Posted on 12/04/2012 7:35:20 PM PST by JohnPierce
Bob Costas is in trouble with football fans, a large majority of which are gun owners, and his insulting attempt at an apology is only adding fuel to the fire.
--IMAGE HERE--
But let’s start at the beginning. It all started with FoxSports.com columnist Jason Whitlock.
In the wake of the media frenzy surrounding Jovan Belcher’s murder of his girlfriend and subsequent suicide, Whitlock penned an article in which he launched a scathing attack on the Second Amendment and those who value it.
He starts his rant with an assertion that the Second Amendment is threatening to the very liberty it purports to protect.
“We’d prefer to avoid seriously reflecting upon the absurdity of the prevailing notion that the second amendment somehow enhances our liberty rather than threatens it.”
He then moves on repeat the absurd cliche that the Second Amendment is irrelevant as a bulwark against an oppressive government because they could simply nuke the entire country.
“How many young people have to die senselessly? How many lives have to be ruined before we realize the right to bear arms doesn’t protect us from a government equipped with stealth bombers, predator drones, tanks and nuclear weapons?”
Not satisfied to stop there, he goes on to imply that domestic violence could not possibly end in death if a gun were not involved.
“Our current gun culture simply ensures that more and more domestic disputes will end in the ultimate tragedy, and that more convenience-store confrontations over loud music coming from a car will leave more teenage boys bloodied and dead.”
“In the coming days, Belcher’s actions will be analyzed through the lens of concussions and head injuries. Who knows? Maybe brain damage triggered his violent overreaction to a fight with his girlfriend. What I believe is, if he didn’t possess/own a gun, he and Kasandra Perkins would both be alive today.”
Now … while numerous commentators have noted that a man of Belcher’s size and strength would have little difficulty taking a life without a gun, Whitlock seemed determined to blame the instrument rather than the man who, in a fit of murderous rage, killed the mother of his child.
But he certainly isn’t alone in holding that strange opinion. Bob Costas dragged a very reluctant NBC into the controversy by expounding on Whitlock’s article during Sunday Night Football.
--VIDEO HERE--
Since Sunday, NBC has been flooded with calls for Costas’ removal and today, he attempted to backpedal only to once again be goaded into attacking the heart of the Second Amendment.
“Here’s where I stand: I do not want to see the Second Amendment repealed. … People should be allowed to own guns for their own protection. Obviously, those who are hunters. … Access to guns is too easy in some cases. I don’t see any reason a citizen should be able to arm himself in some states in ways only police or military should — to have a virtual militia [by] mail order or gun shows. Why do you need a semi-automatic weapon? What possible use is there? … Whitlock wrote about a gun culture. That’s what I was focusing on.”
What possible use is there Bob? This single comment demonstrates just how far out of the mainstream that Costas is. And there are many others just like him.
They know nothing about the realities of the 20,000+ gun laws that are already on the books.
They know nothing about the laws that already prevent mail-order purchase of firearms unless they are shipped to a licensed dealer where a background will be performed.
They know nothing about the popularity and commonplace nature of semi-auto firearms, which make up a significant majority of the guns sold today.
They know nothing about the growing popularity of the shooting sports.
They just … know nothing.
Thankfully, there are just as many professional athletes who are willing to stand up and let their voices be heard. As reported in the NY Daily News, Chief’s defensive lineman Shaun Smith said:
“If you have daughters, you should [have a gun] …. You have to protect yourself. You work so hard to get to where you’re at, I’ll be damned if I’ll just let someone take it from me.”
Chief’s linebacker Brandon Siler joined Smith in his support for gun rights.
“Well, a majority of people own one, especially in the places where they’re legal. Most of the time they’re for self defense or sport.”
I want to thank those players for standing up for gun rights, and for the rights of their fellow athletes.
And I want to make one other thing perfectly clear … I will NEVER watch another sporting event if Bob Costas is in the booth.
UPDATE: At the end of the interview quoted above, Costas is reported to have turned to the Aurora Colorado shooting.
