Sports Teams Support Stricter Gun Laws During Games

The event that should have been a simple Sunday night of sporting turned into a lecture on gun control from multiple sports teams.

During warm ups before Game 2 of the NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and the Golden State Warriors, both teams wore orange shirts with the phrase “End Gun Violence” plastered on the front, and several organizations that use their funds to “end” gun violence on the back. Orange is the color that represents the “Wear Orange Weekend” (obviously), an annual event calling for the end of gun violence.

The Celtics are warming up in orange shirts that read “End Gun Violence” on the front, and these organizations on the back. pic.twitter.com/IahdWs8jZx

— Kerith Burke (@KerithBurke) June 5, 2022

Ime Udoka is the Celtics’ coach. He said that it was important to quickly pass gun control laws, as they will prevent people living without fear.

“The awareness is really about things that are continuing to happen in our communities,” Celtics head coach Ime Udoka said. “They’re devastated by it, their families are devastated and we can’t go on with our normal life and business … It continues to happen, so awareness and change needs to be made.”

Although it is important to keep our communities safe and secure, trying to limit gun ownership won’t make us feel more safe over the long term. Gun ownership that is responsible can increase self-defense. This is because criminals will find ways to obtain guns no matter what laws exist.

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The U.S. men’s national soccer team also got in on the action and wore orange armbands in their international friendly against Uruguay, in addition to their pride-themed jerseys.

The team also wrote a letter asking Congress for gun control. Greg Berhalter, the head coach, first suggested that the letter be written and then sent it to his team. They approved.

Part of the letter says, “With legislation being examined in the coming hours in both the House of Senate, we implore your to stand with most Americans who support tougher gun laws.”

Wanting less gun violence, again, is an excellent thing. However, the overreaching and half-baked solutions that these teams are trying to find will not resolve any problems with gun violence.