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Ladd Everitt of Coalition to Stop Gun Violence tells Alan why he thinks stricter gun laws are needed.
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I'm only -- when a Muslim -- -- he says director of communications.
For the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence.
And -- and -- thank you coming on the program tonight.
You're pretty sure it's a busy time.
I just want to -- audience before we start talking here what Bob Costas said last night.
He got a lot of criticism for directly quoting fox sports writer Jason whitlock about the gun culture here's what Kostis had to -- Our current gun culture whitlock wrote in sewers that more and more domestic disputes -- -- in the ultimate tragedy.
And that more convenience store confrontations over loud music coming from a car will -- more teenage boy's bloodied and dead.
They also what went on to say this handguns did not enhance our safety.
They exacerbate our flaws -- -- to escalate arguments and bait us into embracing confrontation.
Rather than avoiding it.
In the coming days to bond built his actions and their possible connection to football will be analyzed.
Who knows but here -- road Jason whitlock.
Is what I believe.
It's -- bond Belcher didn't possess a gun.
He and -- Perkins would both be alive today.
Of course he's talking about the churches took place when.
-- -- that killed his girlfriend and then later on himself.
-- understand -- I guess a lot of people feel that this commentary had no place in the middle of a football game.
Yeah I mean I I think I can appreciate that but I you know I also think extraordinary events demand extraordinary responses.
And you know I.
I think if you if you look at this in isolation if you if you just look at what happened.
-- -- -- you might say you know got this -- over the line.
But I I think we need to put this in context and understanding that the NFL has been literally played.
By a series of gruesome gun related incidents in in recent years you know whether we're talking about the very recent suicide -- a gun to his side.
A junior say Al.
Or the gun on the side of Steve -- here.
Who was killed by his girlfriend -- got a gun through a private -- parking lot -- the shooting death of Sean Taylor the Washington Redskins safety.
Who had a brilliant career ahead of them and and -- was armed by the -- still shot dead.
So I -- -- and then we haven't even begun even talk about Plaxico Burress in that situation so I I think -- this was looking through this.
Through the lens of a tragedy as he explained so articulately in -- articulately and brilliantly.
Through the lens of a tragedy that just keeps all repeating.
And I think -- point was.
You know if if we address this with platitudes.
Like our elected leader so often do you know these ridiculous platitudes that sound like.
You know talking points from a script.
Then we're doomed to repeat you know that did the same tragedy and.
And -- you know.
What whitlock was really talking about the really -- spurred it seems those comments at the end of -- -- column.
Was the issue whether the game should that have been played -- all so.
That was really that the thrust of the whitlock column.
And what -- was -- that was another part of what would blunt was saying as a result of the question of whether or not the game should go on a list.
You know I -- I'm not I was not personally familiar with.
-- -- -- columnist before this but I read his piece.
-- and I think that -- was right on all counts and I'll say this Q I think he understands the gun issue from top to bottom.
I think you -- I believe very firmly understand the the existing research body of research that's out there that shows that owning firearms that that that farm is far more likely.
To be used against you or a loved one that is against any Roman -- I think he -- that.
But -- I think he also very firmly grasps.
The insurrection just ideology that drives the current pro -- movement and he alluded to that news pieces well so I think this guy -- As a very firm grasp of of the modern pro gun movement and the way they just boarded our constitution democracy.
ICI I I side with you on the issue of gun control I just I do understand the argument I do understand the argument that maybe doesn't belong in the middle of the game.
But.
I I don't.
And that being said I don't believe that Bob costs is actually calling for gun control he was talk about the gun culture.
And he was talking about had there not -- a gun to people might be alive today -- we don't know that for sure.
If I mean you know we -- other there other ways to kill people.
But without a gun it's very possible -- those two people and very likely there's two people might be alive today but I don't I didn't if he was literally and he wasn't talking about legislation.
He wasn't talking about remedies he was talking in the broader sense about the gun culture.
He didn't have to talk -- me this statement didn't have to talk about specific legislation the man was clearly calling for stronger gun laws as was Jason whitlock.
And again you know -- you know I think you know you're going to have commentators on the far right wing.
And we've seen them trotted out today on Fox News in The Washington Times and wherever else.
I didn't and you and you get what you expect the people that basically where they'd be -- -- their subsidiary.
