NFL players inspired to give back guns after Belcher murder/suicide
NFL players are handing their guns over to their respective team’s security personnel in lieu of Jovan Belcher‘s murder-suicide.
According to a report by Sports Illustrated’s Peter King, one player handed over multiple guns, saying that he no longer trusted himself with them.
On Dec. 1, Belcher shot and killed his girlfriend, Kasandra Perkins, at their home, then drove to Arrowhead Stadium where he then shot himself in the head in front of Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli and coach Romeo Crennel.
The couple had a 3-month-old daughter named Zoey. Chiefs players and coaches have set up a trust fund for her, and she is currently in the care of her paternal grandmother.
Since the incident, some players say they no longer trust themselves with their own guns. Others say that guns are just for protection.
Chiefs defensive tackle Shaun Smith became defensive when asked about a “gun culture” in professional sports, a report from ESPN said.
“Just because we’re in the NFL, that doesn’t make us no different,” Smith said. “You never know when someone would try to rob you or whatever. … I’ve worked hard to get where I am. I’ll be damned if I’d let someone just take it away from me, period.”
