Bob Costas is a idiot

The prohblem with Costas and Whitlock's statements are that they offer no solutions.  Both simply talk about "gun control" without any discusion or notion of what they mean.

I don't know, but I haven't heard anything to suggest that Belcher had a criminal history, additionally I have heard nothing that indicated that he had previously been hospitalized for a mental illness.  Thus, it appears that his handgun was purchased legally.  If the above assumptions on my part are correct then what "gun control" are Costas and Whitlock calling for?  Without any more suggestions from them, what they are calling for without more seems to be "gun control" in the form of "gun ban"

The problem that I have with the type of statements that Costas made is that when this issue is discussed it MUST be discussed first and foremost with the notion that you are talking about altering a Constitutionally protected right.  This is not simply an "ends justifies the means" discusion.

Gun posession is an individually contisutionally protected right, just as free speech is, just as freedom of association is, just as being free from unreasonable searches and seizures is.  Thus, I believe it is on the proponent of "gun control" not justify their position with why the curtailment should occurr and how the curtailment should occurr.

I assert that more people have died because of words than because of guns.  The rhetoric of the radical, rabble rouser, rebel and patriot have caused more death then anything else.  And yet, we protect freedom of speech.  I wonder if the next time someone's rhetoric is linked to death, or tragedy if Mr. Costa's will call for curtailment of his Constitutional right of freedom of speech?

Everyday our constitutional protections lead to tragedy and yet we don't alter our constitution.  Everyday, in courthouses across this country criminals are released due to violations of their contitutional rights.  It's not that we dont' know they aren't guilty, its that we value the protections of our contitution to such a degree that we are willing to suffer the occassional adverse consequences and tragedies in order to ensure our constitutional rights.  Every day people that are found with drugs are freed not because there is a doubt that they didn't posses illegal drugs, but rather because their right against unreasonable searches and seizures was violated.

We allow groups like the KKK to march and spew their hat not because we agree with them, but because we value the right of free speech.

In this country we cannot look at our consitutional rights based upon an ends justifies the means test.  We cannot limit our constitutional rights because of tragedies that occur.

The Belcher murder/suicide was a horrible crime/event.  However, given that based upon the information that is available as I write this it appears that the gun was bought legally.  Thus, without the benefit of Costas or Whitlock telling us what they mean by "gun control" their statements are worthless. 

Again, given that this is an individual protected constitutional right it is their burden to define under what circumstances and how they seek to curtail/limit/ or infringe on that right.

I wasn't able to open the link.

ETA Nevermind

X2

Guns don't kill people, people kill people. 

Is everybody who disagrees with you an idiot? 

Just the ones who don't keep their mouths shut...

If you think gun control makes any sense at all, then maybe we should have fork control and then we won't have any fat people.  I'm sure everyone would agree we'd still have just as many fat people without forks: they'd just use a spoon.  Likewise, gun control makes no sense.  It's just dumb and there's zero logic in it.

Andi

Agreed.  Left Brain = smart brain!

100% agreed. 

So those of you who are pro guns - do you not think there is a connection to more guns = more gun deaths?

It seems to me compared to a lot of other countries we have more guns and also more murders, mass murders etc.  Of course you can kill a person a lot of different ways but guns are so easy - it is pulling a trigger.  I agree it is the person who pulls the trigger but allowing them to get guns so easy is part of the problem IMO.

I am not against all guns for all people but do think it should be MUCH more difficult to get a gun. I could go out today and get a gun and I am in no way qualified to own a gun.  Just because you are an American and it is a right does not mean you should be allowed.  Easier to get a gun than a drivers license.  People should have to take tests, longer waiting period etc.

Alcohol kills over 30,000 people a year in drunk driving... but of course it is never the alcohols fault... it is always the person that chose to drive drunk.... why is it every time a gun is used to kill someone, everyone talks about gun bans... why isn't Costa talking about alcohol bans, or car bans, or even bar bans?

Oh ya, that's right... because plenty of people get drunk responsibly and nobody sees the need to punish the many because of the few... I mean heck... it only 30,000 lives.

So it is coming out that he struggled with alcohol, pain killers and head injuries.  I would say THAT should be the primary focus of the ENTIRE conversation.

I am all for gun control, but to Brock's point above, this wouldn't have stopped it. 

The problem is he had mental issues.  Head trama.  Alcohol abuse.  Pain killer abuse.  Which all lead to his violent behavior. 

Maybe, just maybe, something good can come from something bad.  Not to the point that Costa was talking, although I do agree with his one premise.  Those that say "this puts it into perspective" continue to say that every single time this happens.  If they need something like this to "put it into perspective" they will never get it. 

Long story short, not just in the NFL, but across sports, a frank discussion needs to be had, about all of this.  NHL (recent suicides), MLB (chronic depression is finally being recognized), etc.  Maybe this instance will be the tipping point.  I hope it is.  I doubt it will be, but I honestly hope it is. 

And I hope that the little girl who lost both of her parents, grows up in a better world.

From my view....and admittedly, it comes from years and years of dealing with these types of situations so many of my ideas are based on my general perception of what I have seen....the primary focus should be educating women on how to get away from these jerks.  Working the problem from your angle hasn't worked, and to continue in that vein is a waste of time and resources IMO.  Sure, you can try to get the Belchers of the world some help.....but not before you  help women get away from their abusers.  The entire mindset needs to change.....hell, look just at what has been writtenon this forum....it's all about Belcher.  Hey folks, he's a friggin' murderer!  He is NOT the victim in this story.....geez.

I switched back to that channel just in time to catch him doing the end of this segment, and I was floored that he is this much of a moron.  If someone wants to kill someone, or themselves, not having a gun will NOT make any difference except in the method they use.

In case you forgot, Mr. Costas, people were killing people in Biblical number loooong before the invention of firearms.

Freaking idiot.

Yeah, let's take the focus off DV.  Ugh.  I've heard enough stories of DV deaths w/out guns to know he wouldn't have needed a gun, interviewed enough women who've been beaten to a pulp w/out a gun to know Monsieur Belcher, a professional football player, could've inflicted enuf damage on his own without a gun.  It was just more expeditious.

Point taken on educating women on removing themselves from these types of situation. 

Any reason we can't do both?

I do agree with this.  We need to teach our daughters how to get out of these situations.  Even better teach them how to never get into them.  Women need options. I feel raising strong confident daughters is #1. Teaching them to always have an out is important. I have three daughters and I would never want them to be in a place where they had no exit strategy.

Not everyone.  But Costas is.