“It is pathetic !” : Warriors head coach leaves pre-game press conference after criticizing Senate for blocking gun control

On Tuesday, the head coach of the NBA’s Golden State Warriors, a San Francisco-based team, made it clear he didn’t want to talk about basketball until after that night’s playoff game. Instead, Steve Kerr used his time in front of the cameras to deliver a moving speech aimed at discussing and condemning politicians’ inaction in the face of gun violence in the United States.

Earlier today, an 18-year-old gunman entered Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, killing 19 students and two teachers. At the pre-game press conference, Kerr decided to speak out about this completely preventable tragedy and call for immediate action. “When are we going to do something? Kerr asked after going through the list of recent gun violence in the United States, slamming her hand on the table.

Holding back tears and furious at the dire situation, Kerr continued to say he was tired of witnessing the tragedies inflicted on innocent people: “I’m tired of moments of silence. Enough.” The coach called out a group of senators for not listening to the American people, and he had a lot to say. Scroll down to read the full speech and the overwhelming support he received on social networks.

During Tuesday’s pregame press conference, Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr made it clear that “basketball matters don’t matter.”

Picture credits: warriors

Instead, he delivered a moving speech discussing recent tragic events and condemning gun violence in the United States.

Kerr then accused the Senate of blocking House Resolution 8 (HR 8), the bipartisan background check law of 2021. “There’s a reason they won’t vote, and that’s to keep the power,” said the coach. You see, HR 8 would fill in the gaps in the law on background checks. “The purpose of this law is to use the current background check process in the United States to ensure that persons prohibited from purchasing or possessing firearms are unable to obtain firearms. on fire,” the bill reads.

HR 8 would prohibit transfers of weapons between private parties unless a licensed arms dealer, manufacturer or importer first takes possession of the firearm to conduct a background check. Although there are some exceptions, such as gifts between immediate family members.

According to Everytown for Gun Safety, a nonprofit that campaigns for gun control and against gun violence, nearly a quarter of Americans who obtain guns do so without a background check. HR 8 would require checks on all gun sales, and their investigations show it would help stop sales to prohibited buyers. “Since 1994, background checks have stopped more than 4 million illegal gun sales to violent criminals and other gun-banned individuals,” the researchers write. “Closing loopholes in the process with HR 8 will ensure that background checks are required for all gun sales and will help prevent guns from falling into the wrong hands.”

The House of Representatives passed the bill by a vote of 227 to 203 in March 2021, with eight Republicans voting in favor and one Democrat against. However, he has been stuck in the Senate for more than a year – ten Republican votes are needed to end the filibuster. So Kerr looked at the camera before addressing Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell by name and taking aim at other senators as well.

Kerr is known for his steadfast stance in favor of stricter gun control, regularly and publicly demanding stricter regulations. It’s a personal matter for the coach, who remains a strong advocate of political issues. He lost his father, Malcolm H. Kerr, to gunmen in Lebanon in 1984 when he was president of the American University of Beirut. According to the Washington Post, Steve Kerr was born in Beirut and moved to California as a toddler. During his college years, he said in an interview that basketball helped him deal with the tragedy of losing his father.

You can watch the full speech right here

Steve Kerr on today’s tragic shooting in Uvalde, Texas. pic.twitter.com/lsJ8RzPcmC

– Golden State Warriors (@warriors) May 24, 2022

Ahead of Tuesday’s game, which was preceded by a minute’s silence, Dallas Mavericks coach Jason Kidd also voiced his concerns. “We’re really going to play with a heavy heart tonight for the community, for Robb Elementary School,” Kidd said. “As coaches, as fathers, we have children, the people in this room have children, primary school; you can just think of what might happen with any of your family members or friends at a school. It’s training on the job, and we’re going to try to play the game. We have no choice.”

Warriors guard Damion Lee agreed with Kerr and joined him in calling for action. “Obviously everyone saw Steve’s pre-game presser. Those are exactly the same feelings. It’s a sad world we live in. We have to reform that,” he said. “Guns shouldn’t be so readily available. It’s easier to have a gun than formula milk right now. It’s amazing in this country we live in.”