‘When are we going to do something?’
Steve Kerr, coach of NBA side Golden State Warriors, has delivered a passionate speech condemning gun violence in the United States, hours after 19 children and two adults were killed in a mass-shooting at a school in Texas.
An 18-year-old gunman opened fire at Robb Elementary School in the city of Uvalde on Tuesday before he was killed by law enforcement, officials said.
Kerr’s Warriors side were in Texas for a playoff game against Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday night. Appearing before reporters, he refused to discuss basketball at a press conference, instead fiercely criticising the lack of meaningful action on gun control in the country.
“When are we going to do something,” he yelled. “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 is a long-time advocate for gun control
The 56-year-old also made reference to recent shootings which left ten dead at a supermarket in Buffalo, New York state, and a shooting at an Orange County church, which claimed the life of another person.
Kerr lost his father when he was shot dead during a terrorist attack in Beirut in 1984. He is is a long-time advocate of gun control, repeatedly pledging his support for a bill which requires more rigorous background checks on people buying firearms in the US.
Though the bill passed the US House of Representatives in 2021, it did not get to the Senate.
Addressing Mitch McConnell, Minority Leader of the United States Senate, Kerr said: “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.”
Kerr concluded by asking those watching to apply more pressure on the Senate members.
“It’s pathetic,” he shouted, slamming the desk as he left the room. “I’ve had enough.”
"I am tired of the moments of silence. Enough!"
An emotional Steve Kerr calls on America to do more to address its 'pathetic' gun control pic.twitter.com/IqMMGoFIsg
— JOE (@JOE_co_uk) May 25, 2022
Related links:
- Texas school shooting: Video appears to show gunman at school
- Texas school shooter’s haunting social media message hours before massacre revealed
- Texas shooting: First victims identified as death toll rises to 21
