Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, knows what it feels like to be a part of something. After all, the former Arizona star has won championships as both a player and coach.
However, Kerr now finds himself a part of something that has nothing to do with sports.
Speaking at a town hall on gun violence in California, Kerr said described how he sees the gun control movement.
“For the first time in my life, I feel like there’s a movement happening,” Kerr told a group of students at the town hall.
“We’re not looking to take away anyone’s Second Amendment rights, what we’re doing is saying this is a huge safety issue.”
According to USA Today Sports, “Kerr and U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) took questions from students from seven Bay Area high schools at the event, which was also broadcast on Khanna’s Facebook page.
“Kerr has been an outspoken advocate for gun control measures, a call that was renewed when 17 people were killed by a gunman at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., on Feb. 14.”
The Golden State coach fielded several questions from the students. One question dealt with the issue of whether teachers should be armed.
Kerr said, “I don’t think it’s the right way to approach this issue. I don’t believe in the old adage that more guns is going to make us more safe. There’s an excellent likelihood mistakes will be made.”
Kerr also impressed upon the students the importance of their role, in making “gun safety” an important political issue.
“If we want to make gun safety an issue, we’re going to have to do it with awareness,” he said. “It’s up to you people and your peers to let everybody running for office know this is issue No. 1.”
Much of Kerr’s passion for the gun control issue stems from his father’s murder. In 1984, Kerr’s father, Malcolm Kerr, was killed while serving as the head of the American University in Beirut, Lebanon.
Follow Dylan Gwinn on Twitter @themightygwinn
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