "likely" win. Doesnt mean he WOULD. Court didnt say.

Let him file. As I said before, I've been thru detectors at that park before, so he didnt stop those organizers.
Since '14 they've had the festival every year except for one covid year I think; maybe 2. he hasn't stopped previous shows. Screw that guy.

[Phoenix61]

24. The Georgia Supreme Court Case was decided Jan 2022.

https://casetext.com/case/georgiacarryorg-v-the-atlanta-botanical-garden-inc
The only reason the Botanical Garden can ban guns is because they have a 50 year lease ie “the lease is one for an estate for years.” which a weekend concert lease would not do.

[ZonkerHarris]

26. LIVE Nation isn't in the business of fighting lawsuits for principle. They just set up in

another venue and make their money.
GA loses out on all this revenue because they want guns more.

[oldsoftie]

36. Well there are plenty of non-state places in the ATL area. They should use one

The Jazz festival was held there already and I'm sure they didnt allow guns either.
Again, screw that guy. Let him file whatever he wants to file. the show is in Sep. Not enough time to go to court.

[Straw Man]

12. Could it be an insurance issue?

That's all I can think of.

I'm sure I'll get slammed for stating the obvious, but mass murderers aren't deterred by gun bans in public spaces. Random violence is another issue, but that's been here all along.

[oldsoftie]

16. Well, you ARE right, but I still think they could check people.

But it seems that they don't want to stand up to that idiot. Who has already lost a similar case.

[rockfordfile]

34. It's clear those fucking assholes support mass murdering terrorist. This happen because of repukes

[Warpy]

13. Good. Enough people realize they can't have good things because of the guns

and maybe we'll get those stupid laws off the books and get serious about getting the killing machines off the street.

I know some people on DU love their guns. Their love is costing the rest of us far too much.

[calimary]

23. THIS!

But a lot more than just a single festival has to shut down to reinforce the message.

“Because guns.”

[Initech]

31. Seriously. Guns are a plague.

They need to get the message that mass shootings are not OK and the idea of having weapons inside a festival is dangerous and reckless. This shit has to end at some point. I think it's time to start hitting them where it hurts - their wallets.

[Warpy]

33. I'm not anti gun, I'm anti semi auto gun

Pistols or rifles, they make mass killing too easy.

Semi auto guns do not belong in a civilian population. The price is just too high.

[Demobrat]

15. The promoter didn't come out and say guns were the reason.

Why not? If they canceled the event due to rain they would state the reason openly. If guns were the reason they should say so. The public deserves to know.

[oldsoftie]

18. I agree.

[LaMouffette]

25. I can see more pay-to-shop businesses, like Cost-Co, where you have to be a member to shop there.

I wonder if place like Cost-Co are still considered public spaces or since they require a membership, can they ban members from bringing guns inside?

[oldsoftie]

37. Costco has never been considered a public space. Its a private business.

And yes, they can put ups sign telling us what they will not allow
Just like Walmart Kroger or any other business.

[LaMouffette]

39. You're right! Thanks! I guess I was thinking retail stores where anyone can just walk in were public

but you're right: they're all private.

[judesedit]

32. That's a loss of revenue for all business owners - dems and thugs alike.

Maybe it'll be an incentive for all to vote for dems. Step by step

[oldsoftie]

40. LOL!