The day 19 children and 2 teachers were murdered, we held a moment of silence at sporting events around the country, then we played the national anthem, and we went on with our lives.
Players, staff and fans stood for the moment of silence, grieving the lives lost, and then we (myself included) continued to stand, proudly proclaiming ourselves the land of the free and the home of the brave. We didn’t stop to reflect on whether we are actually free and brave after this horrific event, we just stood at attention.
When I was the same age as the children in Uvalde, my father taught me to stand for the pledge of allegiance when I believed my country was representing its people well or to protest and stay seated when it wasn’t. I don’t believe it is representing us well right now.
This particular time, an 18 year old walked into a store, bought multiple assault rifles and hundreds of rounds of ammunition, walked into a school with an armed resource officer and its own police district and was able to murder children for nearly an hour. Parents begged and pleaded with police officers to do something, police officers who had weapons and who receive nearly 40% of the city’s funding, as their children were being murdered.
We elect our politicians to represent our interests. Immediately following this shooting, we were told we needed locked doors and armed teachers. We were given thoughts and prayers. We were told it could have been worse, and we just need love.
But we weren’t given bravery, and we aren’t free. The police on the scene put a mother in handcuffs as she begged them to go in and save her children. They blocked parents trying to organize to charge in to stop the shooter, including a father who learned his daughter was murdered while he argued with the cops. We aren’t free when politicians decide that the lobbyist and gun industries are more important than our children’s freedom to go to school without needing bulletproof backpacks and active shooter drills.
I’m often struck before our games by the lack of delivery of the promise of what our national anthem represents. We stand in honor of a country where we elect representatives to serve us, to thoughtfully consider and enact legislation that protects the interests of all the people in this country and to move this country forward towards the vision of the “shining city on the hill.” But instead, we thoughtlessly link our moment of silence and grief with the equally thoughtless display of celebration for a country that refuses to take up the concept of controlling the sale of weapons used nearly exclusively for the mass slaughter of human beings. We have our moment (over and over), and then we move on without demanding real change from the people we empower to make these changes. We stand, we bow our heads, and the people in power leave on recess, celebrating their own patriotism at every turn.
Every time I place my hand over my heart and remove my hat, I’m participating in a self congratulatory glorification of the ONLY country where these mass shootings take place. On Wednesday, I walked out onto the field, I listened to the announcement as we honored the victims in Uvalde. I bowed my head. I stood for the national anthem. Metallica riffed on City Connect guitars.
My brain said drop to a knee; my body didn’t listen. I wanted to walk back inside; instead I froze. I felt like a coward. I didn’t want to call attention to myself. I didn’t want to take away from the victims or their families. There was a baseball game, a rock band, the lights, the pageantry. I knew that thousands of people were using this game to escape the horrors of the world for just a little bit. I knew that thousands more wouldn’t understand the gesture and would take it as an offense to the military, to veterans, to themselves.
But I am not okay with the state of this country. I wish I hadn’t let my discomfort compromise my integrity. I wish that I could have demonstrated what I learned from my dad, that when you’re dissatisfied with your country, you let it be known through protest. The home of the brave should encourage this.
Thanks, Gabe, for articulating what so many of feel and think. Brave.
Lots of people want to say this is an American problem and a gun-specific problem. That fails to deal with the 2019 New Zealand gun attacks, 51 dead; 2020 Canada mass shooting event, 22 dead; Mass shooting in Plymouth, UK 2021; even things like the Norway bow and arrow mass killings last year.
On a per capita basis the rate of death from mass attacks across the EU combined in the past ten years is not so different from the US. The rate in UK+Canada+Aus+NZ over past five years is 2x the US per cap.
People fail to consider that gun laws aren’t perfect even if better and the best you can do is lower the death count - good, of course. But a person who gets indoctrinated or a frustrated incel who can’t get their hands on guns will still act out. Sometimes they will choose knife or bow and arrow (only 5 dead on that one) but sometimes they may choose arson (as has not been uncommon in Australia), or truck/vehicle rammings which can each be as deadly as shootings. If they start to choose bombings it will be far more deadly and a much worse outcome.
Sorry Peter, but I have to correct you on some of your observations. One month after the Christchurch mass shootings that killed 51 people in two mosques in New Zealand in March 2019, Prime Minister Jacinda Adern led the New Zealand Parliament to pass a law that bans most semiautomatic weapons and assault rifles, parts that convert guns into semiautomatic guns, and higher capacity magazines. That’s how you deal with mass shootings. Of course, there’s no NRA in New Zealand.
What about drunk drivers? Should be ban alcohol? That’s one way to deal with drunks. Doesn’t seem fair to punish responsible gun owner just like it doesn’t seem fair to punish responsible drinkers.
Whataboutism is just a deflection. The issue is a country flooded with weapons, not about drinking and driving. Please stay on point. Thank you, Mr. Kalpan. Thank you.
So what about drunk drivers? You have to get a license to drive. You have to show a basic level of competency and there are police officers all over the place ready to give you a fine if you abuse it (or not depending on how they feel). Why not require the same of people that want a gun? I see this driving comparison all the time, yet it always ignores that cars are much more heavily regulated than guns are.
Thanks Gabe. Very well said. It is okay to kneel. I support you. How many fans mill around and don’t even pay attention during the anthem. Or yell during our anthem. To the detractors, no one is saying to ban guns. Can we just try something new? Anything?
Of course it’s not about drunk driving! It’s about blaming the easy thing…guns! Responsible, law abiding gun owners do not commit these crimes! What is the root cause here? Violent video games, destruction of family and family values? The last time I checked, there are no wild packs of guns out on the streets hunting down innocent victims. There is a person behind the gun and it is never the responsible, law abiding gun owner! Quit taking the easy route and stop blaming guns!
We actually do have lots of laws in place to regulate alcohol. Good comparison. Glad to have you on the team to help get some common sense regulations in place.
Only liberals with a limited ability to use cognitive thinking can change the subject. Blame the politicians who refuse to open medical files to the folks doing background checks. In fact they avoid it completely. HIPPA protects those who do not have the capabilities of responsible gun ownership. The medical community fights this release everytime by lobbying behind the scenes. I am not a NRA member nor support all of their agenda. However one percent of bad gun owners do not justify taking away firearms. I own firearms because of government, not hunting. Open HIPPA up for. Clear background check and these mass murderers will be reduced. Increase jail time for other violent criminals and the number further decreases. Quit taking the rights away as that’s too simple and worthless option.
Pretty sure you can’t kill 19 kids in a matter of minutes from drinking alcohol unless you were to ram a school bus off the road or something which isn’t exactly the easiest thing to do. Context is everything
Dan, just look at the stats. When you compare Gun Ownership by state per capita against gun deaths by state per capita, all the arguments in the world go out the window. It breaks down simply to, More guns in your state, more gun deaths in your state. There’s virtually no outliers here. Montana ranks 1/3 (1st in ownership, 3rd in deaths). Alaska is 3/1. West Virginia 5/9, Alabama 8/2. On the other end is Massachussetts at 50/49, Hawaii at 47/50, New Jersey 49/45. Stop using talking points and look at the data for yourself. I’m an Army vet. I know how to handle a weapon and I also know that the best use of a weapon is to not have to use it and to not have it be around every time you’re upset, drunk or god-forbid, both. I don’t want to take away people’s RIGHT to own a gun. However, it’s gotten way out of whack. 100 years ago people owned guns, but they owned mainly rifles at shotguns. Handguns were rare and mainly used by police. Assault weapons were rather unheard of in a house. Today you run into arsenals generally owned by people who, after 1 minute of discussion, you find they own them primarily out of a sense of fear. Fear of all sorts of things. Their fear is causing the rest of us to live in a dangerous world. No thanks. In most states you have to be 21 to drink, and then you have to take a test (or tests) get insured and you can’t even rent a car until you’re 25. Why? Because MONEY. Insurance and renters know they lose money on kids under 25 that rent cars so they don’t. If gun manufacters could be sued for wrongful death SUDDENLY you’d see a TON of legislation putting limits on gun ownership and how to PROPERLY own a gun.
https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/gun-ownership-by-state
https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/gun-deaths-per-capita-by-state
What is the responsible use of an AR-15?
Are you admitting to drinking and driving? Constitution doesn’t protect ar-15’s certain states allow for them but there is zero constitutional protection. Ever read the Constitution? I am not trying to be rude, it’s a serious question. Alot of second amendment screamers don’t have a clue what it is let alone it’s protections.
That’s such and pathetic response. There is zero reason for anyone in this country to have an assault rifle. And an 18 year old? If you can’t offer anything helpful, get out of the way.
Alcohol is regulated strictly in the USA, so your analogy not only falls short, it only illustrates the need to regulate gun ownership in the same way. There is a certain age you can’t drink, certain things you can’t do when drinking, and certain places you can’t drink alcohol. Asking that guns should apply to the same standards is all most people on this side of the issue want. Thank you for your stance Kap!
Responsible gun owners don’t need weapons of war.
As usual no matter how many times people say BACKGROUND CHECK enhancements people like you say BAN. Do you seriously not understand the difference? We, as in 90% of the country, want better BACKGROUND CHECKS. Figure the f*****g difference out before the next child gets murdered. Signed Proud Responsible Gun Owner.
Can you please explain to me why you think gun owners are being punished if gun laws and regulations? I’m begging you to give me the reason why so many CURRENT gun owners think this way. Please! I’m begging you! Explain it to me!
Indeed, what about drunk drivers? What about how stupidly easy it is to get a driver’s license? I agree! We need to ban most types of firearms AND we need a better way to vet people who don’t have the capacity to drive cars safely.
Just like some alcohol is banned, so should some weapons
How dense and stupid do you have to be to take “maybe we should ban weapons that only have 1 purpose- to kill as many people as possible” as “PRESIDENT BIDEN NEEDS TO BREAK INTO EVERY AMERICAN’S HOME AND STEAL EVERY SINGLE GUN THEY OWN!!!!!!”
Get a grip moron
And maybe try opening a book (hint: not the book “i love guns more than my children: america first!!”) for the first time in your life
Heather-Rose Ryan says
Is it “punishing responsible gun owners” not to allow them to own machine guns?