“There are those who believe that denying a semi automatic weapon or an assault rifle is the first step down a slippery slope in denying an old lady a gun for her own protection, … There are people who honestly believe that in Aurora if only a dozen or so people there to watch the Batman movie had been packin’, they would have been able to take down the nut job in full body armor with military-type guns.”
I don’t even know where to begin with this bucketful of nonsense. Costas actually believes that over a dozen armed citizens, who I might add would be carrying the same handguns that law enforcement would, could not take down a single shooter armed with a semi-auto rifle (NOT military full-auto) and wearing paintball pads (not full body armor).
Perhaps I have overreacted to this entire affair. Perhaps instead of criticizing, I should be donating to a fund to support ole’ Bob in his dotage. He clearly is already disconnected from reality.
Costas = NFL.
Let’s build them some more stadiums.
They are more than happy to take our money for that. :(
“I’m sorry that NFL fans are too stupid to understand what I meant. I should have known better than to try and explain my point in 90 seconds to a bunch of bitter, gun clinging, bible thumping, tea-baggers.”
Thanks, Bob.
Bob Costas is a cheerleader of the Culture of Sports that produces a lot of violent criminals.
The NFL are the POSTER BOYS for crony capitalism. They absolutely would not exist without tax dollars. They have a government sanctioned hand into our back pockets and we may not resist their touch.
Oh, I can think of at least one possible use in particular, Mr. Costas.
If only we had common sense legislation and regulations with strict enforcement as to who can appear on the public airwaves, millions of Americans wouldn’t be offended everyday by those who have nothing but contempt for their fellow man. We wouldn’t be having this conversation because clowns like this would be removed from the public airwaves immediately upon making the statements he did.
That’s an excellent column.
Thanks for posting.
Let me tell you something Skippy. All the stealth bombers, predator drones, tanks and nuclear weapons in the world won't help you one bit when I'm holding a pistol to your head. Once I pull the trigger, those toys belong to me. Ask the North Vietnamese. Ask the Taliban. Ask Al Qaeda.
Please help educate the NFL about what fans want to hear and not hear from a sports commentator.
NFL
280 Park Ave., 15th Floor
New York, N.Y. 10017
Fax : (212) 450-2000
I caught a piece of Costas’ “apology” on the local sports radio outlet tonight. He went on about the Aurora Co. movie theater shooting. That no one could have stoppped the shooter because he was dressed in full body armor.
Bob is still engaged in the MSM incest that believes that a black tactical vest is “body armor”.
It’s black, it has pockets and zippers and rings. It won’t stop a bullet from an armed citizen.
When you are in a hole, Bob....
Stop digging.
I wonder if George Soros calls 0bama's propaganda houses (news outlets) and says "Make a BIG DEAL out of this one, okay?.. I've already sent the check!! Remember, you are not JOURNALISTS, you are repWHOREters for 0bama!"
NFL = Modern day Roman circus to distract the masses from the fact that empire is sinking into obscurity.
why does bob costas need a “semi-automatic” mouth???
I beg to differ here. Costas is in possession of 'a full-auto assault mouth'...
the infowarrior
lol, he needs to put a flash suppresor on that!
Whitlock’s absurd rant can be excused because he is another Affirmative Action hire that fills a quota for Fox. There is absolutely no excuse for Costas’s stupid un-American diatribe, however. But because NBC is a Leftist sounding board, he will probably get a raise.
What anti gun nuts conveniently forget is that one of the first school shootings that occurred at Pearl, Ms. high school ended when an assistant principal got his pistol from his car and confronted the shooter...
If anti gun nuts really believe that being disarmed makes you safer, then wear some kind of ribbon (blood red, maybe?) indicating you are proudly disarmed and quit hiding behind those who’ve accepted the responsibility and security the 2nd Amendment provides.
Let’s apply the standard both ways – if a Conservative gets political, they are fired.
The reason: that he’s an idiot and a racist.
He doesn’t seem to comprehend that most guns sold are semi automatic – i.e. he would like most guns banned.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.