Music

Eagles of Death Metal singer blames gun control for Paris attacks

by Richard Howard

The world is still reeling from last November’s terrorist attacks in Paris, one of which saw armed men storm an Eagles of Death Metal show at the Bataclan concert hall and kill 89 people.

True to their word, Eagles of Death Metal have returned to the French capital for their February 16th show – this time at the Olympia Theatre. However, it’s frontman Jesse Hughes’ words during a French television interview when asked whether the attacks had changed his anti-gun control views that are attracting the most attention.

“Did your French gun control stop a single fucking person from dying at the Bataclan? And if anyone can answer yes, I’d like to hear it, because I don’t think so. I think the only thing that stopped it was some of the bravest men that I’ve ever seen in my life charging head-first into the face of death with their firearms.

I know people will disagree with me, but it just seems like God made men and women, and that night guns made them equal. And I hate it that it’s that way. I think the only way that my mind has been changed is that maybe that until nobody has guns everybody has to have them.

Because I’ve never seen anyone that’s ever had one dead, and I want everyone to have access to them, and I saw people die that maybe could have lived, I don’t know… I wish I knew for sure if they could have had a better chance because there were some real angels, real wonderful people in that show that aren’t alive today and I really wish they were.”

While many people have expressed shock at the singer’s reply, those familiar with his political views won’t be surprised.

In addition to his status as a popular musician, Hughes is also a proud NRA member, passionate Donald Trump supporter, and someone who equates evolution with believing in “magical talking monkeys.” In a since deleted podcast, Hughes referred to President Barack Obama as “a foreign-born Muslim… an enemy of the United States and an evil cocksucker.”

Late last year, Vice’s Eagles of Death Metal documentary was pulled from Amsterdam’s International film festival. It featured scenes of Hughes shooting at a Chinese flag and commenting “God made men and women, Sam Colt made ’em equal: that’s just the fucking reality of life.”