Your NRA-funded whataboutisms are completely useless and do nothing to address the epidemic of gun violence in this country.
Please go ahead and write about drink drivers on your own blog. Whataboutism popping up again- it’s like whack a mole.
What about seatbelts? I was a responsible driver but what did the data show, deaths were high due to traffic accidents and lack of seat belts. Today its the law you wear a seatbelt. Am i being punished? It really isnt hard to understand!!!
Gun safety laws don’t punish responsible gun owners, they reward them.
If there were a drink that was actually 11 drinks and got you black out drunk…we’d ban that (and yes, we’ve banned that). Learn ti analogy…
Adding info is not “correct”ing. Did they ban the shotgun with which he first killed? No. Did they ban the single action long guns he brought along? No. Did they ban the four full modified petrol containers that he had in his car, which he presumably would have used if he had no access to guns? No.
My very point was that if he had no AR-15, fewer people may have died that day, but many people would have died. Unless because he had no AR-15 he instead used the petrol too effectively. Ban whatever you choose to limit death rates. Also seek to stop the killing more fully by focusing on the root causes that drive it.
US gun deaths are much greater than any other developed country. See this:
https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2022-us-gun-violence-world-comparison/
BTW here’s an example of someone needing correction and what I was responding to: Kaplan: “I’m participating in a self congratulatory glorification of the ONLY country where these mass shootings take place”. Please feel free to correct him after you compare to the short list of events I provided from just a few countries in just the past three years.
You do, at least in California, need to take a firearm safety course and obtain a certificate of completion or a “license” before you can purchase a firearm…
They says there was 170K illegal guns in NZ, only 50K were turned in. Maybe because those New Zealanders didn’t want to become the next Australia, where they throw you in re-education camps for not wearing a mask outside your own house.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-newzealand-shooting-guns/doubts-over-success-of-firearm-buybacks-in-new-zealand-as-amnesty-ends-idUSKBN1YO05B
Steve you do know that semi automatic means you pull the trigger once and only one bullet comes out right? Also high capacity is term used by people who’s knowledge on firearms is lacking as those high capacity magazines are standard capacity. Going back to the semi automatic thing though you do know that most guns are semi automatic right? Most pistols, even hunting rifles and shotguns have semi automatic variants. As far as “assault rifles” those are EXTREMELY regulated in the US. By that I mean assault rifle as a firearm having select fire capabilities. That means semi automatic, burst fire, and/or automatic. You have to pay a fee just to complete papers then usually you’re waiting a year or longer to even hear back. Even after all that the weapon must be pre 1980s. Now as far as these deadly weapons most fun violence is from handguns, hell even blunt objects are used to kill more people each year than these “weapons of war.” One of the main things about guns is they’re used for protection. So say if someone, like the school resource Officer, would’ve have been at the school, like he should’ve been, they could’ve helped stop and or prevent this tragedy. Hell just locking the damn door so the shooter couldn’t have walked in unimpeded would’ve helped. Don’t forget though if someone would’ve simply reported him to the proper person for his comments months and years before this he would’ve been institutionalized and therefore unable to apss a background check. (You know the FBI database background check you must pass when buying a gun from a federally licensed dealer.) You can pass laws all you want but most criminals are criminals for a reason. They don’t follow the laws, like laws for “high capacity magazines”
An 18-year-old high-school drop-out with a job at Wendy’s and no license or training whatsoever, walked into a Texas gun shop and bought approximately $4000 worth of military-style weaponry. How? Can you tell us that? Surely he didn’t have that kind of money. Was it, perhaps, Daniel Defense’s “e-z credit” terms? At any rate, please don’t tell us how “hard” it is to buy this stuff.
There are no background checks required for gun purchases in Texas. There’s no requirement for training or obtaining a license in order to own a gun in Texas. It is easier to buy a gun in Texas than it is to legally drive in the state of Texas (insurance, training, license, registration).
Few complied with that ban in New Zealand. Why lie?
There are approximately 332 million people in the U.S.
These mass shootings are tragic, but they are also incredibly rare.
Don’t make more out of it than it is. Maintain perspective.
The right to self-defense is a natural right.
The right to self-defense is not a right that is awarded by the state, it is a natural right that is protected by the U.S. Constitution.
We don’t have the 2nd Amendment to protect ourselves from ducks and rabbits, we have them to warn an overbearing government to keep its distance.
You people learned nothing from the collectivist wars of the past century. First, they seized weapons, then, they slaughtered their own. Stalin, Hitler, Mao, Pol Pot. You learned nothing.
They’ve actually learned a lot, seizing every opportunity to attempt to disarm the American people so they may finally put us in our place and we won’t get in the way of their thirst for world domination.
Can we please stop with the excuses to not restrict guns? It’s clearly not working and obvious to those without a vested interest in keeping them.
So do we restrict everything that is considered dangerous? There are good people, responsible people that stand to be “punished” by this thinking. The problem cannot be guns…this stuff did not happen when I was a kid. I grew up watch Elmer Fudd blasting Daffy Duck with a shot gun. What what is the real cause of this problem? I can think of several…
We already restrict most things that can kill you in the blink of an eye. Why should guns be different?
We do? Last time I checked, heart disease is the leading cause of death in America…fast food on every corner! Cancer kills…cigarettes and tobacco everywhere! In California, it is a slap on the wrist to get caught with deadly drugs! Guns are the easy target!!!
Get over it already. Once upon a time the same sad tired argument was used by people who didn’t want to wear a seatbelt…or a helmet. Someone up thread said all they have to do is make it possible to sue gun manufacturers for wrongful death and the market would resolve itself. Sounds like a good start. You, Dan…. if you are in fact a responsible gun owner, should get behind this idea because it will have zero impact on you. Get it?
I’m sorry if you see the data I cited as a reason not restrict guns, but that’s what you read, not what I wrote. Interesting that you think the data point to that, however. I don’t. I didn’t say “unnecessary”, I said “insufficient”.
There are over 400 million guns in the USA, only 14K murders per year, most gang related. We have a criminal problem, not a gun problem. Its all you liberals voting in DAs that do not prosecute crimes, coddle criminals, then cry when the 30 times arrested guy, yet never goes to prison, kills someone. Turns out this kid had at least 4 run ins with the law, even threatened 4 years ago to shoot up a school, yet not one thing on his record so his background check went straight through.
This is all lies and cherry picking
That’s a load of crap, and it’s this type of thinking that prevents us from making progress on this issue.
Peter, I also have to provide some context to what you’ve said.
You mention single incidents in various countries, i.e. Canada, NZ, etc. Yet the rate of gun deaths in the US (4.0 per capita) is eight times that in Canada (0.5 per capita). You cited New Zealand; as another poster pointed out, following that mass shooting, they passed extremely strict gun control legislation. The latest data has their per capita death rate at 0.1 — that’s 1/40 of the US rate. The UK is 0.04 — 1/100 the US rate. Are those really the comparisons you want to make?
https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2022-us-gun-violence-world-comparison/
The rate of gun deaths in the US is dominated by suicides and gang-related homicides. Mass attack deaths are 0.1% of the gun death number. I’m all for it if you want to discuss how to fix those numbers, but they have little to do with the rate or incidence of mass attacks.
There are about 2,000 non-gang related homicides per year in US. That’s 0.6 per 100,000. The rate in most EU countries averages 0.5 per 100,000.
Given these facts, I assume that you and I both want desperately to stop gang-related homicides, which are 80-90% of the total of gun deaths and are the major difference between homicide rates in EU and US. There are few nobler goals. It’s certainly possible to save more lives, as there are only 20-30 mass attack deaths in US per year. Let’s focus on the horrible gun deaths of tens of thousands of young people from gang violence together and solve the problem.
Gang violence is 100% different from a sick individual going to buy a gun and shooting an ELEMENTARY SCHOOL full of CHILDREN! What is wrong with you.
Nicole, I think your point is best directed to Michael, who brought it up. I said what you said, that the two are separate. I am glad we agree.
Also, Peter, I’d urge you to reconsider the notion that because no gun law (short of banning all guns) can stop all gun deaths, we shouldn’t do what we can. At least you acknowledged that we can lower death tolls via legislation (I assume you mean reinstating the assault-weapons ban). But those dangerous incels you talk about — yes, some will get weapons and kill. But you might find this interesting: There is a convincing body of research demonstrating that universal background checks do, indeed, contribute to lower gun-violence rates. Multiple independent studies have found that states with stricter gun laws see lower homicide rates. Please have a look at this — if you don’t believe it, you can Google the topic for yourself.
https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/articles/2022-01-21/report-states-with-strong-laws-see-less-gun-violence
Here’s a look at the effects of specific laws on a state-by-state basis. Cheers.
https://www.science.org/content/article/three-types-laws-could-reduce-gun-deaths-more-10
“I’d urge you to reconsider the notion that because no gun law (short of banning all guns) can stop all gun deaths, we shouldn’t do what we can.” And you should reread what I said, because it wasn’t anything like that at all. I have no such notion, and closer to what I said is one should be aware that when you do that it will be insufficient to stop mass attacks. Lowering the death rates is a good thing, but those law changes alone will have us right back here wondering what to do to stop these attacks, which will then take on different forms.
Lol, Peter. Did you get this “data” from the NRA?
This is about firearms so let’s compare apples to apples. Here in Canada where you can get any hunting weapon you require not named an ar15, the rate of death by firearm is 5 xs less than it is in the states. Yes, it happens sometimes, but there isn’t more mass shootings here than days of the year.
It’s a gun culture in America. More guns than population. And best the mass shooting there are those that aren’t considered “mass”
It’s the gun left in an open drawer for a 6 year old to find
It’s the new rifle little Johnny just got that accidentally discharged and killed somebody
MORE GUNS MEANS MORE OPPORTUNITIES FIR DEATH. ITS REALLY VERY SIMPLE no matter how responsible you are.
Thank you for being a voice of reason, Peter. Thank goodness Kap isn’t in Philly anymore. Such an ungrateful person. Nowhere but here could he make an outrageous amount of money!