Are gonna come out and -- -- but you know -- kid -- -- an isolation it's not that just Javon Belcher they have experienced.
These series of grotesque gun related deaths.
And I think -- and probably many others in the NFL because we have seen strong statements by the way from the medical personnel in the past so that.
I think god -- you just reached a breaking point.
And and you know -- -- bright guy and I think -- like the rest of bust.
And you know -- trying to think about this is where we come -- on the issue we all know the next one it's coming right.
Because that you know nothing that stop the next severely depressing guy or homicidal maniac with a kill list.
From being able to -- stockpile firearms.
So you know I don't buy this negative he.
For some football into our political I guess maybe this was a little too much -- but let's get real here this was a couple of minutes.
And it was it was in response to extraordinary circumstances.
And you know.
It in terms of people on the right wing I think what they're ticked off about.
It's a would have the guts just to stand up the Iranians Garamendi.
And I would you know quite frankly I wish it was President Obama not -- -- Which -- glad -- he has director of communications for the coalition's top gun violence what.
Could have happened or what could there be in place that could've prevented what happened over the weekend.
Well I think the first thing we didn't a couple of things we need to realize here the first is that a guy does not -- up 1 morning.
And decides to execute his girlfriend and the mother of that is.
Three month old daughter in front of her mother okay you don't wake up 1 morning -- -- at that point.
This guy obviously had some type -- dissidents.
To where he was you know -- issued this -- -- time to -- -- so clearly there was something going on with this sentence you know mental help I.
I think that it's safe assumption don't know what it is yet we're gonna learn a lot more in the coming days.
But I think the next thing we need to understand is that the screening for gun buyers for mental health is -- really really shallow.
The only two categories of Americans that would -- be prohibited from buying guns based on the issue of mental health.
Would be people who have been involuntarily committed basically forced to go into an institution.
Where people who have been adjudicated by a court as a mental -- -- like -- Do we have any sense that that Javon would have some have been prevented from getting a gun.
And we don't know that it what does that.
Standard under that standard obviously not but I think the broader point here -- those categories were drawn up in 1968.
And the problem today is that if you look at the overwhelming body of Americans who are severely mentally ill.
Very few people fallen to one of those too narrow categories.
This is legislation that was done over four decades ago were ignoring.
Four plus decades of research.
One who might be a threat or more likely to commit violent crimes based on their mental state were ignoring actually generate will not allowed to have that debate.
Let us go to some calls or -- -- people wanna comment on this Robby in San Jose California high.
Yet I just want ask why people like they're focused on.
Not -- being the like do I like our guesses and you don't feel like like yeah people like you can't ever.
And I do not why not get over that many people got gun owners do not connect -- And it like BP or focusing on the very very very minority.
Small percentage of people to commit -- At least people look at -- on anyway regardless of whether the govern.
It is just ridiculous.
And then in the state of California which has the strictest got ball that may -- -- didn't do much for that and more rounds you each other so -- -- just throw another few doubt I'll let you want to respond to to the.
I'd be happy to Libya have a -- well you know the question is why why should we focus owned and I -- -- and the answer that very simple the reason why we should focus on gun violence.
It because -- out of every three homicides in this country are committed with a gun.
The reason why we should focus on gun violence has -- -- ever reach used to -- side.
Is committed with -- don't know if this -- -- you know if it's preposterous notion.
That nine didn't -- sort pencils or whatever else -- -- -- -- Cox is as lethal as a firearm it's true.
-- the the weapon of choice for criminals and murderers wouldn't be guns that's why we're focusing on -- All right thank you very much for the call yeah I -- let people wanted to can hope I stay with -- little bit here -- -- and a common -- -- you've got more stats and I -- for example.
Is it you that more gun violence takes place among people who know each other than people who don't.
That that actually is true it if you look at homicide data from the FBI uniform crime report.
I'm in 78%.
Of cases.
The perpetrators knows that they -- You know -- -- -- there -- one quarter of homicides they're family.
So yeah that's that's absolutely true.
We're gonna take a quick break -- lines are open and allowed people to comment on this a lot of people who are gun aficionados -- gun owners might be very upset with what you're -- -- let's get some stats on the table and -- hasn't.
He is director of communications for the coalition to stun gun violence.
