Ray LaMontagne cancels UT show over campus carry 'concerns'
Popular singer-songwriter Ray LaMontagne has cancelled a show in Austin, Texas over the state’s controversial campus carry law, though still played a show earlier this year in North Carolina.
“This Thursday’s show at Bass Concert Hall in Austin, TX has been cancelled due to concerns over the University of Texas’ recently enacted [sic] campus carry law, which allows licensed holders to carry concealed handguns in the venue during the performance,” the artist announced on his Facebook page Tuesday afternoon.
[RELATED: Campus Carry takes effect in Texas]
While LaMontagne insists that he is “a very open minded human being” who always tries to “see things from another’s point of view,” he says he just cannot bring himself around to understand the importance of the Second Amendment.
[RELATED: NCAA pulls championship game from NC over transgender bathroom law]
“No matter how hard I try to understand the rationale for allowing guns on campus or more broadly, the ‘concealed carry’ law in general, I just cannot in any way support that ideology,” the statement continues, noting that, “there are lots of things this country needs more of, but guns aren’t one of them.”
LaMontagne has two other shows this month in Texas, but only elected to cancel his show on the campus of UT, Austin because of the state’s campus carry law allowing individuals with concealed carry licenses to exercise their rights on all public college and university campuses.
Notably, the musician played a show in North Carolina earlier this year right around the same time that several other well-known artists, including Bruce Springsteen and Maroon 5, cancelled their shows in the state due to its controversial “bathroom bill,” which prohibits citizens from using bathrooms that don’t correspond with their sex.
[RELATED: NCAA pulls championships from NC to protest transgender bathroom bill]
While LaMontagne offered a refund on all tickets “at the point of purchase,” several fans were frustrated with the artist for cancelling the show just two days in advance, leaving any fans who might be travelling from out of state scrambling to cancel their travel arrangements.
Follow the author of this article on Twitter: @AGockowski
