Jeffrey Nugent, the former CEO of cosmetics company Revlon, doesn’t completely agree with his brother when it comes to the gun control debate. That’s normal for plenty of U.S. families, but Jeffrey’s views have made headlines because his brother happens to be Ted Nugent, the famous rock star who is well-known as a staunch conservative and hunting aficionado.
Jeffrey penned an op-ed for the Washington Post last week, stating that he and his brother are long-time hunters and members of the National Rifle Association (NRA). He also writes that he and his brother own “a large number of guns.” However, he states that the NRA and his brother are wrong on the issue of expanded background checks, saying, “Irresponsible gun owners are bad for everyone.” From Jeffrey’s op-ed:
And I agree with Ted that our constitutional right to bear arms should not be undermined. I want all those who are qualified to purchase a gun to be able to do so. But — and here is where I part ways with my brother — not everyone is qualified to own a gun, so expanded background checks should be a legislative priority.
I believe strongly that expanding and improving mandatory background checks will keep a lot of people who aren’t entitled to Second Amendment rights from having easy access to guns. As of today, a convicted felon can find a gun show or a private seller and buy a firearm without a background check. That loophole should be closed. Every gun transaction must include a thorough background check. Why would responsible gun owners want to protect people who threaten not only our safety but our gun rights?
Ted Nugent has replied to his brother’s essay with his own opinion piece published on Newsmax on Sunday. Ted salutes his brother for standing up for his views, but calls those views “dead wrong.” From Ted’s op-ed:
Passing expanded background checks would do nothing to curtail or suppress thugs or psychos from accessing weapons and committing mass murder, carjacking, the nightly shootouts in Chicago or a gangsta shooting at the Mother’s Day parade in New Orleans.
Paroled thugs or bug-eyed psychotics could not care less about any gun laws. The bold and ugly reality is that they will always gain access to a weapon. I believe at his core, my brother knows this.