David Stern understands having a gun to protect your home. He's not convinced carrying one on the streets makes you any safer.
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For that reason, the NBA commissioner said Wednesday that he would prefer his players leave their firearms behind when they go out.
"It's a pretty, I think, widely accepted statistic that if you carry a gun, your chances of being shot by one increase dramatically," Stern said during his preseason conference call. "We think this is an alarming subject, that although you'll read players saying how they feel safer with guns, in fact those guns actually make them less safe. And it's a real issue."
It's one that was raised recently when Indiana's Stephen Jackson shot a gun in the air at least five times outside an Indianapolis strip club on Oct. 6. He originally told police he fired in self-defense during a fight in which he was hit by a car.
The NBA's collective bargaining agreement allows players to own licensed guns, but they can't carry them on any league or team business. Asked what kind of firearm rule he would want if collective bargaining weren't involved, Stern said: "I would favor being able to have a firearm to protect your home. Period."
2006-10-25 14:40:50 · 5 answers · asked by marnefirstinfantry 5 in Sports ➔ Basketball
Interesting question, can you tell people when they can and can't carry a gun when they are legally allowed to do so? (Jackson had a permit allowing him to carry it). Stern who is a marketing genius seems to be overstepping his boundaries a bit here. Last year he imposed a dress code on players who are injured and sitting on the bench. Now he wants to make carrying a gun against the NBA rules? One thing he has in his favor is that the NBA union is very weak so he may pull it off. He would never get away with some of things he has done if their union was a strong as the MLB players union.
My answer to this question is no it's inappropriate for him to do this even though I am against guns personally, he doesn't have a right to tell them what they can and can't do with their personal property.
2006-10-26 04:56:56 · answer #1 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Who is to say what is fair in these circumstances. First his statement:"It's a pretty, I think, widely accepted statistic that if you carry a gun, your chances of being shot by one increase dramatically," Stern said during his preseason conference call. is flat out wrong. There are no statistics to show the truth. If you shoot off your mouth and your gun like that player did, it may be true. Statistics do prove however if a criminal thinks you might have a gun on you, he will look for easier prey.
2006-10-25 15:10:25 · answer #2 · answered by eferrell01 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
To the NBA players, hire a body guards and leave the guns alone.
2006-10-30 15:14:39 · answer #3 · answered by smitty 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
How would that work for Shaq since he's a researve deputy, since most departments mandate that an off-duty officer carry and according to HR 218 he can (and should) carry nation wide?
2006-10-25 17:21:17 · answer #4 · answered by .45 Peacemaker 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
of course it's fair. the commisioner is responsible for anything that affects the safety of the players or the image of the league. he can't/won't/shouldn't make a rule deciding what players do outside of league activities, but he can state opinions
2006-10-25 14:46:07 · answer #5 · answered by C_Millionaire 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