The best way to lower the death rate from guns would be to have fewer guns. Not surprisingly, there is an extremely strong correlation between gun related deaths and gun ownership rates. So even if those stats are correct regarding mass shootings, (which seems dubious) lowering the rates of gun ownership would save tens of thousands of lives a year.
Amir, hopefully it’s clear that one factor to consider is switching. Yes, lowering gun rates lowers gun deaths. But it doesn’t lower deaths overall by 100%. One merely has to consider the suicidal person has many options - 60% of gun deaths are suicides but elimination of 100% of guns would not make that number zero. It might significantly impact it, of course, maybe take it down 33%. So the 24k suicides each year become 16k.
Similarly, the homicidal husband who finds his wife and lover cheating who has a gun has one rate of homicidal success, and the one without a gun has a lower one, but again nonzero. Gang members still want to kill and control territory. So what happens to the 16k homicides - I’d put it at 8k maybe? So a total drop from 40k murders to 24k.
Not bad, but not what you envisioned, either. And of course offset all of this by the (relatively small but who knows really) number of elderly people whose homes are currently NOT broken into because they MIGHT have a gun, but in your gun free scenario get tossed down a stairwell by a home intruder. Include more non-deterred rapes etc as well. A net benefit is likely, but far from guaranteed.
I need to update my numbers a bit
Suicides: 24k per year from guns, 20k per year from other
Homicides: 15k per year from guns; 5k per year from other
So taking the 24k suicides down to 16k might be too much, other methods seem to work pretty well. But I’ll stick with that.
And GUN homicides go to half, 7.5k but add back in the 5k from other I forgot.
Total deaths from all methods for suicide/homicide then go from 64k per year to 48.5k per year with zero guns, not that conservatively. No magic bullet, sadly, due to the fact that 40% of the deaths in these areas are already from other methods and that in the remaining, other methods will backfill to some degree, even in the total absence of guns.
And how many mass shootings have been in NZ since the gun laws passed shortly after the 2019 incident?
Cheers Kap. Big props for this.
Let me check… why, you’re right, exactly as many as occurred in South Carolina, Alabama, Louisiana, Kentucky, Oregon combined during that time. Each of those states is about 5M people, and so compares well to NZ. Do you conclude that their gun laws are thus perfect?
These are rare events. Even at US rates of mass attack deaths per capita, a jurisdiction of 5M people would have an event that kills 10 people only once every 30 years, or an event that kills 5 people once every 15 years.
I notice you very carefully said “mass ATTACKS.” And provided no contextual data.
So I went looking.
And at best, Peter, you’re parrotting a lie you were told. At worst, you’re knowingly lying.
Enough deflection.
Would you argue that an attack where the attacker drives a truck into a crowd and then gets out and stabs people, resulting in 8-12 dead, should not be counted?
I gave perfect context for the mass SHOOTINGS in NZ-UK-Canada. I gave the evenets. I even provided links but that is stuck in moderation. 2020 Nova Scotia, 2021 Plymouth, 2020 Christchurch.
For EU, yes there are many attacks that are not with guns. But if we get rid of guns we will have those too. That’s half of my point. It’s why I point out that someone in Norway killed 5 with a bow and arrow last year. They will kill less, that is good. They will not kill zero and will probably still kill half as many.
So try to work to figure out the causes rather than ONLY worry about the methods or equate the deaths to the tools. This is my message. My message is not do not change gun laws. It’s to do that AND do more because Norway has both the gun laws you want and the worst episode of mass attack gun violence in history.
You are so ignorant and stupid only the american éducation system could produce such epic ignorance
There’s more mass shootings per day in the usa than all the countries you made up stastistics about have in a décade- combined
Please éducate yourself
The problem that you talk about as “an American problem” mister Smith is a problem that only belongs to the United States, and not to America.. The situation of always using the name of the continent for only one single country is also something that infuriates many, who do keep silent about it, keeping silent means not being bashed by anyone.. I look at any maps or globes, I do not see the single word “America” on any of them where the country of the Untied States is located. The United States of the American continent (shorten for America). As a resident of one of the 34 other American country of the American continent, do not call me a European for example, my continent is not Europe, I do not live in Europe, I live in the American continent. But not in the United States. If America was only the United States, then the subdivision that is North America would only be Canada, since other countries in North America, such as Mexico, Cuba, Haiti, The Dominican Republic, etc are all in North America. How then could they be in North America when they are located to the South of what way too many people think of what America is, which is only the United States ? Of course, many will tell me that this is another problem, and they will be right. But it not only this gun violence that infuriates many about the United States, there are many things than people in other countries do not judge as “correct” or “right”.
Thanks, Gabe. You’re spot on.
Agreed. Thank you, Gabe. I hope your peers who feel the same way will use their platform as well. It matters. We need action. Your and your peers can be a big part in making that happen.
Juan G. Ledo says
Mr. Kapler:
You are a real coward. Insted of taking it out in our Flag and National Anthum, why don’t you do something constructive and positive about the current state of the country. Perhaps we can select better politicians that believe this is the Greatest Country and should remain so, God and America First should be the message, not tearing down our history and morals. What are you expecting your actions will do other than further divide our country. We already have enough politicians, and members of the media, showbusiness, and sports tearing this country down everytime you listen. With all due respect: What do you think your father would say about you not showing up for the National Anthem. DO SOMETHING CONSTRUCTIVE, NOT DESTRUCTIVE.
Wow, the moral police is out in force today. I guess you think being tough and macho is the way to influence people, instead of engaging in constructive conversation. Everyone knows that guns will continue to be held in this country forever. Some people just want a better balance between the right to own and the right to be safe. And especially the right for innocent children and their teachers to learn and teach in a safe, caring environment.
Yelling at thoughtful people who see the issue differently from you shouldn’t cause such a violent reaction on your part. Unless, of course, you are feeling insecure yourself.
Gabe is no coward and anthem is spelled a-n-t-h-e-m.
Not the moral police! Moral?! The NRA shills. They always make quite sure they have their talking points , repeated over and over….
A question for you, gun people . Do you feel anything at all for those terrified children being ripped apart by bullets? Parents were asked for their DNA… for identifcation….my god…
Thank you Gabe. Miss you here in Philly, I applaud your courage.
what exactly stops every person who has a complaint from kneeling then?
Nobody wants to hear the truth. The problem is in the heart. You push God away from everything, then this is what you have……evil. Give the man a new heart and evil leaves. Light always eliminates darkness.
while i am an atheist… you might be right. Sure does seem like morons need a higher power to fear or things get out of hand
Gabe you are a coward. Man the Eff up and get out there. Such a taint.
right… because it takes courage to stay quiet. Makes sense. Thanks for being so brave with your post
Thank you for your well articulated thoughts, which mirror my own feelings and experience. Two weeks ago I was at an MLS game with my 2 sons and their soccer teams and I debated taking a knee during the anthem given my general feelings of dismay at the state of the country, but like you I let my own feelings of discomfort prevent me from doing so, not wanting to “embarrass” my boys. In hindsight it was a missed opportunity to teach them how to peacefully protest the ills currently taking hold in our country. I won’t miss the next opportunity to teach them, it’s too important.
No Joan he doesn’t !! you don’t like our country then do something about it or better yet, please leave it.
wow, i don’t think to many people think that way.. Russia would welcome you two non Americans
Thank you Gabe. FYI this was edited out of the Star Spangle Banner before they made it the National Anthem. Key was a known racist. “Their blood has wash’d out their foul footstep’s pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave,
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.” https://amhistory.si.edu/starspangledbanner/pdf/ssb_lyrics.pdf
Well skippy way to go. Baseball has gone the way of nba and nfl. I can’t stand the soft sports and now will never support anything that has to do with you or baseball. You are costing mlb millions of dollars. All the workers who clean up after the games, ticket window employees, the security people who protect your multimillionaire babies who play a non contact sport. You’re costing mlb money which will affect more people than a rich pampered pssy. I hold you took the shot and got boosted baby and hope to see you drop dead like the soccer players in europe.
Go fight for this country, risk life and limb day then tell me you will do the same
You are a shameful person
Sanctimonious thoughts coming from a fool that thought it made good sense to have a dinner so that Dodger players could meet with a 17 year old runaway and discuss how they gave her alcohol and sexually assaulted her in their hotel room
So since monsters do horrific acts with a gun, you want to take away the ability for law abiding citizens to defend themselves against these monster. Cain killed Abel with a rock. God didn’t ban rocks. He banned Cain because of the evil deed.
Why do mass shooters want to go into gun free zones?
Why don’t you post a gun free zone sign in your yard?
You are a manager for a Game. A freaking game. You suck
Thanks Gabe. As a military veteran, I’m embarrassed that elected officials hasn’t moved on automatic rifles after 19 children and 2 teachers were slaughtered, 19 and 2! One is too many.
I own a gun and I’m prior military and have zero need for an automatic rifle. If you’re not law enforcement, military, security, gun range owners etc; there’s zero need to have one. The answer would be to pass laws to make them illegal and those that already have purchased them, register them. If they’re weapons are used in crimes irregardless if you claim their stolen, the owner should be held liable. Background checks a must and enforce licenses for any weapons. The government is NOT trying to take your guns, only to reform guidelines and hold those of us with weapons accountable, liable. Arming teachers and blaming mental illness when most governors cut healthcare reform for their states is just deflection from what needs to be done. Those children were not Republican nor Democrats and we really need to research past behaviors in the upcoming election because right now, our elected officials (most) decided to go home to observe the holiday and many of them never served a day in the military and have zero respect for those that have given their lives for them to enjoy this weekend. Any other country would have convened the same day and enacted laws to prevent this from re- occurring. I want America to stand up and vote those that refuse to show those families in Uvalda that their children and teachers lives mattered and we as Americans irregardless of political affiliation want to do something. The governor of Texas, praying for him, his morals, his values was at a fundraiser three hours AFTER those children were murdered. The NRA conference went about as if nothing happened. We need to be mindful of who we put in office, our votes in numbers will force them to finally do something.
