By now, we have all heard of yet another murder-suicide episode, this time from the ranks of the NFL. Jovan Belcher, a KC Chief linebacker, killed his girlfriend and then drove to Arrowhead stadium where he shot himself in front of his coach and GM.
I wasn't surprised when Bob Costas addressed the subject during halftime of Sunday Night Football. What did surprise me, however, was his reaction to an article written by a Fox sportswriter, Jason Whitlock. I have read Whitlock before, and, for some reason, I rarely agree with him. He really missed the mark when he said and I quote, "What I believe is, if he didn’t possess/own a gun, he and Kasandra Perkins would both be alive today."
I'd like to know what crystal ball Whitlock is using to predict this. Obviously, Belcher had a lot of rage that day, and the gun was his way of killing himself and his girlfriend. But how can anyone say that if he didn't have a gun, his girlfriend would be alive? He's a linebacker who possesses great strength. Who's to say he wouldn't have used his hands, a knife, or some object that would cause blunt force trauma? Unfortunately, these types of murders are committed each day, something that is obviously lost on Whitlock and Costas.
I am a hunter and I own guns. I believe in the constitution, which gives us the rights to own them. For me, rifles and hand guns are just fine for Americans to own, but I am not a "gun nut." I don't believe we need sawed-off shot guns or assault weapons. Those weapons are not needed for the two purposes for owning guns: hunting and self-protection. I also would not advocate for plastic hand guns and bullets which can get through x-ray machines at airports.
The National Rifle Association wants us to be able to own all of these, and that's where I draw the line. Sorry, NRA, but if Americans had plastic guns and assault weapons, bad things would happen. Why does an American need a gun that would go through an airport check station undetected? Why do they need a rifle that fires 100 bullets a minute? They don't.
And please don't tell me that if they regulate one gun, they will regulate all of them. Sawed-off shotguns have been illegal for a long time, but no one is coming after your regular shot gun. I also grow weary of Republicans using the scare tactic that a Democratic President will get rid of your guns. To change the constitution, it requires a 3/4 vote of all state legislatures ...something that is practically impossible. Haven't we had several Democratic Presidents in the last 20 years? Please tell me which one wants you to give back a hand gun or a rifle? If they want to ban assault rifles, which is the ONLY thing I have heard them say, then I am all for it.
So when a tragic event happens like the one in KC, the Costas and Whitlocks of the world need to remember two things: 1) The constitution gives us all kinds of freedom, including owning a gun, and 2) There is an old saying that is true- Guns don't kill people, people do. Unfortunately, the following is sad but true: If all guns in this country are taken away, it will not stop murders from happening.
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