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Rocker challenges governor to backstage debate at fair
Ted Nugent doesn't like our state's gun laws
By NICK ROGERS
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT WRITER
Look out, Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Ted Nugent might want to put you in a political stranglehold.
Speaking from an airport in Minneapolis Tuesday, the singer and guitar player - known nearly as well for his pro-gun views as for such tunes as "Cat Scratch Fever" and "The Great White Buffalo" - said he would like to meet the governor backstage prior to his Aug. 11 performance at the Illinois State Fair.
"I welcome him," Nugent said. "In fact, you know what? I challenge him to come backstage. And let's talk 'We the people,' let's talk good over evil, let's talk laws forcing good people to be unarmed and helpless."
Nugent said he's most offended by what he called the governor's "refusal to stand up for the Second Amendment."
Nugent's main complaint appears to be with Illinois gun laws that bar retired police officers, as well as active officers visiting from other states, from carrying concealed weapons. However, it's not clear that Blagojevich has ever taken a position on the issue.
"How in God's green earth can a governor not allow retired professional heroes of law enforcement to carry guns?" Nugent asked. "There's no answer for that. Any attempt to answer that question would expose a person for the buffoon he is.
"It angers ... people that know when you disarm great, great trained men and women that all it does is facilitate the offenses of evil people.â€
A bill that would have allowed retired officers to carry concealed firearms did not make it through the legislature this year. Because the bill never made it to Blagojevich’s desk, his stand on the issue is unknown.
The Blagojevich administration declined Thursday to comment on Nugent’s remarks.
“There are some states that do allow that,†Laimutis Nargelenas, manager of government relations for the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police, said of allowing retired or out-of-state officers to carry concealed weapons. “And presently in Congress, there is a bill that would allow that nationwide. (The state bill) passed a Senate committee but got held up on the Senate floor.â€
Nargelenas added that officers visiting from other states can carry concealed weapons only as part of an official police investigation.
Nugent also took offense at Illinois’ longstanding requirement that a person must obtain a Firearms Owners Identification card before buying a gun.
“You know the two places in the world where a citizen has to have a gun owner’s ID card?†he said. “Illinois and Cuba. That’s embarrassing.â€
Other states have their own codes for gun owners, but Illinois is the only state requiring an identification card, according to the Firearm Services Bureau of the Illinois State Police.
While it remains to be seen whether Blagojevich and Nugent’s meeting will happen, Nugent offered to make sure the governor won’t go home hungry.
“I’ll buy him an elephant ear and a dose of truth,†he said.
http://www.sj-r.com/sections/news/stories/2413.asp
Ted Nugent doesn't like our state's gun laws
By NICK ROGERS
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT WRITER
Look out, Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Ted Nugent might want to put you in a political stranglehold.
Speaking from an airport in Minneapolis Tuesday, the singer and guitar player - known nearly as well for his pro-gun views as for such tunes as "Cat Scratch Fever" and "The Great White Buffalo" - said he would like to meet the governor backstage prior to his Aug. 11 performance at the Illinois State Fair.
"I welcome him," Nugent said. "In fact, you know what? I challenge him to come backstage. And let's talk 'We the people,' let's talk good over evil, let's talk laws forcing good people to be unarmed and helpless."
Nugent said he's most offended by what he called the governor's "refusal to stand up for the Second Amendment."
Nugent's main complaint appears to be with Illinois gun laws that bar retired police officers, as well as active officers visiting from other states, from carrying concealed weapons. However, it's not clear that Blagojevich has ever taken a position on the issue.
"How in God's green earth can a governor not allow retired professional heroes of law enforcement to carry guns?" Nugent asked. "There's no answer for that. Any attempt to answer that question would expose a person for the buffoon he is.
"It angers ... people that know when you disarm great, great trained men and women that all it does is facilitate the offenses of evil people.â€
A bill that would have allowed retired officers to carry concealed firearms did not make it through the legislature this year. Because the bill never made it to Blagojevich’s desk, his stand on the issue is unknown.
The Blagojevich administration declined Thursday to comment on Nugent’s remarks.
“There are some states that do allow that,†Laimutis Nargelenas, manager of government relations for the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police, said of allowing retired or out-of-state officers to carry concealed weapons. “And presently in Congress, there is a bill that would allow that nationwide. (The state bill) passed a Senate committee but got held up on the Senate floor.â€
Nargelenas added that officers visiting from other states can carry concealed weapons only as part of an official police investigation.
Nugent also took offense at Illinois’ longstanding requirement that a person must obtain a Firearms Owners Identification card before buying a gun.
“You know the two places in the world where a citizen has to have a gun owner’s ID card?†he said. “Illinois and Cuba. That’s embarrassing.â€
Other states have their own codes for gun owners, but Illinois is the only state requiring an identification card, according to the Firearm Services Bureau of the Illinois State Police.
While it remains to be seen whether Blagojevich and Nugent’s meeting will happen, Nugent offered to make sure the governor won’t go home hungry.
“I’ll buy him an elephant ear and a dose of truth,†he said.
http://www.sj-r.com/sections/news/stories/2413.asp
