Open-carry advocate Ted Nugent bars fans from bringing guns to his concert

Musician, vocal gun rights advocate, and NRA board member Ted Nugent reportedly barred guns from concert he gave in Virginia this Tuesday.

According to WSLS, fans were told in a last minute announcement that they were not allowed to bring their guns into the Berglund Performing Arts Theater in Roanoke. Nugent and his team were the ones to made the decision to bar guns, not the venue itself.

“The Berglund Center said because it is city owned, it can’t keep guns out unless the performers are the ones who request it,” WSLS reported.

“It happened about five minutes before we opened doors, we had a security meeting before we opened doors and the subject came up and we said, ‘Yes people will be bringing firearms,'” Berglund Center General Manager Robyn Schon said according to WSLS. But Nugent’s people wouldn’t allow it.

A long line had gathered outside the doors waiting to get in when security came out and made the announcement that there had been a change in plans. Guns would not be allowed in, pat downs would be performed, and anyone with a gun would be asked to take it to their car.

The announcement came as a change to prior rules where the venue discouraged guns, but couldn’t ban people from bringing them on property. Most standing in line didn’t even realize guns were at one point allowed in based on our off-the-cuff conversations with people. Two fans did have their guns turned away from the show, according to Schon, and Roanoke police had already brought in an increased presence in case something escalated.

Nugent is a notorious pro-gun activist and vocal Trump supporter. This past March, he slammed Florida high school student who protested gun violence, calling them “soulless” and “dangerously stupid.”

Update: Nugent is denying reports that he barred guns from his Roanoke concert.

“Dear God in heaven & damn the fakenews lying bastards!” the 69-year-old guitarist wrote on Facebook. “I gave the direct order tonight that guns were absolutely welcome to my concert. The media cannot be trusted. They are consumed with hate and dishonesty.”

Featured image via screen grab/YouTube

Sky Palma

Before launching DeadState back in 2012, Sky Palma has been blogging about politics, social issues and religion for over a decade. He lives in Los Angeles and also enjoys Brazilian jiu jitsu, chess, music and art.