Thank you for using your platform and I heard your press conference, you got choked up. Very embarrassing that our elected officials want to shift blame at a time when 19 children and 2 teachers were killed. You dont see them getting choked up because their morals are in the wrong place. If this didnt infuriate you or made you anxious, something is wrong; perhaps you need to get mental help. We need to vote those out that value money and power over people.
God bless those families of all that were killed with peace and praying God show mercy for elected officials doing nothing to show that their lives mattered.
Your not military! Your a liar or a moron. You mentioned automatic weapons. Learn the difference between semiautomatic and automatic before you lie and say you’re ex military. Troll
Bro, the ONLY place on earth that has mass shootings? Educate yourself. I’m guessing you don’t follow local news of 180 countries or even G8 nations. Happens everywhere and in many countries at a higher rate. However I agree w you in your feelings about the country’s (lack of) direction and leadership
He is absolutely correct about being a coward. While he performs his job behind the security of heavily armed guards and the ability to utilize private security, he wishes the rest of us have no such luxury and to make it harder to defend ourselves.. it’s already illegal to murder people and the continued vapid cries of “DO SOMETHING” disregarding our constitutional rights that SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED. Already saw commentary that AR15 aren’t protected by the 2nd ammendment lol glad to see the same legal heavyweights that occupy vast majority of Twitter have found their way over here. You people that politicize tragedy are absolutely disgusting humans and further reinforce the importance of our 2A. If he were serious he would demand no weapons present at MLB games but he won’t because he knows they keep him safe. Utter hypocrite.
Gabe is a fool. How about you demand that schools are hardened. Stop blaming And use your energy before the next tragedy happens. But that’s what the left does. Yup! They sit back and wait and stomp their feet like children. “We need to ban firearms “ blah blah.
Many good men died for this country. You best stand and take the field. After all you’re playing a little boys game. Try showing them what a real man is , you FN child. Many Americans don’t care about sports because of fools like you. You took the game and turned political e.g. all star game. What a lie that was as evidence by the turn out. We are over you and you’re taking points. May God bless the Republic.
It’s people like you who are destroying this country.
I hope you feel better soon. It’s got to be distressful that you can count on armed security at your place of work when most of us can’t.
I feel for you, i really do because when you’re on the road you have armed security at your hotel, most of us don’t at our own homes. You make multimillionaire money so you can afford private schools for your kids and armed home security too. The guilt is getting you down.
The rest of us live in a world where career criminals roam our streets instead of prison yards. Narcotics gang members are being chauffeured from illegal entry to cities around the nation paid for by the Biden administration.
Facts - matter- there was no “resource officer i.e. “peace or sworn officer” at the school per Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steven C. McCraw (Colonel) per his May 27 2022 statements/press conference “McCraw added that the resource officer was not even on school grounds at the time of the shooting.” (https://www.insider.com/texas-police-change-timeline-of-uvalde-shooting-retract-key-claim-2022-5)
Secondly Per the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting System data - Expanded Homicide Data Table 8 - Murder Victims 2015-2019 (Most recent data) there are ~ 250-300% more persons killed by an assailant using their hands, feet, fists, etc (pushing) from 2015-2019 than there are killings by long rifles therefore any assertion banning “assault rifles” will reduce homicides is factually incorrect.
Thanks Gabe for reminding me that people like you are making millions at the expense of the US government and because the US government is complicit in enabling sports monopolies.
Go fuck yourself
Thank goodness for you because you are brave and you are showing us all we can be together!!!
Virtue signaling. The country’s delivered pretty well for Gabe. His massive income is fueled by a Supreme Court anti-trust exemption for baseball. The city helped pay to build the ball park. He gets big bucks for playing a kid’s game.
Teach everyone to turn their back on the ideals enshrined in the pledge. That will surely make a better country. Why not burn a U.S. flag? You can do that too and be lauded and praised by others that want to destroy the country.
Another reason to not watch Baseball along with Football or Basketball.
We have guns to have liberty. Governments have killed more of their own people than school shooters ever will. The real issue is a moral sickness in society that drives young men to a feeling of numbness, desensitized to others, feeling hopeless about their future. In my opinion there is need for some type of spirituality to give them a sense of belonging and accountability.
Your writing and communication utensils seem to have grammar issues, and your car shouldn’t be driving drunk, especially while your eating utensils are making you fat…It’s distracting and dangerous, an affront to society…
They should be strictly regulated, (or banned entirely), and you should have to be licensed just to posses and/or use them, and the restrictions should increase until all such problems, or the offending regulated products themselves, are eliminated from society entirely…
“Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I’m not sure about the former.” - Albert Einstein
Gabe you are so brave. Not coming out for the national anthem is amazing. You manage a baseball team. You are so important to this country. Thanks for all you do. You can donate this years salary to the families who were affected by this tragic event. Better yet just disrespect the flag that is the better option. Ps fuck you.
Thank you. When our elected representatives won’t lead, we must stop what has, sickeningly, become our response ritual: thoughts and prayers, moments of silence, gaslighting by self serving politicians who blame everything but weapons of mass murder, and then moving on until the next one where we do it all over again, rinse and repeat. We can no longer go along with this ritual of complacency and indifference. Politicians who care more about fundraising opportunities and social media engagements and fabricated culture wars than our CHILDREN. We are not powerless, we can disrupt this sick ritual and that’s what you are doing, what the Miami Heat is doing, what Steve Kerr is doing. We have to look to our sports for courage and leadership because too many elected leaders are cowards.
My sister is a teacher, no she does not want to be armed. The same people who don’t trust her to teach books trust her to carry a weapon in class? These people want her to take on an armed shooter when police, who are trained and armed with protective equipment, won’t do it? She’s an educator; this country should protect her at school just like we should protect the children she teaches, not expect her to take down an active shooter armed with assault rifles and enough rounds for a battlefield.
We must try. We cannot accept a built in cost of slaughtered children, their faces and little bodies torn apart by an AR15, as the price for “freedom” - that’s not real freedom, and certainly those kids aren’t free to live their lives, they’re dead.
F U Gabe. Just shut up and manage your child’s game. No one wants to hear your woke BS.
The killer in TX was a mentally deranged person who unfortunately didn’t have any prior felonies. He did go through background check. There were many red flags but also unfortunately they were ignored. You can blame our National Anthem…but how? Because we have a second amendment? Everyone is horrified by this terrible event. But if this killer hadn’t gotten guns, he would have figured another way to kill people. Look at the killer in Waukesha-running down people with a car. What we need is to fortify our schools. Fences, cameras, self-locking doors, armed security guards and armed willing teachers. There are many things we could do to make our schools safer…we had 50+ Billion to give to Ukraine, we can make our schools safe for our most vulnerable population. But blaming our National Anthem for the actions of a evil, deranged person is not helpful or truthful.
Fuck you! You have no fucking idea what home of the brave stands for. Your a fucking idiot with asshole followers. It’s about the brave Service men and women that defend our country, protect your freedom. The freedom that allows you to be the fucking asshole you are. I spent 30 years serving this country and it’s assholes like you that make me sick to my stomach! I truly hate people like you. Go fuck yourself you fucking assclown!
Not that brave. Under Biden and the demonrats we all know that the state of the country is horrible. School shootings put an exclamation mark on the sickness of the country. The anthem has nothing to do with it. Instead of being “brave” like krapperdick do something.
I agree the country is headed in the wrong direction - and its all the democrats fault - Let’s Go Brandon! Guns aren’t the problem - we had a lot less gun laws 40-50 years ago and none of this nonsense of shooting up schools happened. This is a God, Discipline lack of a stable family problem. You pulled God and Discipline out of schools and kids go astray. Also if we can send billions of dollars to Ukraine only to have it sent back to the senators, congressman, elites in DC under the radar and that’s what is happening then we ought to have the money to make our schools safe. One entrance - one exit - metal detectors - Resource Officers fully armed. As far as you not honoring the sacrifices of our fallen hero’s and our great country - you need a new job.
Thanks Gabe for stepping up and representing the majority.
You all want a bitch and complain, but abortion is the leading cause of child death… let’s ban that… moron’s.
Let’s rewind the narrative- Kapler when a minor league coach did not report abuse of girls by his players while the adult as a mandated reporter- he hasn’t spoken out about the summer of love when rioters destroyed cities- he hasn’t lectured us on Chinese use of slave labor - he hasn’t condemned BLM for not using millions to improve lives - — - and right outside the stadium we have homeless- well Gabe if your serious and committed resign and run for office —-rather than point fingers
How about you help provide some potential solutions rather than be ashamed of our country. We live in a unbelievably well protected bubble, you and your family more so. If you can’t do that, then it means you believe you’re signaling your virtue, when in actuality your proving how disconnected you are.
Your a fucking dill do , and no nothing about society and law and life . So quit acting like you have any clue on the subject ,,. Just stop and keep cashing your over inflated checks .
Brave? 🤡 Being a whining, Commie crybaby is not being brave. Kapler is paid to manage, not to showboat personal political feelings. Grow up.
Really powerful piece, Kap. Thank you for speaking out
Thank you Gabe! You very eloquently put into words what I, and many others have been feeling. I have been so angry this week since this happened. I hate feeling this way, but more of us need to. May, just maybe if enough of us feel this way, and are willing to show how we feel, change will finally begin.
#ISTANDWITHKAP
How about “I kneel with Kap”?
fraudulent narrative blown completely out of proportion. blm responsible for multiple DEATHS and businesses RUINED and people beat up and police precincts burnt to the ground. other than that…………a peaceful organization. if you are SO concerned with guns and shootings then go to chicago and baltimore and philly and new york and la and st louis. get the hand guns off the street. and quit being scared to put black people in jail. if they are killing people with illegal hand guns then they face a mandatory big sentence.
we kneel for the Place we have to protest.
we kneel for the people that gave their life, their arms, their legs for our right to protest.
we kneel for the idea and hope that is America.
so now everyone that has a complaint will kneel? yes, we have already started.
Thank you Gabe ❤️
Thank you for a well said depiction of this country. Politicians are a waste of tax payers dollars.
Well said Unfortunately, our country is managed by folks whose kids will never be shot in school
Very well written by someone who does care! The problem we face is within hours it became politicians pointing fingers including the president (allegedly). So I ask, now what?
