The Districts have shared ‘Loving Protector Guy’ ahead of a tour in October and a support slot with The Raconteurs in Denver. With the release of this song, The Districts are asking that listeners join with them in supporting the cause of Everytown for Gun Safety: https://everytown.org.
Inspired by a remarkable true story, the song finds the band recalling the time when an older man with a sheriff hat on pulled up next to one of their cousin’s (a person of colour) cars and proceeded to shoot him in the face with a water gun. When their cousin told them about his horrific experience, he was laughing and the song touches on how maybe those in power are becoming desensitized to gun violence.
The song itself has a touch of Conor Oberst in Better Oblivion Community Center mode as lo-fi drums kick in and the band give the reaction anyone with a sense of compassion would: ‘WHAT THE FUCK?’ They then go on to discuss the ‘values’ of the American dream and the disappointment you face when you are an idealist.
The Districts said: ‘Every time there’s news of gun violence it’s deeply upsetting. Are our politicians too desensitized? Are they just too safe and removed from everyday life? Or are they loyal to special interest groups that give them money more so than to their constituents? When will they take action on what is proven to reduce gun deaths?
There’s something fundamentally American about the breed of violence in our country, clinging to misguided values over love, reasoning, and understanding. Money and guns are currencies by which many Americans perceive our freedom and offer the most direct access to power in our nation. Guns are responsible for billions of dollars in revenue and are marketed as idols of freedom. Amazon has you hooked on delivery like big tobacco got us with smokes – there’s a lot of money in making you feel free.
Don’t get me wrong, freedom is a magnificent ideal. However, I do not believe in the freedom to back up racism, misogyny, xenophobia, religious intolerance and homophobia with violence, and we must take stock of what we value and what kind of freedom we envision for our future.
The time has come for action, not thoughts and prayers. We want a nation where people are safe. Safe to go to school, go shopping, attend concerts, worship, receive medical care, or simply be in public. All of these things should happen without fear for one’s life because someone else feels alienated or wants to make a statement about their set of beliefs of what they believe to be true.
In their words, “Everytown for Gun Safety is the largest gun violence prevention organization in the country, with five million supporters, who are fighting for common-sense gun laws and a culture of safety. We support the Second Amendment–we are not anti-gun, we are anti-gun violence and pro-gun sense.’
The Districts play the following tour dates:
Oct. 09 – Denver, CO – Mission Ballroom w/ The Raconteurs
