Steve Kerr has never shied away when it comes to speaking out against issues like gun violence, and in the wake of yet another mass shooting in the country, the Golden State Warriors head coach was once again using his platform to address this issue.
Prior to Tuesday’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers, Kerr sat at the podium with a black screen behind him that listed the 18 names of the victims from the Atlanta spa shooting and Colorado grocery store shooting, which happened five days apart.
While Kerr opened his presser about the importance of remembering the victims and humanizing them, it was his comments targeted at lawmakers that were most brow-raising.
Kerr ripped lawmakers for continuing to allow these tragedies to happen and not passing any gun legislation.
“We can’t just sit here and accept that we are going to allow our fellow citizens to mow each other down with weapons of war,” he said. “It’s the most disgusting thing that exists within our country. It’s ridiculous, disgusting, devastating. We have to do something about it. Our Senate has to do something about it.”
As the discussion with media continued, Kerr specifically called out Texas Senator Ted Cruz to put himself in the shoes of the victims.
“We have to protect each other and the best way to do that is to humanize the victims,” he said. “Get people to understand this could be – Ted Cruz, this could be your family. Your friend. This could be somebody very close to you.
“If it happened, would you not want there to be something in place where there could be a background check? It’s just mindboggling to me that we can continue to cater to the very small minority in this country. Again, 90% of Americans – regardless of political affiliation – support background checks.”
Kerr also slammed the talking points he hears from the other side about why gun legislation is not needed.
“’This is the price of freedom.’ That’s possibly the dumbest expression I’ve heard in my life,” Kerr said. “Can you imagine the price of freedom being a bunch of innocent people being mowed down by a weapon of war. But no, ‘that’s the price of freedom. That’s why we’re Americans.’ What are we even talking about?”
Kerr continued: “We have to address it. We can’t just turn it into a political issue and romanticize this idea that Americans get to have guns and that it’s a God-given right. I mean, what does that even mean? Did guns exist when God created Earth? I wasn’t aware of that.”
While Kerr’s most scathing comments were directed at lawmakers, he ultimately wanted everyone to make sure we remember the victims.
“These are human beings. These are people who have been lost,” he said. “The thought of the mothers and fathers and sisters, brothers, daughters and sons who are grieving right now with the loss of the people behind me is just devastating — particularly in the wake of what is just a common occurrence in our country and an inability of our representatives in government of doing anything about it.”
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