Another Voice Against Nugent

If I’ve learned anything in my years as a gun writer, it’s that not everyone on the “pro” side of the gun rights debate can agree on everything. I have been called a whiner, pathetic, politically correct, a fifth columnist, and even “lefty” for supporting the case for booting Ted Nugent off the NRA’s board of directors. Happily, I have also seen plenty of support along the way, and I’m not the only writer to board the anti-Nuge bandwagon. For instance, Julie on Politics, who calls herself a “PA mom for clear-headed conservatism,” had this to say in a recent post: “Maybe the NRA enjoys the attention Nugent generates. Maybe it is afraid of sparking a backlash on the fringe. Maybe it simply doesn’t want to hand a victory to the gun grabbers on the left. None of these are sufficient reasons to continue supporting Nugent. As a proud gun owner and conservative, I am sick of being associated with him.” I have to agree, as did protesters at a recent New Jersey concert. As I’ve said before, we all have the right to say what we think–on our own. When representing other people, things change. A spokesperson accepts certain responsibilities by accepting that position, and I believe Ted is ignoring those responsibilities in order to feed his massive ego. The notion that it’s not good practice for a representative of lawful gun owners to call people “mongrels” and “chimpanzees” is hardly being “lefty” or “politically correct.” It’s just common sense, and millions of gun owners agree.

Russ Chastain

Editor & Contributing Writer Russ Chastain is a lifelong hunter and shooter who has spent his life learning about hunting, shooting, guns, ammunition, gunsmithing, reloading, and bullet casting. He started toting his own gun in the woods at age nine and he's pursued deer with rifles since 1982, so his hunting knowledge has been growing for more than three and a half decades. His desire and ability to share this knowledge with others has also grown, and Russ has been professionally writing and editing original hunting & shooting content since 1998. Russ Chastain has a passion for sharing accurate, honest, interesting hunting & shooting knowledge and stories with people of all skill levels.