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NBA, NFL Go Anti-Gun
But are they protecting their athletes, or protecting an image?
(Page 2 of 2)
The leagues also might take note of the uncomfortable history of race and gun control. In a 2005 article for reason, David Kopel looked at some of the ugly realities involved in the roots of gun control in American culture.
Since the aftermath of the Civil War, "gun control" has simply been a proxy argument for some as a method for keeping blacks unarmed. Arms roundups of freedmen were common in the South in the years following the liberation of slaves, and the result was more control for white landowners, and the lurking and pervasive Ku Klux Klan, who used their mobility to terrorize freed blacks. In many ways still today the gun is as much a measure of protection as it is a symbol of the ability to protect—to self govern, if need be.
In Chicago, the racial aspects of gun control have come up before. In February 1994, a black Democrat State Senator from Chicago, Rickey Hendon, had his home robbed. One of the items taken was an unregistered handgun. The Senator refused to apologize. "I have a right to protect myself," he told the Sun-Times. Because of historical economic disparities between blacks and whites in all parts of the country, gun control disproportinately affects blacks, who tend to live in higher crime areas; lack the resources for private security, alarm systems, and other measures; and aren't particularly trusting of or willing to rely upon the police to protect them. Going back to Chicago, when the city instituted a freeze on handgun registrations in 1983, some of the loudest objections came from black politicians, who said the ban discriminated against black Chicagoans in rough neighborhoods who lacked the resources to protect themselves in other ways.
Athletes are an especially ripe target—they travel with wealth, but many maintain ties to the old neighborhood. And while it's hard to call the myriad of recent robberies and hold-ups of prominent athletes a trend, the leagues should consider what they've created: a wealthy class of young stars, black and white, who are increasingly vulnerable.
Taylor's death will undoubtedly have repercussions across professional sports. Athletes just saw one of their contemporaries gunned down—with a machete in his hand. Stern, Goodell, and other well-intentioned league bosses can pass tougher anti-gun policies, and continue to mete out punishment. Or they can reassess their opposition to gun ownership, and focus on teaching young players how to own, maintain, and use a gun responsibly.
Chris Sprow is the editor-in-chief of Chicago Sports Weekly, and has contributed to a number of other publications, including the New York Times and ESPN the Magazine.
|1.8.08 @ 3:28PM|#
I don't know how you can be upset about Sean Taylor and say "Boy, I'm sure am glad he didn't have a gun in his house!"
VM|1.8.08 @ 3:30PM|#
wasn't there more to the Sean Taylor story?
at any rate, so what? the owners of the brands are protecting said
brands.
this or the Kerry NYT piece are really... aw hell.
Invoke Reason Drinking Game rules #8,9,17,22b,43,67.
Bingo|1.8.08 @ 3:34PM|#
Oh I quoted it wrong...
but it still says virgual which is a pretty neat neologism!
|1.8.08 @ 3:35PM|#
Racist policies; SWAT breaking down home doors on the basis of
unqualified government employees wrong opinion's(Music)...Only one
cure, one answer...THE LIBERTARIAN MILITA.
Join or form one NOW.
Your freedom depends on it.
|1.8.08 @ 3:38PM|#
It always drives me crazy when they slam some athlete for having
a gun. It is racist as hell. Some redneck lineman goes hunting and
media says nothing. But let a black athlete get caught with a gun
in his car and he is immediately branded a thug and a criminal. Gee
let's think about this. I am a black man from a really bad
background. A lot of the people I knew growing up are very violent
and troubled. They all know who I am and where I live and that I
have a lot of cash. Gee I wonder why anyone in that position would
bother to carry a gun or worry at all about their safety or being
robbed?
When the NFL or NBA and their media toadies talk about doing
something about guns, they are really showing their racism and
innate fear of young black men. I really wish sometimes that it was
more acceptable for people to be overtly racist. Then at least
these assholes could be honest about what they really think and
just say "we can't let a bunch of rich young coons have guns."
