Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr made an impassioned plea to take stronger action this week. He had very little to say about basketball in a press conference a few hours after the incident. Nineteen innocent children and two teachers were killed at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas. Kerr refused to entertain any questions about Game 4 of the Warriors’ series against the Dallas Mavericks.
“When are we going to do something?” Kerr mentioned. “I am tired. I am so tired of getting up here and offering our condolences. I am so tired of the moments of silence. I am tired of praying. ENOUGH. In the last ten days, we’ve had elderly people killed while shopping for groceries in New York. There was another group of churchgoers who were gunned down in California. And today. We have 19 children murdered at school in Texas. I am so tired. When are we going to do something?”
Kerr was very passionate with his remarks. The longtime NBA coach and former player lost his father to gun violence when he was serving as the president of the American University of Beirut in 1984. It was an assassination.
“We are going to play tonight,” Kerr continued. “But I want every person here. Every person that is listening to this. To think about your own child or grandchild. Your mother and father. Sister. Brother. How would you feel if this happened to you today? ENOUGH. I am fed up. We are all fed up. There are 50 senators who refuse to vote on H.R. 8, which is a background check rule that the House passed a few years ago. It’s been sitting on their desks for two years. There’s a reason they won’t act on it. ENOUGH.”
Several others praised Kerr’s pregame remarks. Warrior’s guard Damion Lee also took the stand.
“It’s terrible. So sad,” Lee explained. “Obviously, we all saw Steve’s pregame press conference. Those are my exact same sentiments. Many of ours. We need to do something. We need reform. Guns should not be so accessible. I mean. It is easier to buy an assault rifle today than it is to find baby formula. That is just unbelievable.”
Look, folks, regardless of where you stand, I hope we can all agree that this is getting out of hand. I am not saying that I have the answers. Neither do my friends. Don’t get me started on the local politicians. We need to come together. We need to do something. What occurred in Texas this past week was a tragedy. And this sort of thing will, unfortunately, continue to happen. I am not asking for more metal detectors or armored guards. I am simply hoping for some bipartisan reform. Change is desperately needed.
I hate the mornings after. When you learn the names and meet the faces. Nineteen children. Two teachers. They all were innocent and beautiful people. They all had stories. Gone way too soon. This one hurts because I am a parent. So are you. I agree with Coach Kerr. When are we going to do something? I am not a gun guy, and I am not trying to take them away. It is called common sense. Every other democracy makes an effort to keep high-profile weapons out of the hands of dangerous or their young people. Why can’t we? We can also do this without curtailing sport and protection. Salvador Ramos killed those innocent people. He was 18 years old. Ramos legally purchased two AR-style rifles at a local federal firearms dealer on May 17 and May 20. He also purchased 375 rounds of ammunition on May 18. Again. Salvador Ramos was 18. That really bothers me. More love. Less hate. Cheers.
