Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) defended a gun-filled Christmas family photo that resurfaced on Monday following a school shooting in his district.
“Why would I regret a photograph with my family exercising my rights to bear arms?,”Ogles said to reporters when asked if he regrets the photo, according to CBS News.
The congressman also blamed the shooting on mental health.
“Ultimately, what I think this case does is highlight some of the mental health issues, the mental health crisis we have in this country,” he said, according to NBC News. “That needs to be the real conversation that we’re having right now. How did this individual slip through the cracks? What could have been done to get them help?”
Ogles represents Tennessee’s 5th district, which includes The Covenant School where a 28-year-old woman, armed with two assault style rifles and a handgun, killed six people, including three children, before she was killed by police.
Ogles released a statement after the shooting offering thoughts and prayers.