Granted it would be pretty ugly and gross, but at least we would
know where people stood and what their real feelings were instead
of suffereing through the "stop the scourge of guns" bullshit.
|1.8.08 @ 3:39PM|#
... the leagues postures may be more about protecting the
NFL and NBA image than about protecting their players.
I'm shocked! SHOCKED!!!! I never would have believed that a billion
dollar sports league would put it's own image and priorities over
concern for its players.
If true, this is a real dog bites man story.
|1.8.08 @ 3:40PM|#
When are we going to get a response to the TNR story about Ron Paul: Angry White Man.
VM|1.8.08 @ 3:43PM|#
Mannish -
didja see the money quote:
The people surrounding the von Mises Institute--including Paul--may describe themselves as libertarians, but they are nothing like the urbane libertarians who staff the Cato Institute or the libertines at Reason magazine.
heh
Chicago - amen, brother!
|1.8.08 @ 3:44PM|#
But let a black athlete get caught with a gun in his car and
he is immediately branded a thug and a criminal
Isn't carrying a handgun around in your car without a conceal/carry
permit a crime?
Isn't hunting not usually a crime?
Look I agree with the sentiments to an extent. Rich people are at a
level risk whenever they go out in public. But the law is the law.
They shouldn't be excused from obeying the law because they are
rich. Get the fucking permit if it's available or hire a
bodyguard.
And I don't that it's a race based thing. Didn't an ex coach of the
Dallas Cowboys get arrested for trying to bring his gun on to an
airplane in his carry on a few years back. And he was treated in a
similar manner. I think the issue is more about an aversion to
carrying weapons by media people and opinion publishers than it is
about the race of the people involved
Episiarch|1.8.08 @ 3:47PM|#
I'm unclear on why the NFL thinks it can have any fucking say on what players keep in their homes.
|1.8.08 @ 3:48PM|#
Here near Belpre Ohio you almost never hear of a home invasion.I can think of one about 9 years ago.The home owner shot both intruders with his shotgun.I live outside town and and take comfort in knowing my 12 gauge O/U with 3 inch #2 shot is close by.
|1.8.08 @ 3:50PM|#
Gun ownership policies in the NFL and the NBA are the province
of the leagues and the players unions. The question I would ask as
a fan - Is this wise? Anecdotes aside, is there any evidence that
pro atheletes are more/less likely to be the victims/perpetrators
of firearm related crime than their non athlete peers. Does the
professional athlete, young, often from a poor background, and
suddenly wealthy, even have peers to measure against?
All I've got to go on is gut feelings. I'm well aware of how
unreliable those are for decision making.
My "take with a grain of salt" advice - Buy a gun. Learn to use it.
Respect, even fear it. Stay away from stripper bars. Last, but not
least, atheletes play half their games on the road. They can't take
their gun with you on a road trip. Avoiding dangerous situations is
strongly recommended.
Bingo|1.8.08 @ 3:50PM|#
MannishBoy:
I don't see where the proof is that he wrote them, I just see a lot
of speculation and "Ron Paul likes this idea and the von Mises
group does too and these crazy racists like some of the ideas of
the von Mises group therefore Ron Paul is a nutjob too!"
|1.8.08 @ 3:56PM|#
WTF? I had to re-read the first line of this about 10 times...The NFL/NBA are migrating towards an anti-gun policy...You mean on the field/court? Huh? Off-field/court? That is their private time, leave 'em be...Jeebus this is stupid...
ed|1.8.08 @ 3:59PM|#
I personally would find the NFL more interesting if guns were allowed on the field.
|1.8.08 @ 4:00PM|#
Isn't carrying a handgun around in your car without a conceal/carry permit a crime?
It depends on the state. In some states, you can have a loaded
firearm in your vehicle without a carry permit. In others, you have
to have a permit.
|1.8.08 @ 4:03PM|#
That is their private time, leave 'em be...Jeebus this is
stupid...
If you smoke tobacco at home, you lose your job. If you have a
firearm at home, you lose your job. The diference is ???
|1.8.08 @ 4:07PM|#
I'm unclear on why the NFL thinks it can have any fucking
say on what players keep in their homes.
Last I checked, doesn't a private employer have a right to restrict
the actions of its employees in order to protect the integrity of
the brand ?
