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DALLAS – In an emotional speech hours after a mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, on Tuesday, Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr criticized Congress leaders for their inaction over legislation on arms control.
“When are we going to do something?” Kerr said during a press conference before Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals. “I’m tired. I’m very tired of coming up here and offering my condolences to the devastated families out there. I’m tired of the moments of silence. Enough. There are 50 senators, right now, who are refusing to vote on HR 8, which is a background check rule approved by the House. [last year]. … There is a reason they will not vote for him: to stay in power.
“I ask you, Mitch McConnell, and I ask all senators to refuse to do anything about violence, school shootings, supermarket shootings, I ask you, ‘Go put your own desire for power first. of lives. of our children, our elders, and our faithful? ‘ Because that’s what it looks like. “
Kerr, 56, has long been an advocate for gun control. The issue is personal: his father, Malcolm, was shot dead in Beirut in 1984.
The shooter killed at least 18 students, according to officials
State officials said at least 18 students at Robb Elementary School and a teacher were killed by an 18-year-old gunman. The shootout took place about 350 miles southwest of Dallas, where the Warriors will face the Mavericks on Tuesday night, followed by other recent mass shootings in Buffalo and Laguna Woods, California.
The House of Representatives passed the 2019 Bipartisan Background Check Act, which seeks to expand federal background checks for the purchase of weapons. The legislation was enacted after a 2012 school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. HR 8 would establish similar background checks.
“In the last 10 days, we’ve had big black people murdered in a supermarket in Buffalo. We’ve murdered Asian religious people in Southern California. Now we have murdered children at school,” Kerr said, hitting the table at one point to put emphasis. “Do you realize that 90 percent of Americans, regardless of political party, want universal background checks? We are held hostage by 50 senators in Washington who even refuse to vote, despite what we want. We, the American people, will not vote for him because they want to maintain their own power. It is pathetic. “
Warriors star Stephen Curry shared a clip of Kerr’s comments Tuesday, adding, “Watch this as much as you watch tonight’s game.”
Mavericks coach Jason Kidd read a brief statement about the shooting during his pre-match press conference.
“Our hearts are on the victims and the family of the horrific events in Uvalde,” Kidd said. “We send our condolences to our fellow Texans and keep them in our hearts. We will really play with a heavy heart tonight for the community, for Robb Elementary School.”
The Warriors have a 3-0 lead over the Mavericks and can advance to their sixth NBA Finals in eight years with a win in the fourth game.
The NBA family is devastated by the horrific shooting that took place today in Uvalde, Texas. Our condolences and condolences to the families and friends of the victims, and to the entire Robb Elementary School and Uvalde community.
– NBA (@NBA) May 24, 2022
The NBA issued a statement saying it was “devastated by the horrific shooting,” but did not move to postpone the game. Kidd and Kerr expressed a level of discomfort at playing a few hours after the mass shooting.
“I want every person here, every person who hears this, to think of their own child or grandchild, mother or father, sister or brother,” Kerr said. “How would you feel if this happened to you today? We can’t fall asleep with that. “
In the WNBA, the Washington Mystics opted for a media blackout after their 70-50 victory over the Atlanta Dream on Tuesday night. Guard Natasha Cloud represented the team in comments to reporters after the game.
The Mystics decided to have a media blackout tonight and focus on the Texas shootout. Natasha Cloud represented the team with a few words. #wnba pic.twitter.com/NMxVLV74B1
– Kareem Copeland (reekareemcopeland) May 25, 2022
“These are the ones who use our platform. The game doesn’t matter,” he said. “The 18 lives lost today due to senseless gun violence in Texas in a primary school, we are talking about our children are not safe to go to school and our government is not yet implementing reasonable laws on weapons “.