Ahri (@blossomEtheria) says
Insightful, well thought out post. I know you want to do more but what you do, speaking up, is enough. You know how it is now, do one well meaning thing and people will find ten thousand things wrong with your gesture, and worse, accuse you of wanting to insert yourself into the issue. Everything is so muddled
and sometimes staying to the side is the best thing to do instead of being used as a distraction to detract from the real issues. We do what we can, in those kinds of moments. Thank you for your honesty Gabe, you’re a good man.
Thank you for being a voice of reason. You have a large pulpit, and I’m proud to be in your congregation.
You are demonstrating what you learned from your dad, in this post and in the way you move through the world. We don’t ever get only one chance at things, but no chances are identical. Different circumstances call for different responses. Protest must take many multiple forms. Trust your gut.
Need to get all your data before making generalizations. https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/mass-shootings-by-country
Need to read your own article fully.
From your own source:
“ Using the median analysis, the United States is the only country examined that shows a propensity for mass shootings.”
You obviously don’t know how to read data:
1) uses mean vs median to skew the results
2) ignores fact that no other country besides US had more than 2 years out of 7 with a mass shooting. US has them every year
3) conveniently stops tracking data in 2015 before US mass shooting rates skyrocketed to where they are now
Perhaps you should’ve checked the sources that even the flawed study listed.
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/united-states-lower-death-shootings/
US has 110 mass attack deaths in past 5 years, 0.3 per million people. Subest of Commonwealth countries, Canada, NZ, Aus, UK, have >80 mass attack deaths, 0.6 per million people.
“The pro-gun nonprofit Crime Prevention Research Center (CPRC)” “2009-2015”
Painfully true.😞
You had me for a while. Then you said guns were used almost exclusively for the slaughter of human beings and then I realized you have no idea what you’re talking about and I stopped reading.
The line is “…a country that refuses to take up the concept of controlling the sale of weapons used nearly exclusively for the mass slaughter of human beings.” He is referring to the specific type of weapon that was used by the shooter at Uvalde, a high rate-of-fire semi-automatic rifle which uses high-capacity quick-change magazines. These types of guns are not used for hunting (or shouldn’t be, and I believe that it is illegal to do so in most, if not all, states) – they are not sporting guns; they are a slightly watered-down version of military weapons, weapons that are intended solely for the taking of human life.
Maybe if you took a second to think you’d understand what he meant. But based on your comment- thinking obviously isn’t a strong suit. To enlighten you, he meant assault rifles. Which are used exclusively for the slaughter of human beings.
In other words, “I read something I disagreed with so I stopped reading to maintain my own narrative.”
There, fixed it for you.
Well, considering the United States is (in no particular order):
Occupying 1/3rd of Syria.
Funding Saudi air forces to bomb Yemen.
Reentered Somalia without Congressional approval.
Funded $40 billion of weapons to Ukraine to support their military with known neo-Nazis in them.
Yeah, our country uses guns to destroy and destabilize countries.
John Schobert says
Who makes those decisions.
The crooked politicians that make more under the table than millions of taxpayers in this country.
And by the way,they are on both sides of the aisle.
Very well written Mr Kapler. You are definitely not alone in, not only how you feel, but how you are conflicted on how to show your displeasure with the direction of our country. You are not a coward - you just haven’t figured it out yet. When you do, we will stand with you and support you.
I will say that if you had kneeled, that move would have made me tap out on you completely. I wouldn’t have ever listened to what you had to say after that. By not doing that and choosing this option, here I am reading your thoughts with an open mind instead.
Why would you tap out? Kneeling is protest my friend.
Protesting gross misuse of power and injustices is what this country was founded on. There is literally nothing more American. King George would have loved to have you on his side I’m sure.
Kap, you’re so so right. Great words. our “leaders” have failed us again and again on this issue. Protest and vote. No more slaves to the Gun lobbies in congress. Vote progressive. Lets fix this issue.
The National Anthem has nothing to do with someone shooting kids. It is never ok to not stand during its playing
if i was one of those parents id probably never stand for it again until any change happens. you’re actually more upset about a piece of fabric than children being slaughtered weekly in this country. you’re dispicable
The National Anthem is in part about the flag and my advice to anyone in the word is to never pledge allegiance to a flag that has not pledged allegiance to you.
Until the US flag waves as a banner that guarantees shelter, health care, food, education and full body autonomy I will never salute it or honor it. (You wouldn’t want the government to mandate your must give a kidney to keep someone alive would you?)
We were all taught to pledge allegiance to the flag. Not enough of us were ever taught that the flag needs to earn that allegiance.
If you think the flag simply represents the lives given up by people so we could have freedom you are clearly looking at that one aspect of the flag in a vacuum. And that vacuum is a flawed vacuum. We weren’t fighting for freedom when we invaded Afghanistan, Vietnam, Iraq, et cetera.
We bombed civilians in Japan who were on the verge of surrender.
If you like to wave the flag around as a symbol of “might makes right” and it gives you the freedom to bully others then you can have that flag. I’ll find one that represents people who think that the most valuable thing on earth is each other. I try to treat people the way Jesus would treat them.
Good Luck finding that perfect flag.
It is literally always ok not to stand for an anthem with a melody based on a British drinking song that we also conveniently only sing 1 of the 4 verses for. The song isn’t something sacred. Go ahead and try to tread on our Freedom of Speech.
Thank you…
Another moronic leftist. Sorry, but no gun laws will stop someone who is willing to mass murder people. The only way to stop evil (leftists filled with hate, as this shooter was) is to protect our children with armed officers at every school.
Well said Gabe! This country is in a sad state. Guns are the problem, not mental illness!!
do you people really think constantly surrounding kids with armed guards like they’re in a prison will help their mental health and wellbeing?
So you’re seriously trying to argue that protecting kids from the bad guys will be bad for their “mental health and well-being”?!? My god, you libtards are insufferable…
The only people who are mentally ill are the ones who think that guns kill people on their own.
You’re so right. Gun bans have never solved anything.. except that one time in 1996 that Australia had the biggest mass shooting in history and decided to ban guns. No mass gun shootings since. So I take it back.. you’re wrong.
In 2020 guns became the leading cause of death in children and teenagers in the United States. America loves to be number 1 regardless of the category. Let’s arm every citizen and make it mandatory and see how much higher the death-by-gun rates can go.
Also Australia: Literal concentration camps last year because the populace was disarmed.
Also, the murder rate is the same, they just use knives now.
If these magical “armed guards” are cut from the same cloth as the useless cops who stood around outside and getting physical with parents whose kids were in the building getting slaughtered, then no f-ing thanks.
If people want to play Rambo so bad, tell them to join the military. Civilians should never have access to weapons like an AR-15.
You and your hate spewing are despicable. Blaming it on a “leftist” teenager who probably had no political identity whatsoever. Making absurd claims with no evidence is the republican way.
David, you have shit for brains.
You’re angry you didn’t get a chance to molest those kids.
Typical liberal.
It’s a sad commentary on the state of our political system when two Bay Area coaches are willing to take a stand and point out the obvious and main reason that our children are being murdered. All we get from the NRA $ addicted politicians is that we need better doors.
I can’t wait for Gabe and Steve to speak out against the atrocities committed by Chinese Communist Party.
Well said. So sit or take a knee tonight.
Honest truth from the heart , reveal the pathetic state of gun law in state
100 senators, running the whole US. Straight BS. Do what the people want!
Fuck everything else. I appreciate your courage. Thank you for respecting us all enough to tell us how you feel.
Well said, sir.
I’m Canadian; but I say if you want to protest then go ahead; it’s called standing up for what’s right and for the people who have a problem protesting with people standing up for what’s right then that’s their problem not the problem of those who chose to stand up for what’s right. Hopefully the more people who stand up for what’s right that will get politicans to fix things or better yet these people will become politicans and then hopefully they solve some of these issues by banning the sale of guns period and whatever else they need to do. So thank you for writing what I’m sure so many people wanted to say but weren’t comfortable saying; it’s time to elect people who actually do what’s right and walk the walk and actually fix problems and not just do what the curent ones do. It starts with voters, it’s time for change.
lol
The fact that you’re writing about it NOW to please redditors and twitter morons is all I needed to see.
Well articulated, as your posts have always been. A true patriot. Freedom includes the freedom to protest and speak up when things are not as they should be.
I applaud and commend you for speaking up and as a teacher I thank you. Now, what do we do next to make sure this doesn’t happen again? You are in a position of power where you can make a difference. Your organization can make a difference. I bet of you……….put your thoughts into action that WILL make a difference for our country. Thank you for having the courage to speak up……….just keep it up now. We need CHANGE and people like you CAN make a difference. Again, thank you…….your words mean a lot to me!
First off, you write very well and eloquently, and your heart shines through your article, showing that you are a good man who cares about human suffering and wants to alleviate it, and for that I applaud you. The only way we could have a chance to end mass shootings would be to get rid of almost all guns, even handguns can fire dozens of shots. People who say we could do it any other way are lying to you and making it seem more simple than it is.
I am an American who refuses to buy into a solution that would put civilians into a situation where we are at the mercy of a government whose personnel are the only people in society with weapons. How can someone on the left talk about police brutality and at the same time advocate getting rid of all guns except for the guns the cops have? The rise of tyranny is always a possibility in any society, whether your is fascism or communism or nazism, we should always be aware of the precarious state of freedom. At the end of the day, a capacity for resistance to crushing authoritarianism is crucially linked to a capacity for the populace to engage in violent resistance against the government.
There are measures we can take to protect our schools. If we can pass a bill giving $50 billion to Ukraine, we can pass a bill putting armed guards in all public schools, and I don’t mean like 2 or 3 guards, I mean 15. We could do that. We could protect our children the way we protect other government buildings like airports, in a way that is much more practical than getting rid of all of the 393 million guns in the United States.