Isn't the official Libertarian position that a private league is
free to set whatever rules it wants on its players who have
voluntarily chosen to be employed.
|1.8.08 @ 4:16PM|#
Tom-
I suppose if you include "no guns" as part of their contractual
obligations, you'd have a point.
Of course, if the NFL/NBA did that, then it strikes me as obvious
that they are then complicit in any of the deaths of their players
that might have otherwise been prevented via the defensive use of a
firearm.
R C Dean|1.8.08 @ 4:24PM|#
Isn't carrying a handgun around in your car without a
conceal/carry permit a crime?
I believe its legal to have an otherwise legal unloaded and cased
handgun in your car in every state.
If you have a carry permit, you can have it loaded and
accessible.
For the gray areas (what about loaded and inaccessible? Unloaded
and accessible?) it varies by state.
Episiarch|1.8.08 @ 4:26PM|#
It depends on the state. In some states, you can have a
loaded firearm in your vehicle without a carry permit. In others,
you have to have a permit.
And in Alaska and Vermont, you don't need a permit at all to carry,
have in your car, etc.
|1.8.08 @ 4:48PM|#
Surely those states are bloodbaths! Gunfight at the OK Coral!
Blood running through the streets!
AIIIEEEEE!
LibertyPlease|1.8.08 @ 4:51PM|#
It depends on the state. In some states, you can have a loaded firearm in your vehicle without a carry permit. In others, you have to have a permit.
In Texas the governor made it explicitly legal to keep a loaded gun
in your home, car, or place of business. (It has always been legal
to have it loaded in the car while "traveling" but the police would
still harass you)
VM|1.8.08 @ 4:54PM|#
"mediageek | January 8, 2008, 4:48pm | #
Surely those states are bloodbaths! Gunfight at the OK Coral! Blood
running through the streets!
AIIIEEEEE!"
*rolls around and schmears the blood all over. then runs naked into
a silo*
GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!
:)
"It has always been legal to have it loaded in the car while
"traveling" but the police would still harass you)"
it is ever thus.
R C Dean|1.8.08 @ 5:42PM|#
It has always been legal to have it loaded in the car while
"traveling" but the police would still harass you
And if you also have a copy of the Constitution, they get all SWAT
on your ass.
|1.8.08 @ 7:39PM|#
I agree that this isn't much of a race issue unless you really
make it out to be, but I can believe that handgun bans in places
like Chicago affect blacks more for sure.
As ChicagoTom said, the leagues do, I believe, have the right to
say that their players can't own guns if it wants to. I'm not sure
on the legality of this and the second amendment though, but I'm
pretty sure it's kosher.
I'm not American but can you agree to sign away your constitutional
rights for a job ? I'd say yes because confidentiality agreements
inhibit the First and they're ok.
That being said, the leagues then should have a responsibility to
protect its players if they can't protect themselves. I smell a
lawsuit in the making.
Colonel_Angus|1.8.08 @ 8:49PM|#
"Isn't the official Libertarian position that a private league
is free to set whatever rules it wants on its players who have
voluntarily chosen to be employed."
Sure they can, but why shouldn't people also be able to have an
oppinion about their policies? The libertarian position is more
like this: a business is free to set its own policies, but people
are also free to disagree with them and take coresponding action
such as writing a critical article, boycotting, or starting a
competing business.
LarryA|1.8.08 @ 10:21PM|#
I think a no-strip-joint policy would be more
effective.
Yeah. Because one of the five cited incidents took
place outside a "club." (No reference to stripping.) Three of the
five took place in the athletes' homes.
Isn't carrying a handgun around in your car without a
conceal/carry permit a crime?
In most states, including Texas where I live, no it isn't. http://opencarry.org/
Last, but not least, athletes play half their games on the
road. They can't take their gun with them on a road
trip.
I can legally carry concealed in 30 out of the 50 states with my
Texas concealed handgun license. There are several other states
where I can open carry without a license. Taking my handgun along
when I fly commercially is a simple procedure of locking it
unloaded in my checked baggage and declaring it at the ticket
counter. With a charter flight that isn't even necessary.
