In Australia, we are fortunate not to have the gun problems, shootings and massacres that are becoming a recurring part of American life. How can anything be more heinous and tragic than senseless shootings of innocent children at schools. Following the Tasmanian Port Arthur mass shooting in 1996, stringent gun control and ownership measures were introduced Australia wide, a cause for both praise and criticism from various quarters in the US.
Today’s reprint is an article from The Sun about a passionate speech made by NBA coach Steve Kerr. The link is as follows:
To watch the speech, click on:
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH NBA coach Steve Kerr issues impassioned and emotional gun-plea after Texas school shooting massacre
GOLDEN State Warriors NBA coach Steve Kerr has delivered a passionate speech about gun violence following the Texas school massacre.
The horrific attack took place on Tuesday morning when the suspected shooter Salvador Ramos, 18, opened fire inside Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.
A fourth-grade teacher and a 10-year-old student are among the first of 21 victims to be named after the massacre.
The NBA coach, who has long been an advocate for gun control, issued an emotional plea following the carnage.
His father was shot dead in a terrorist attack in Beirut in 1984.
Speaking during a news conference ahead of his team's game he said: “When are we going to do something.
“I’m tired. I am so tired of getting up here and offering condolences to the devastated families that are out there. I am so tired of the, excuse me, I am sorry, I am tired of the moments of silence. Enough!”
Kerr has supported on several occasions a bill that would require tighter background checks on those buying firearms.
Despite the bill passing the US House of Representatives last year, it did not get to the Senate.
Addressing the Senate minority leader, Mitch McConnell, Kerr continued: “I ask you, Mitch McConnell, I ask all of you senators who refuse to do anything about the violence and school shootings and supermarket shootings.
"I ask you: Are you going to put your own desire for power ahead of the lives of our children and our elderly and our churchgoers
"Because that’s what it looks like. It’s what we do every week.”
Shortly before leaving the press conference Kerr slammed the table and delivered his final statement:
"I'm fed up. I've had enough. We can't get numb to this.
"We can't sit here and just read about it and go, well, let's go have a moment of silence."
“It’s pathetic. I’ve had enough."
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