Husband of Atlanta spa shooting victim criticizes Gov. Kemp in ad

by Akemi Tamanaha, AsAmNews Associate Editor

The husband of one of the Asian women killed in the Atlanta spa shootings on March 16, 2021, is speaking out against Governor Brian Kemp in a new campaign ad.

One Georgia, a leadership committee supporting Stacey Abrams’ campaign for governor in Georgia has released an ad on Monday criticizing current Governor Kemp’s response to gun violence. It officially debuted at an event about gun violence in Georgia that was attended by Abrams.

The ad condemns Kemp for signing legislation in April 2022 that made it legal for Georgia gun owners to carry a concealed handgun in public without a permit. It features Michael Webb, the husband of Xioajie “Emily” Tan one of the eight people killed in the Atlanta spa shootings on March 16, 2021.

“After this horrible tragedy… Stacey Abrams showed up,” Webb says in the ad. “And what did Brian Kemp do? While we mourned, he signed a law that made it easier for people like her killer to carry a loaded gun in public.”

Governor Kemp’s campaign has accused Abrams of using a tragedy to help her campaign.

“Stacey Abrams is shamefully using a tragedy to further her campaign of lies and fear mongering,” Tate Mitchell, Deputy Press Secretary for the Kemp for Governor campaign said in an emailed statement to AsAmNews. “Governor Kemp has led the way to crack down on violent crime in the city of Atlanta and across the state, and he will remain focused on keeping Georgia families safe.”

Webb’s decision to speak out against Kemp is not about party loyalty.

“Now, I’m no Democrat,” Webb says in the ad. “I’m a gunowner and a hunter… But I cannot remain silent. Brian Kemp put his loyalty to his gun lobby donors ahead of keeping Georgia safe. For that, he needs to go.”