Another Tragedy, Another Voice for Gun Control

I'm not a football fan by any stretch, but the majority of America has heard the tragic news about the murder-suicide involving Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher and his girlfriend Kassandra Perkins. An unnecessary loss of life without a doubt, and in gun control advocates eyes like Bob Costas a perfect opportunity to score personal political points.

On Sunday night football December 2, 2012 Bob Costas used his position as an NBC sportscaster to capitalize on the murder-suicide and attack law-abiding gun owners during the half time segment. Even going as far as hiding behind a fellow journalist, Jason Whitlock, and using his words during the onslaught of verbal diarrhea. In Costas as well as Whitlock's eyes "Handguns don't enhance our safety. They exacerbate our flaws, tempt us to escalate arguments, and bait us into embracing confrontation rather than avoiding it." They also believe that if "Jovan Belcher didn't posses a gun, he and Kassandra Perkins would still be alive today."

Now I'm not sure where Costas and Whitlock are getting their facts but it is clear to me, and just about every other responsible gun owner that they are extremely flawed. Millions of Americans lawfully posses and carry firearms for protection. How often do these individuals run around causing confrontation with people because they feel a sense of invincibility with their .45 strapped to their hip? If Costas and Whitlock had it their way millions of families would be left unprotected and essentially sitting ducks. The rise in assaults, murders, rapes, break-ins would all increase catastrophically.

The one obvious issue that led to the murder-suicide in question was not a gun issue. It was a domestic violence issue. If Costas truly believes that without a gun Belcher would not have been able to commit this crime, he is very mistaken. In fact had he not had a gun, the crime scene may have been more brutal. This is demonstrated in countless domestic violence murders each year. Earlier this year a Massachusetts woman was stabbed to death in front of her two children. Another woman, a new bride from Chicago was stabbed to death only hours after her wedding. In fact the morning Jovan Belcher killed his girlfriend and took his life, a Staten Island woman was allegedly beat to death by her live in boyfriend.

As you can see, the issue here is not guns as Bob Costas would like you to believe. Domestic violence is the issue that needs to be addressed. The firearm involved in this tragedy was simply a tool the perpetrator used to execute his goal. Had he not had the gun, a knife or baseball bat would have easily been used. Nobody is screaming for knife or baseball bat control. If Bob Costas knows what is good for him, he will stick to doing his job commentating sports.