Musician Ted Nugent, a vocal gun rights advocate, reportedly barred guns from being allowed into a venue he performed at in Virginia on Tuesday night.
A local NBC affiliate reported that Nugent’s management made the decision to tell fans they could not bring their guns inside the Berglund Performing Arts Theater in Roanoke, Va.
{mosads}According to the news outlet, the Berglund Center said that since it is owned by the city it is not allowed to ban guns from being carried into its facility unless a performer requests it. A sub-contract between Nugent and his promoter regarding open carry was shared with Berglund Center management right before the performance, according to NBC.
“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 told NBC.
According to Schon, Nugent’s team said, “Uh, no, our agreement says no.'”
NBC also reported that the announcement was a change to prior rules. The venue used to be allowed to discourage guns from being carried into it, but it couldn’t ban them outright from the property.
Roanoke police would not say if any threats caused the last-minute decision, according to NBC. Schon added that two people were asked to take guns back to their car. In total, about 1,000 people turned out for Nugent’s performance, according to the news outlet.
“There’s always that concern when other people are armed; however, if they’re carrying legally, then we expect them to behave and act accordingly,” Roanoke Police Lt. Jason Holt told NBC.
Nugent is a National Rifle Association board member and outspoken supporter of President Trump. He also has a history of making controversial statements. In March, he criticized high school students who led protests against gun violence, calling them “soulless” and “ignorant.”
“I really feel sorry for them because it’s not only ignorant and dangerously stupid, but it’s soulless,” Nugent said during an appearance on “The Joe Pags Show.”
His comments came in response to protests that were largely led by students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. — the school where a gunman opened fire earlier this year, killing 17 people and injuring 14 others.