Dude. You want to know how ludicrous you sound? The US military is more powerful than God. If your puny AR-15s are your security blanket against “tyranny” then you are delusional. The US military have weapons we can’t even imagine. You will be snuffed out in a second. No amount of consumer guns and ammo are going to protect you against a futuristic force that spends more money on weapons than all other countries COMBINED. Stop with the 18th century LARPER crap. https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/justice-burger-2nd-amendment-meme/
I spy a talking point! The Uvalde SD had a secuirty budget of $435K in 2022, and they used it. Didn’t help one single bit.
So many lies in this by king liberal clown himself. A disgrace. Just lie Kerr, who advocated for the defunding of police and removal of SROs from schools. Always jumping to conclusions before actual thinking and waiting for all the facts to come out. But you are just a baseball guy who wants to look tough with fake tanner and tats but is charmin soft. You offer no solutions that would make any difference and then make outrageous claims that are easily debunked. Keep making a fool of yourself along with Kerr. Must be a bay area thing….Definitely is, reason why I moved as far away as possible.
American exceptionalism - the only thing you guys excel at ignorance, cruelty, racism, and violence. You should be embarrassed constantly. In Canada we use you guys as a “At least we’re not America!” as an excuse to not be better and lower our own standards and justify our own shittiness, so if you could shape up and stop being a broken nation that’d help us out too.
Full disclosure, I’m a law enforcement officer so I know I’m going to face multiple insults and disrespectful/hateful comments. There is a reason the officers on scene would not want parents of the children to run into an active shooter situation. Simply put you would be enabling more people to become victims. As far as that mother who was placed in handcuffs I’m fairly certain it was done to prevent her from becoming another victim. NOW having said all that, I would request people wait until all the information is in and an investigation is complete before passing judgement on the actions of the officers who responded. Mr. Kapler asserts that a father’s daughter was killed while he argued with cops. Was Mr. Kapler on scene during this incident. Was he at the school? Was he a witness to anything at the scene? It’s uncorroborated claims like that which only inflame the situation and make people distrust those in professional sports and entertainment when they decide to make statements about tragic incidents. If an investigation reveals the officers did not fullfil their sworn duty HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE. But from personal experience working in this line of work for nearly 20 years I suspect those officers were chomping at the bit to run into that school to help those children. They know it’s their duty and it’s what they signed up for. In the meantime I would hope those with a public platform, such as Gabe Kapler, would wait for all the facts to come out before questioning the bravely of those officers who responded to the scene.
Fair enough.
Man the troll farm found this comment section and just attacked it. funny that none of these “Americans” appalled by an anthem protest have names.
The internet is so broken.
Not the weekend to disrespect our nation or flag. Pretty disrespectful Gabe. Move out then. How much $ have you made playing a game. Sorry, Memorial Day has lost it’s meaning.
You are an absolute coward, and a liar..
First off, the United States isn’t even in the top 10 in the world for mass shootings. Stop listening to CNN and the San Francisco Chronicle. They lie
Second, until you demand that the police and security that guard Oracle disarm? You’re nothing but a hypocrite.
A few years ago you were crying that the police were too brutal. And now you’re a crying that the citizens have guns and can protect themselves. Which is it? Do good people have the right to defend themselves against the police force that you say is out of control?
So not only are you a coward and a liar, you’re not very smart.
Grow up
Yeah you don’t use a real name and he’s the coward. Get lost, bot.
Thank you Gabe, Any of these fools that don’t get what you said are just ignorant pieces of crap.. They don’t get it because they don’t have a heart they care more about guns than children. Probably trump fans.. I feel sorry for their hearts. If any of them would have had a child murdered, they would have understood but because they l they don’t know what it’s like to walk in the footsteps of these poor parents, they are too ignorant to know the truth. There is nothing you can write or say that would get them to understand because it’s not possible with their cold hearts. All they will do is just read what is written and argue because there’s nothing you could say to get them to understand the truth.Again I really appreciate your honesty And bravery bro.
Trump has nothing to do with it Dumb ass stop you Dummycrat self
The typical Alinsky tactic: Try to dehumanize anybody who disagrees with you.
I see you.
God I miss Botchy!!!
Thank you, Kap. Glad you’re managing the Giants
Thank you Gabe!
Well put, Gabe. I couldn’t agree more, thank you for using your platform to initiate real change.
Wow, look at the trolls.
Gabe, speaking as one lefty Jew to another, I have to applaud not just taking a stand but doing so knowing you are going to be at the receiving end of a lot of crap. The antisemites are on their way right now, but I am sure you know this, and you clearly are not flinching. Good for you. Good for all of us who share your anger.
Not a single person here’s been anti-Semitic. Way to bring race, or religion into something that has nothing to do with it. Grow the fuck up dumbass
Mr Kapler. I would like make a comment on your statement that you chose not to kneel during the National Anthem so as to not show disrespect to our military and veterans. I also hold our active military and veterans in the highest regard. However you are mistaken in giving ownership of our National Anthem to our military. One of the aspects that makes our military the treasure that it is is that they serve at the behest of and for the people of this country. We, ALL OF US, own the National Anthem. It must represent ALL OF US or it represents none of us. This is also true of our flag. Both are symbols of this country which means of it’s people. While our military displays our flag as part of their uniform, and are invited to participate in ceremonial presentation of the National Anthem, they do so in their role as protectors of this country, not as owners.
Those who live in authoritarian countries do so in fear their military.
Our military is great because they serve us rather than own us.
Our military doesn’t exist to defend us. It exists for profit to enrich the Oligarchs.
I’m ashamed of myself for supporting the actions of our government for my entire life since I began to think. The shame is because of a recent epiphany that my world view was based on an illusion. The illusion was built by what I was taught in school, what I saw on TV, read in newspapers and magazines. Fortunately I read lots of books. I spent much time in libraries.
My epiphany is the realization we live in a Narrative Matrix controlled by Plutocratic and Military Institutions who’ve created an illusion of democracy. A lady named Caitlin Johnstone pointed it out very clearly. She also said who controls the Narrative controls the World.
I realized we’ve been conditioned like Skinner’s rats and Pavlov’s dogs enthralled by infotainment provided by the Oligarchs who own the media and profit from it. They have us under control. We’re not as free as we’re told. Not only do they profit. It’s their tool to control us. They use the media to keep us anxious, divided and at each other’s throats, hence conquered.
Regarding mass shootings, they are not unique to the United States. They happen all over the world and in some places worse than here.
Great words and reflect what the majority of the American people believe. Unfortunately our “leaders” do not represent us.
We have the government we deserve, so we need to speak up.
If you think “the majority” want the 2nd Amendment repealed, you live in an echo chamber.
Gabe, Dodger fan here. Thank you for your moral clarity and leadership. You beautifully articulate what many of us are feeling. Thank you for standing up and by your brave example, we are encouraged to do so as well!
Brave words, Gabe. But think about this. If the framers of the Constitution 250 years ago who wrote the Second Amendment could have foreseen the future, do you really think they wouldn’t have said, whoa, wait a minutes. Yes, we want people to have the right to bear arms as a militia against an attack on our democracy, or for hunting, or target shooting. But to openly carry firearms without a permit like in Texas? Or long, military style guns that can fire hundreds of rounds a minute? Or guns you can buy on the Internet and assemble at home? Remember, the framers were familiar with single-shot muskets and pistols. And sure, they could not foresee the future. But if they could have, you can bet the Second Amendment would read differently and help insure the lives of innocent Americans. After all, the theme of the Declaration of Independence is “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” the three unalienable rights taken from the lives of 21 people in Texas, 19 of them children. We need a Constitutional Convention and will never get one. But the Second Amendment, more than any other, has to be brought to modern standards and no longer tied to 250-year old language.
The purpose of the second amendment has never been for any of the things that you mentioned. It has always been to protect the people from the government. It’s the whole purpose of the constitution in general. You need to read more
You are correct - the Constitution is written to protect the citizens of our country from the government. And the Second Amendment gives the citizens the right to bear arms. The key words are, “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” So were the killers in Texas, or Newtown, or Las Vegas members of a “well regulated militia?” And were the people they murdered part of the government? We change and update laws all the time - it’s one of the great features of our democracy. And no one is trying to take away guns, despite what the right and NRA claim. We just want some controls, like universal background checks that the MAJORITY of Americans want - like 80%!. And prohibition of ghost guns, which are unregulated with no serial numbers or registration. Someone please tell me how these violate the Second Amendment?
Typical progressive response: A do-nothing gesture to signal how super serial you are, and then a rant about a symptom and not the root of the disease.
I know career ballplayers aren’t exactly scholarly, but a brief history lesson: The guns have ALWAYS existed. Hell, our parents and grandparents routinely took guns with them to school, because they would go hunting after school. It’s true. As a Gen X, you understand full well that when we were kids, guns weren’t even secured - they were just laying around in nightstand drawers or garages or up in a shoebox in the closet.
And yet these shootings were never a widespread problem until the Millennials and Gen Z. So if the access to the guns has remained constant, but the rate of instance has gone up dramatically - logically, the guns aren’t the problem.
So what’s changed? Well, we closed down the sanitariums in the 80’s, so mentally ill people no longer get the help they need or are put in inpatient care when they’re dangerous. Further, there’s been a movement by your fellow progressives to claim that mental illness is a badge of courage and not something that needs to be treated, for fear of “stigmatizing” it. The nuclear family has been demolished - fact: 80% of mass shooters didn’t have a father present in the home. And how many of the remaining 20% do you think weren’t actively involved in their childrens’ lives? My guess is the lion’s share. Also, we teach kids no coping mechanisms for failure or losing, we dont’ teach them how to handle rejection, and we sure as heck don’t teach them proper morals or values anymore (and I don’t mean religious values, I just mean “respect your fellow human” values, unless that human claims to be a member of a “traditionally oppressed class”). Oh, and now we’re pumping them full of pharmaceuticals and encouraging genital mutilation by telling them all that they’re in the wrong bodies.
So, logically, the guns can’t be the problem. The problem is how we’re raising our kids. The problem is we’re conducting endless scientific experiments on our kids and then acting surprised when it turns out 15+ years of head games makes them snap.
