Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
Whatever message he hoped to deliver, spray-painting it across the names of 9/11 victims accomplished something else entirely: It united a whole lot of Americans in disgust.
Police arrested 31-year-old Jonathan Andrew Tijerina after he allegedly sprayed the name of his gun-control website, JustStopKillingKids.com, across the bronze panels surrounding the North Pool at the National September 11 Memorial in Lower Manhattan.
The vandalism happened around 5 p.m. Monday, October 26. Red paint covered sections of the memorial containing the engraved names of people murdered during the September 11 attacks.
Tijerina apparently recorded the entire stunt himself. Videos posted to the organization’s Instagram account allegedly show him approaching the memorial, removing a spray-paint can from his bag and writing across several panels.
He then identified himself on camera and admitted what he had done.
A teenage visitor from the United Kingdom told CBS New York that officers arrested the suspect in less than a minute.
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Arrested, Charged and Released
Tijerina was charged with criminal mischief, making graffiti and possession of graffiti instruments, according to a criminal complaint reported by the New York Post.
A memorial security officer reportedly found him carrying two cans of red spray paint matching the graffiti. Cleanup was estimated to cost $560.64.
Tijerina was released under supervision following his arraignment because the charges were not eligible for bail. His next court appearance is scheduled for January 13, 2027.
Fortunately, crews removed the paint quickly, and officials reported no permanent damage.
“The 9/11 Memorial is a sacred place of reflection,” the 9/11 Memorial & Museum said, adding that security and law enforcement restored the affected area to its commemorative condition.
The memorial honors the 2,983 people killed in the September 11, 2001, and February 26, 1993, terrorist attacks.
A Gun-Control Stunt That Backfired
Tijerina’s organization describes itself as a civil-resistance movement seeking universal firearm background checks and a national gun registry.
Following the arrest, the group said the vandalism was intended to get the attention of President Donald Trump and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. It also described Tijerina as an experienced organizer who would accept responsibility and face trial.
If the goal was to generate attention, that part worked. But the reaction was not exactly sympathetic.
Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., called the vandalism “horrific” and demanded that Tijerina be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
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Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., called the memorial “sacred ground” and said it takes “a special kind of evil” to use it for a political stunt.
Former New York Gov. George Pataki described the act as a “vile, disgraceful crime,” noting that families visit the memorial to mourn relatives who never came home.
The condemnation was not limited to Republicans or the Second Amendment community.
New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin, a Democrat, said any defacement of the memorial was unacceptable, regardless of the claimed cause. Port Authority Police Benevolent Association President Frank Conti said the incident was not a legitimate protest but an act that disrespected the victims and their families.
Some Places Are Simply Off-Limits
Americans have the right to argue about guns, background checks, registries and public policy. They also have the right to protest peacefully.
What they do not have is the right to deface a national memorial, especially one bearing the names of nearly 3,000 murdered people, simply because their political campaign is not receiving enough attention.
This stunt did nothing to advance a conversation about violence. Instead, it attached a gun-control message to the desecration of one of America’s most solemn places.
That is why the outrage has extended far beyond gun owners. If anything, this may go down as one of the most self-defeating gun-control protests imaginable.
What do you think? Does this stunt damage the broader gun-control movement, or will its supporters simply dismiss it as the actions of one activist?
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is a seasoned outdoorsman, lifelong hunter, and the kind of guy who’d rather track whitetails than scroll social media. As an editor for GunsAmerica, he’s got a sharp eye for spotting both solid gear and bad gun laws. Whether he’s deep in the woods or deep in editorial deadlines, Larry brings a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is approach to firearms, hunting, and the great American tradition of self-reliance. If there’s a hot debate on gun rights or the latest in hunting tech, you can bet Larry’s got an opinion—and it’s probably backed up with both facts and field experience.
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