Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has faced criticism after he prayed for the victims of a recent school shooting, but refused to sign a bill that aimed to protect children from drag performances in schools.
"If thoughts and prayers worked to stop gun violence, there wouldn't have been a shooting at a Christian school," said one critic on social media.
The comments came after Gov. Lee led a prayer vigil following the deadly school shooting in Knoxville, Tennessee. The incident left one student dead and another injured.
However, critics were quick to point out that Gov. Lee had just vetoed legislation that would have prohibited transgender students from participating in sports competitions or using locker rooms consistent with their gender identity.
Furthermore, Gov. Lee also declined to sign another bill which sought to ban drag performances in public schools across the state.
Critics slammed the governor's actions as hypocritical and accused him of prioritizing his personal beliefs over protecting children from harm.
"Shame on you," wrote one Twitter user. "You can't pray for the victims of gun violence while actively working against protecting kids."
The controversy surrounding Gov. Lee's decision has sparked renewed debate about LGBTQ+ rights and discrimination against transgender individuals in Tennessee.
Meanwhile, calls are growing for stricter gun control laws in light of yet another tragic school shooting.