You can’t logic to lefties, sadly, because they don’t think, they only feel. Logic requires one to confront their bias and evaluate a topic rationally. This inevitably introduces cognitive dissonance, and cognitive dissonance feels bad, so the feelers just learn not to think. Same people who think that inequity has to result from unequal treatment and that wearing a dress can make you a woman. I hope some readers have the intelligence and integrity to honestly evaluate what you’ve written, and the seeds of truth can have a chance to take root.
I wouldn’t consider posting videos of yourself shooting guns and family photos with the kids holding machine guns in political ads a logical or rational approach. Simple knee-jerk politics by the right to get votes. Is that not “feeling” over “thinking” by the “righties” as well?
I wonder about the excessive use of antipsychotics and SSRIs - on the Mother Jones database of mass shootings, 65% are shown as “Yes” for known mental illness and the other 35% are “not known” not “NO”.
Most of those, including most of the notorious ones like UT tower, Luby’s, VA Tech, were known to have recently started psychoactive drugs, and many of the drugs have specific FDA warnings for homicidal and suicidal ideation.
All of these started after UT, that shooter was known to be on Valium and talked about voices in his head after starting. Valium was new to the market then and literally there was only one US mass shooting before that, that first psychoactive drug. BTW the Vegas shooter was also on the same drug.
I wonder if man does not have the same natural potential for evil that these events indicate, but this is all one in ten million side effects from these drugs. Hard to tell, though.
Bless you, Gabe. You have the full support of the majority of Americans, as well you should.
hardly.
*majority of San Franciscans; that doesn’t represent America at all.
“You have the full support of the majority of Americans, as well you should.”
No he doesn’t.
A thousand times, thank you.
Democrats commit over 50% of the violent crimes, so the obvious answer is to ban Democrats!!!
Wood chippers for all of you!!!
Very “brave” to not participate in the national anthem during the holiday where we honor our service members. If you are so “fed up” why don’t you direct some of your multi million dollar contract to the victims families instead of blowing hot blog air? Or do them both, but most importantly take real, tangible action. Your “protest” is in cowardice because it’s for the optics; it doesn’t resemble real action. It is your right to protest - respectfully I think this is just for the optics. Look at Gabe Kapler, what a “hero”. You sir, are a part of the problem - a stroking of the emotional feel goods, with nothing real behind it. Intelligent folks know this is just another “look at me” moment. You will be done with this in a week and nothing will have changed, but ESPN and the liberal media will gobble it up as a class act, when you haven’t done anything to change the state of affairs. In short, this is weak. This is not doing something, this is doing nothing.
Gabe will take a knee so he can suck some dudes off. Dude is totally h0m0 like Obama!!!!
You poor little man
Thank you, Gabe, for your eloquence, as well as your admission that making a statement is difficult. To say that you can’t stand by the anthem during this difficult time shows me that you know the anthem should mean something real, rather than inducing robotic behavior from those listening. Your principled stance shows me that you believe in this country. Everyone, regardless of their position, should be grateful to you for your thoughtfulness and true patriotism.
100 grenade launchers, 5,000 rifles, 1,000 pistols, 400 machine guns, and 400 shotguns;
Over 20 million rounds of small arms ammunition and grenade launcher and mortar rounds; That is what the US recently sent to Ukraine. That is why we have the right to bear arms. To protect ourselves from unwelcome intruders and bad actors in our government.
Thank you for having the balls the GOP and gun lobby don’t have.
How’s Chicago doing? Or other large democrat-led cities with high crime rates? That’s the GOPs “fault” in your eyes too, right?
You are a leader of men and don’t stand for the national anthem? Wow
Our anthem is a moment of unity, whether you agree with any particular government policy or not. It is not about you or your politics. It is about us, in good times and in bad. Inserting your politics into that moment is not only a bad look and wrongheaded, it will not convince a single person who you need to convince that you’re right about anything. It will only further divide us. Think about that before you put yourself in the spotlight.
One of the great things about our country is that we all can have an opinion and disagree about politics, and we don’t have to be right about everything. We don’t all get our way, either. No sane person, regardless of political party, isn’t heartbroken about the murder of innocents by a madman that happened this week. Acting, however, that you have all the answers and that those who disagree must be responsible for their deaths is just plain dumb, childish, insulting and counterproductive. But maybe virtue signaling is the point.
Kerr/Kapler 2024
Parents, church, friends, schools, law enforcement, etc., let this kid down. American let this kid down. How about Jr Giant for that kid? Is the Giant’s going to start a Jr Giants in Texas?
Bet you had 0 problem coming out of the dugout during the riots ot 2016 2020 and when clinton was killin babies at Waco though right lefty. You Sir are a joke and the reason people are leaving sports in DROVES as fans. Also guess you don’t mine the country under the left killing 1,000, 000 babies a year in the US alone either eh? So you only have issue with older kids being murdered not infants per se? LOL what a tool
You should continue to pay respect to the national anthem. It’s show respect to the veterans that died for this country. You make a lot of money. You are the 1%. I understand your frustration. Maybe you can start a nonprofit or a group to stop the sales of guns. But doing this stunt will only divide us more.
he divided me with his stupid kneeling for the national anthem…. now him staying inside for the national anthem isn’t surprising at all. He is un-American and an idiot and I wish he would go to the country that better suit his ideologies
Well said Mr. Kap. Keep leading!
Thank you. Thank you.
People like you, sir, are the very reason so many of us in the heartlands flock to minor league baseball and give a good fisting to the folk of MLB. We’re sick of your preening judgement. Where were you when blm was rioting in the streets and killing people? Did you take a knee? I think not.
The guy just wants kids to stop getting shot. Is that preening judgment?
Just to let you know, the shooter was neither trans nor an illegal immigrant. Fact check it. Then think about how you’d feel if you found out that you’re getting lied to. Who you mad at then?
You not taking the field is cowardly. Beat feet outta here idiot.
Thanks for trying to lead change. However, not participating in the anthem will make no change but upset people. How about spend a week in DC and get in front of every congress man or woman or US Senator you can and talk some sense into them!! Use your voice and connections. Bring Buster or the Giants owner with you! Make a positive difference.
Thank you for eloquently writing what a lot of us are feeling. I never cared for you when you were managing my hometown Phillies but I have a newfound respect for you after reading this. Keep writing/speaking on this. You’re definitely not alone.
Thank you, Gabe.
HERE WE GO AGAIN, NOT TAKING THE FIELD FOR THE NATIONAL ANTHEM. THEN WHY DON’T YOU QUIT YOUR HIGH PAID JOB FOR A GAME PLAYED BY LITTLE BOYS AND GIRLS AND DO SOMETHING CONSTRUCTIVE ABOUT IT! WHY DON’T YOU SPEND YOUR TIME ON COMING UP WITH A SOLUTION FOR THE PROBLEM, WHICH IS MUCH MORE COMPLICATED THAN “GUN CONTROL.” A GUN DIDN’T GO INTO THAT SCHOOL ON IT’S OWN THOUGHTS AND PULL IT’S OWN TRIGGER! SUGGEST ALL YOU WANT, BUT IT’S THE POLITICIANS IN THE END WHO CONTROL THINGS AND WHY SHOULD THEY LISTEN TO A BASEBALL PLAYER? QUIT YOUR COACHING J0B AND GO LEARN TO BE A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER. THAT WOULD BE A GOOD START!
The boys and girls that got shot in Uvalde don’t get to play. Why don’t YOU face the actual issue and stop hiding behind your smart ass comments?
Had a law abiding ‘gun owner’ been present to take out the shooter, they would be. This kid was already breaking laws on the books and the laws didn’t stop them. Laws don’t stop criminals, they stop people who obey laws. People who could shoot back and stop monsters like this. You’re statement is ill informed and ignorant. The right to keep and bear arms is not up for debate.. it’s an inalienable right given to me by my creator. A right that allows me to defend against invasion whether it’s one criminal or a gang of them.. there’s a gun to stop them.
Take it easy with your ALLCAPS bud. You’re going to have a stroke.
Take a look where most gun violence happens and you’ll find it’s not in conservative areas. Just ask Chicago.
more control over law-abiding citizens won’t make much difference against the criminal element.
But you don’t understand that. All the left does is politicize this stuff. The media feeds the frenzy by the insane coverage for the attention getters and the finger-pointing trying to blame conservatives.
Texas, bro.
Why stop there, Gabe? After a win, how can you gleefully play slap ass on the field with your buddies like everything is fine and dandy? After the final out, you should be headed deep into the bowels of Oracle to plot the repeal of the 2nd amendment. Honestly, how can you waste 3 hours a night watching middle-aged men play a children’s game poorly, when you could instead be using that time to organize gun buy backs, which you would later feed into an industrial shredder? Unless you quit your job immediately, sell all your worldly possessions, say goodbye to your wife and family, and devote yourself to the destruction of the NRA and every gun manufacturer on Earth, I consider you to be no better than Charlton Heston.
Thank you for your words. Narrow minds will never change but perhaps you words and actions may make inroads for some and cause change in the hearts of others.
After what’s going on in San Francisco - Really who cares what Gabe Kabler thinks - What A Hypocrite
Why hasn’t he already done something for that city.
Because working towards real solutions wouldn’t get him on click-bait news articles. Easier to kneel and bow down to liberalism.
Thank you, Gabe. I join you in frustration and sadness and I applaud you for going beyond the role that is expected of you and using your voice and conscience to at least express your personal anguish over the state of our country. So many of us feel it, too. Things are awful right now, and a good chunk of the comments here make me feel even worse about our country and its people.
agree … we all use the platforms we have, and do what we can where we can. Gabe shared his rationale. I applaud that. Clearly, many others have no respect for Gabe, but are attempting to use Gabe’s platform as trolls.
Kneeling for the flag. Now that will sure solve everything. Liberals never let facts get in the way of protest.
We’ll it got your attention. So, proud conservative American, what’s your take on kids getting shot in school?
While sitting out the National Anthem is your right, if you want to really make a statement, donate some serious $$ to everytown.org or one of the other solid gun legislation organizations. Or to help the families of Uvalde. That would be making a difference.
I also wanted to say, as a writer and editor, that your blog is exceptionally well-written. I have Tweeted and sent links to it on Facebook, to do what little I can to call attention to your important words.
