Bob Costas turns NFL shooting tragedy into gun-control debate...at half-time.

[Eleanors38]

You can go to HuffPo to see his speech during half-time.

Costas spoke of how it takes a tragedy -- in this instance, an NFL player who killed his wife and then himself -- to put sports into perspective. He might have added that it takes a tragedy to indulge a political outlook.

What's next? A statement against abortion? How about staying in Afghanistan til the job's done? Perhaps the elimination of Medicare?

This commentary is another example of how elitist the gun-control outlook has become: The "issue" depends almost wholly on the pronouncements of well-placed media elites, a few top politicians, and the old stand-bys in MSM. It takes a tragedy, indeed.

[DonP]

1. You didn't really expect him to indict the NFL or football, did you?

How many former players, and some active, have committed suicide due to brain injuries?

How long has the whole brain injury thing been ignored by the league, the owners, the players union and notably by broadcasters refusing to connect any dots?

What medications legal and illegal was this particular player using at the time of his crime?

If Costas did that, the NFL might not find him quite so attractive as a broadcaster.

Just follow the cheap ass politicians path and blame guns for the problem, never the guy that actually used it to kill the mother of his 3 year old and heaven forbid you look any deeper into what may have caused him to commit this crime.

They might not like what they find.

[Marinedem]

2. Wow.

Well put. Really puts things in perspective.

[AtheistCrusader]

5. Or a culture of hyper-masculine misogyny.

'Oh, I love you soooo much I'm takin' you with me!'

Sickening.

[trouble.smith]

13. or a disproportionately high incidence of violent homicide among young African American males.

[Starboard Tack]

6. Excellent points you make about football, it's promotion of head injuries and handgun use.

Makes a lot of sense. Then you throw in the possible drug use. Triple whammy. Obviously, you're saying football players should not be allowed to have guns. Yeah, that should solve all our problems. Because we can't ban football, can we? What would all those brain damaged people do on a Monday night without football? Play with their guns?

[Clames]

10. Promotion of head injuries and handguns?

Almost a decent joke if I didn't know you were serious when you wrote that. Sad.

[friendly_iconoclast]

8. Costas knows what side his bread is buttered on- of course he holds the NFL blameless...

[Bluzmann57]

3. Message to everyone

Especially sportscasters.
I have perspective. I know what's important and what's not so important. I like sports, especially baseball and football. But I don't consider them to be the major part of my life. My wife, my soon to arrive daughter, my day to day survival, that is what I find important. That is perspective.
Sorry. But we all the time hear people, especially sportscasters saying ,"This puts it all in perspective". The man shooting his lady friend and himself was indeed a tragedy. And it is entirely possible that it will reopen a discussion about gun control. But please don't tell me about "putting things in perspective."

[Clames]

4. Bob Costas shouldn't have stooped to quote a bigot...

...like Jason Whitlock.

[Eleanors38]

7. I guess Whitlock is rehabilitated because he is anti-gun.You

[DonP]

12. Anyone can be rehabilitated is they start to "sound" anti gun

If you recall, we had people down here applauding Scott Walker when he banned CCW in some state controlled buildings. All while the unions were still in the capital building in Madison.

The same week that Bloomberg was crushing OWS and unions, we had people here talking about what a great person he was for his "stings" and MAIG.

How many posters suddenly loved the previously hated and illegal "Bush/Cheney Terrorist Watch List", when they wanted to apply it to restrict firearm purchases?

Gun control supporters tend to have pretty loose principles, allegiances and a clear case of conditional ethics.

[Eleanors38]

14. Gun-control is not only elitist, it is one-issue for prohibitionists.

[Berserker]

9. Great Post

Well said.

[SkatmanRoth]

11. Bob Costas' half time thoughts were only half thought out

Clearly Mr. Costas was taking ignominious advantage of a tragic situation to advance his personal beliefs. Costas' monologue was little more than a flagrant application of emotional appeal to restrict guaranteed rights enjoyed by citizens of the United States.