I'd also bet that if the leagues announced a "we're going to
encourage our players to get CHLs" policy the remaining states
would fall all over themselves to carve out an exemption allowing
them to carry. Look at the gun policies of New York City and Los
Angeles County in reference to celebrities.
Police later determined both players had been targeted because
of their status as professional athletes.
In this case targeted for robbery. But athletes, particularly
football players can also be targeted by brawlers who would love to
have the chance to beat up a star. The knowledge that some of the
players had CHLs could deter such behavior.
|1.9.08 @ 1:42AM|#
" a private league is free to set whatever rules it wants
"
Sure, and we're free to criticize them. What's your point?
-jcr
|1.9.08 @ 1:43AM|#
Windtell,
I believe that courts would strike down a contract in which one
party gives up a constitutional right as contrary to public policy.
You can't be held to a contract for indentured servitude, for
example.
-jcr
|1.9.08 @ 7:32AM|#
I would also say it depends on if it is job related.Non-disclosure pertains to speech involving your job.Your right to speech other wise is not affected.Many teams disallow risky things like skydiving and motor bikes because of injury.They can't take away a right in total.I know some jobs disallow smoking,yet pay for the employee health care giving them a say since the pay the bill.Their must be a direct link to the job and behavior.Not a political or moral stance for other wise legal behavior.Other wise you could have all your employees join the same church or vote the same party.
Mr. Bingley|1.9.08 @ 8:09AM|#
Sean Taylor may not be the best example for your argument, valid as it may be, as he specifically was barred from having a gun in a plea bargain to get felony assault charges (involving, oddly enough, a gun) dropped. The NFL suits weren't involved in this.
|1.9.08 @ 8:28AM|#
The NBA and NFL have condoned and even protected the thug
culture for many years now. It is only now when they see possible
disruption to their cash flows that they express a veneer of
interest.
I bailed out on pro sports years ago - a combination of the thug
culture, owners trying to milk the taxpayer, and across he board
greed effectively killed my interest in these prima donna
cretins.
Lefty|1.9.08 @ 9:00AM|#
Well the NFL as a private entity has every right to expressly promote the kind of behavior (gun-free or whatever). If the players don't like it they can start their own league with covenants that say gun ownership is OK. What's wrong with this? Don't want to be owned go out and start a league. That's what libertarians believe in the primacy of private enterprise wisdom. Am I not right?
|1.9.08 @ 10:00AM|#
Lefty,no your not.My dad grew up in a coal mining town with a company store.Everything had to be bought there.They controlled the miners life.Just because you work for someone does not mean the employer can dictate all areas of your life.You give up certain rights when you walk through their doors to work ,yes.You also have rights on you own property.As for the NFL,they are a tax supported monopoly[stadiums and a free minor league in the NCAA] who's contracts are very one sided.Not libertarian in any form,
B|1.9.08 @ 12:26PM|#
"Commissioner David Stern, the short, white, New York native who
joined the league's legal department in the 70's..."
Evidently, David Stern's race and height are somehow relevant, I
just haven't figured out why.
|1.9.08 @ 1:35PM|#
The PROBLEM for the NFL and the NBA is that they are mostly Black organizations, and statistically, a given Black is FAR AND AWAY more likely to be involved in a crime than any given gun is. So, the NFL's and the NBA's position may have some validity, as long as the players don't mind losing their rights. However, as a Jewess in the US, I say we must all put our 2nd Amendment FIRST!
sfcmac|1.10.08 @ 9:50AM|#
All Taylor had to defend himself against a gun wielding criminal was a machette??? Well, at least the imbeciles at the NBA and NFL won't be mad at him for owning a gun....
|1.11.08 @ 1:37AM|#
"J sub D | January 8, 2008, 4:03pm | #
That is their private time, leave 'em be...Jeebus this is
stupid...
If you smoke tobacco at home, you lose your job. If you have a
firearm at home, you lose your job. The diference is ???"
One of those products, when used as directed, is constitutionaly
protected and will save your life... You figure it out.
Leave a Comment
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