Brian Bensimon, SCC director for the state of Texas, commented, “It’s likely that Mr. LaMontagne has performed at numerous venues that allow concealed carry, without even realizing it”.
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“There are a lot of things this country needs more of, but guns aren’t one of them”, he continued.
LaMontagne, who was scheduled to perform Thursday at 7 p.m., said in his Facebook post that he considers himself a “very open minded human being”, but he can not support the campus carry “ideology”.
In a subsequent post, LaMontagne said that he had tried to reach an accommodation for the show, but said that over the weekend he received word from UT President Gregory Fenves that no exception to the campus carry rule would be given for the show.
All tickets will be refunded at the point of purchase.
Fans seemed divided in their reactions to LaMontagne’s announcement.
Ashfield singer-songwriter Ray LaMontagne has canceled a Thursday night show at the University of Texas at Austin over his opposition to that state’s recently enacted campus carry law.
“The university regrets that Ray LaMontagne made this decision but respects his right to do so”, it said, per the Dallas Morning News.
LaMontagne now has one show in Houston and one in Dallas planned for this week. Open carry is still restricted on Texas campuses.
The Texas Legislature passed SB 11 in the 2015 session, which allowed license holders to legally carry concealed weapons on university campuses.
“This Thursday’s show.has been cancelled due to concerns over [Texas’] recently enacted campus carry law”. As Bass Concert Hall is a venue operated on the University of Texas campus and by university officials, the law applies to concert-goers.
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“I really couldn’t believe he canceled it two days before”, Loomis said. “The infatuation with guns that overwhelms certain Texans doesn’t match up to the nationwide concern for comprehensive gun law reform”.
