Live Chat: Ted Nugent

Aug. 3 -- "Only a coward would want fewer good guys with guns on the streets in today's world," says legendary rocker Ted Nugent. "Only a fool would support much less design such a policy of helplessness in today's world."

Nugent contends that promoting gun ownership could help win the war on crime and expresses his outrage at politicians who want to step up gun control legislation in a new book, God, Guns, & Rock 'n Roll.

Do you agree? Read the transcript of our live chat with Nugent, who took questions from ABCNEWS.com readers from the Republican National Convention.

Moderator:

Charlton Heston, president of the National Rifle Association, calls Ted Nugent "one of the good guys." Rep. Bob Barr is also an admirer: "I appreciate all Ted does in support of the Second Amendment."

If it seems strange that prominent conservatives like Heston and Barr are embracing a rock musician known as "the Motor City Madman," consider Nugent's other passion: protecting Americans' personal freedoms.Ted Nugent joins ABCNEWS.com today in an online chat. Welcome, Ted.

Ted Nugent:

Thank you!

Moderator:

Why do you believe that gun ownershipcould help win the war on crime?

Ted Nugent:

Well, even those that claim to be against gun ownership, likePresident Bill Clinton, have made a big deal out of wishing for more law enforcementpersonnel on the streets of America — when in fact, in those jurisdictions where law abiding citizens have a higher rate of concealed weapons permits, they have for all practical purposes performed the very duties in stopping and deterring crime that armed law enforcement personnel have.

Moderator:

Why are you attending this year'sconvention?

Ted Nugent:

I have a lot of friends in the Republican Party. I have workedvery closely with Rep. Bob Barr, Governor Engler, Governor Thompson and Governor Bramstead, and J.C. Watts is my hero. I care deeply about a quality-of-American-life upgrade that I am convinced can be had through the ideals of theRepublican Party.

Moderator:

Have you had a chance to listen to any ofthe featured speakers? Who has impressed you the most?

Ted Nugent:

I'm impressed greatly by everybody I've heard so far. Certainly Laura Bush represented the heart and soul of workinghard, playing hard America. Colin Powell made some common-sense, self-evident-truth points, and I believe the very pulse of the Republican Party represents the people in the asset column of America.

Charlie says: You say only a coward would want fewer goodguys with guns on the street, but how do you tell the good guys from the badguys? Should we assume macho NRA members are the good guys, andtree-hugging, sissy liberals are the bad guys?

Ted Nugent:

Well I've heard this question many times, and I admit I'm just aguitar player. But when a monster stands up on a commuter train shootingpassengers, even a guitar guy knows that's the bad guy. When someone threatens to puncture your guts with a screwdriver, it's apparent that that's the bad guy.

Rob says: While I'm in agreement that if everybody hasarms it will make make criminals much less likely to act, I have a realquestion that may sound like a joke but isn't: What if the bastards shootbetter than the citizens?