A perilous possession (Guns Have Strange Allure for Athletes)

Sacramento Bee ^ | 3/3/02 | Jim Van Vliet

[technochick99]

They make millions of dollars and live a lifestyle few can imagine, but some athletes just can't resist the risky lure -- and allure -- of guns.

In this day and age of boast and bravado, many athletes like to roll up their sleeves and flex their "guns."

[Dialup Llama]

Guns also have magnetic properties for morons and wannabe, faux gangstas.

Is the writing in this article strange? He was killed by a shotgun in the home of an NBA star. No mention of WHO was pointing the gun at the limo driver when it 'went off.'

[SW6906]

Man, what a biased, loaded article. I was going to write a lengthy analysis, picking it apart point-by-point, but the more I read the more the uselessness of that became apparent. This piece of crap reads like it was written by the Violence Policy Center and Handgun Control combined.

Guns are evil and cause bad things to happen.....

[07055]

Williams was reportedly fooling around, twirling a loaded shotgun while giving a tour of his 40-room digs when the gun accidentally went off.

Why should we give this claim any credibility?

Because Williams *said* that's what happened? Because the other players *said* that's what happened?

But Williams and the other players also said the poor guy killed himself---and tried to doctor the evidence to support that claim. Why should we believe their fall-back story when they lied before?

Why shouldn't Williams be tried for First Degree Murder---rather than second degree manslaughter?

[Jolly Rodgers]

More and more these days, papers are full of stories about athletes being arrested for carrying concealed weapons. Policy-makers and researchers cringe, parents shake their heads in chagrin, and kids receive another wrong message.

This is an attempt to smear gun by creating a mental linkage with dangerous illegal drug use by professional athletes. Somebody needs to rip this article apart -- line by putrid stinking line.

[El Gato]

You forgot the BARF alert. It's just more anti arms rights drivel. Citizens guns BAD, government guns GOOD, that's the message.

[RepRivFarm]

You forgot the barf alert.

[Doomonyou]

This one needs an idustial size HURL ALERT!

I saw Karl Malone this morning on the news talking about this, he , as a gun owner, hunter, etc. did a reasonable job of explaining guns and gun ownership, but of course, he was out numbered by the libs and didn't discuss any of his points.

[El Gato]

twirling a loaded shotgun

Guess that ocean front property in Arizona is appreciating again. Although I have seen a loaded (with 30-06 blanks) M-1 twirled about, but not with a finger in the trigger guard, or even a blank round in the chamber until just before it was deliberately discharged in a safe direction.

[Doomonyou]

Doh!

"The libs" didn't discuss any of his points.

Yeah, I proof read.

[Fireone]

"it's not just about athletes, it's about all of us."

Wrong conclusion to the story.

" those at greatest risk of being a victim and a perpetrator (of gunplay) are young African-American males."

Not many NHL hockey players mentioned.

[paul51]

"My dad was a cop, and he always told me the best way to get killed is to have a gun in the house."

Times change

[Newbomb Turk]

See a little cronic never killed no one. Bet more than the gun was loaded when this "accident" happened.

[Buckeroo]

It is true! Firearms are the inspiration of satan and just wrap themselves into human hands and pull their own triggers.

[xp38]

That was when I stopped reading.

[uncbob]

Well since the crime statistics for the USA are what they are because of Black crime why should their athletes be any different

I tired of hearing this BS about America being a violent society etc etc

America contains a culture that is violent but quit condeming a whole nation for it

[uncbob]

Young African-American males are under siege.

Funny way of describing the problem

Better choice of words would be Self Destructing

[NYCVirago]

Here's another report on the subject of athletes and guns.

[technochick99]

And, father does not always know best. Cops tend to view society as if it contained primarily the people they see. I suppose we all do. But most of us don't have to deal with criminals on a daily basis.