As a long-time Brewers fan, I am appreciative of every single Brewers former player.
I am even more appreciative of you today. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
The Pledge of Allegiance is different than The National Anthem Skipper. You are showing disrespect to the Veterans who died fighting for your freedom, allowing you to choose to sit as a child during the pledge of allegiance. Timing is everything, and this Memorial Day Weekend is poor timing to become political!
MLB and “Kap” don’t care about vets. It is all a show. Just buy the cool hats and jerseys and they will be happy.
This guy’s backed vets, plenty. Why aren’t you backing a fellow American who just wants kids to stop getting shot in school, or at supermarkets? What’s political about that?!
American vets would be embarrassed by what Americans are doing here at home. You have no right to assault rifles period, ever. stop.
You’re a good man, Kap. Thanks for making me stop and think.
Must be hard to do for a liberal.
You mean as opposed to the “guns don’t kill people, people kill people” crowd? Guess it’s hard for everybody to stop and think.
you’re an idiot Kap - Move to another country, please!
I agree with your sentiment. You’re saying out loud what I’ve known to be true for many years, if not most of my life. Keep the faith and stay true to what you believe.
Thank you for your honesty. You are so right. These weapons are used to kill many in a short amount of time. Allowing these weapons to be sold, without background checks, and in Texas to teenagers, what to expect to happen. And the unthinkable does happen to our more innocent.
Gay.
Mr. Kapler you are wrong when you say that here is the ONLY country where mass shootings occur. The 5 deadliest mass shootings occurred outside of the U.S.
Hello Gabe,
Thank you for your powerful, moving message that gave voice to and articulated how many Americans feel about the failure of political leadership to enact gun control regulations (age limits on weapons purchases, ammo magazine limits) and universal background checks that would begin to reign in the deadly and irresponsible acquisition and use of guns in our country. When I was 21 circa 1976 and working my way through college at my dad’s liquor store in Fremont, I was held up by a gunman who stuck a pistol on my chest and told me “Give me all the money. I’m not fucking around.” I gave him the dough and he ran out of the shop, thankfully with no shots fired. He was caught two weeks later in the midst of another robbery and I ended up testifying against him, though once I completed my testimony I never did follow up to find out what happened to him. I always had a healthy concern about guns and the damage they can do to people but it was probably more a feeling of fear of guns after I got held up, which I have to this day. And living in Littleton, Colo. and having a young son who just finished his freshman year at Columbine High School, you can imagine the danger of guns and school shootings are always on my mind. I’m hopeful, as you mentioned in your blog, that the majority of Americans in support of gun safety regulations will finally force the hand of political leaders in thrall to the gun lobby, NRA and wealthy donors. I think you using your very public platform to call attention to the issue also will help and perhaps push those who have remained silent to speak up as well. And I thank you for that. Sincerely, Dennis Georgatos. P.S. I am also hopeful that Giants majority owner Charles Johnson sees what you have written and begins to take it to heart rather than to keep bankrolling politicians like U.S. Rep Lauren Boebert and Senate candidate Herschel Walker who essentially believe gun rights is at the pinnacle of our Constitutional rights and everything else is secondary, including our right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
It wasn’t an “assault rifle,” but you are a “progressive.” You lie about everything; it’s what you and your kind do. Oh, and being a “progressive,” you are all for abortion up to the day of birth. Your posing about the lives of children is phony. When it comes to kids, you want them aborted unless you can use them as props in your sick political game.
Black Lives Matter? Not to you, rich guy. In any given year, according to the CDC’s cause of death data, for every non-Hispanic white male shot dead, 15 to 17 black males are shot dead. You couldn’t possibly care less about black people. You are rich, and have turned your back.
Go to hell, phony
hiding in the dugout and continuing to cash the checks won’t change a damn thing Gabe. you’re getting paid to teach your team how to hit, pitch and catch the ball. we don’t give a damn about your views on gun control.
I’ve lived in SF for 25 years after growing up in Chicago but found no reason to switch allegiances from the Cubs (and Bulls). But after reading your post, and after hearing Steve Kerr’s comments, I now have a reason to trade in my hats (no disrespect to the Cubs and Bulls of course). Thank you Kap! We need to hear your sentiments from as many people as possible.
Gabe, thank you for your thought… I didn’t read any of the above, but thank you.
Dude if you hate this country so much then give away all the money you made here and gtfo. It’s so easy for someone with endless amounts of money to bitch and moan about something they think is a problem while doing nothing but writing some dumbass blog post. Run for office you douche.
Shut up and coach
The comments from the right-wing nut jobs is truly amazing. First off, the government doesn’t want your guns. Period. (Though, to be clear. If the government wanted your guns, trust me, they would come and get them, and there’s nothing that your little militia’s could do about it.) Whatever gun fetish you idiots have, can keep having them. This is about a weapon of war. Call it whatever you want. I guess “assault rifle” is too difficult for some of you to grasp. Either way, weapons of war should be banned in Murica. It shouldn’t even be a debate. Secondly, Murica is the only country in the world that has these type of mass shootings, on a regular basis. Yes, on a regular basis. Why? Seriously, why? No,it’s more than mental health. It’s easy access to weapons. Full-stop.
You are an absolute cunt and a moron to boot. Get fucked you commie twat
Fascistic moron.
Hey Bill go fuck your self to death you fucking twat retard faggot
This carnage happens every month in Chicago. Criminals don’t care about laws. If they don’t buy them legally they will buy them illegally.
you coach a 3rd place team in the NL West. why don’t you quit trying to virtue signal all your bath house buddies in frisco and get your ass on the field and figure out how to beat the dodgers.
Leave the U.S. you chickenshit gutless POS. My seven generations of family, from the Revolutionary War to the War on Terror represent what the country has stood for for over 270 years. You do not. I hear the weather is nice in Ukraine this time of year, go take a one way holiday.
You’re a baseball manager, shut the f*ck up and dance for us.
Thank you Gabe- many of us are in agreement. Ignore the trollers. We will move forward in the right direction!
Only rich people like yourself should have access to private security. I hope your viewership falls and people stop deciding to pay your salary. You are disgracing all those who fought and died for the flag. What a fool.
This country gave you everything you have. I am so sick of over pampered and overpaid folks like yourself who continually see themselves as permanent victims. Grow up!
Ban lousy managers.
Oh woe is me I’m gabe kapler and I just can’t stand this country but I’m not going to part with the millions and millions of dollars it’s given me so don’t ask but just tsk tsk these people who want guns except my security detail cuz they need them because I’m important! Fuck the plebes tho they ain’t shit!
F you
go play in Cuba you anti-American POS
frisco is the softest town in the country and its infected with AIDS, homelessness and junkies. i’ll take you and kerr seriously when you put $ where your mouth is and clean up your own sh!thole of a city before lecturing us how to manage the country.
YOU are the coward that pretends. YOU represent the morally weak. The USA Constitution gave you everything. I am done with the MLB.
A$$ Wipe
If you don’t like it here and are that disgusted with YOUR country then pack your shit and LEAVE!
THANK YOU FOR BEING BRAVE ENOUGH TO WRITE SUCH A BEAUTIFUL PIECE I FEEL LIKE YOU WERE IN MY HEAD WHILE YOU WROTE THIS I TOO AM ASHAMED OF THIS COUNTRY AS IT STANDS
Welcome to Biden’s Amerikkka
Kap should donate 95% of his million dollar salary to the cause to push for change…but instead he will keep his millions and take the easy way out with some useless symbolic gesture that makes him look like a good person. Too cheap to enact real change!
What do you expect form a merchant jew?
FATHER MIKE’S MOTHER LOVES THE JEW COCK
Sports in the US has always reflected a dramatic lifeworld (Lipsyte) in which play and politics collide; yet, for star performers to make risky political statements is not uncommon in the free agency era; for many of these stars to do so and run against political obstinance is unusual, as Kaepernick did so in 2017 while a difference in political discourse in this country. Jesse Owens, notably, did not (and, arguably, could not) in 1936. Only very rarely has management entered boldly, and with conscience, into social effects of sports as cultural artifact. Coaches (or managers) of major pro sports worldwide are management. Steve Kerr entered this cultural fray two days ago … and now, you … at the risk of your careers. You’re Coaches of Conscience who risk everything in terms of your market value for what’s just the plain and obvious good of humanity. Yours is “good” communication because it resonates with the best intent for our collective best interest.
Ridiculous.
Gabe, your lack of understanding is breathtaking.
1. The Resource officer was NOT armed, so stop propagating that lie.
2. The 2nd Am. is about fighting tyranny and self defense, which means law abiding people may have to kill bad guys.
3. We are send 40 billion dollars to Ukraine so they can defend themselves with AUTOMATIC weapons, among other weapons.
4. Calling any SEMI-automatic weapon an assault weapon, is a loaded term without a consistent definition. Machine guns are illegal, and so EVERY legal weapon in the USA is one pull, one shot. You can’t spray bullets with a legal AR-15, for instance.
5. Admit that you never liked the 2nd Am in the first place and don’t understand the purpose of it. That would be more honest. Beyond that, your fear doesn’t trump my constitutional right to self defense. Sorry.
Oh look, another jew so stupid it doesn’t realize that blacks and black culture in America are the problem.
Other countries don’t have this issue because they don’t have the feral black subhuman Americans.
Blacks commit 53% of ALL MURDER in the USA and KILL 93% OF ALL BLACKS MURDERED.
Black music, blacks glorifying crime, black music, black movies, black gangs etc…
Howd you get so blind, himey?
Dr Truth’s mother loves the JEW cock
Starting this bullshit with the Anthem again? The BLM crap is why I canceled my MLB subscription and haven’t listened to a single game since. All you’ve managed to do, Kapler, is affirm the wisdom of that decision.
Baseball needs fans a LOT more than fans need baseball and you dumb-assed jocks can’t seem to get that through your vastly overpaid skulls. You are ENTERTAINERS, not pontificators. People pay to watch you perform, not hear your opinion.
But, since you can’t resist, how about this?
Transgenders are inherently unstable people. Let’s start there, shall we?
Communist cock sucking faggot
Kapler, the product of Brooklynite Marxian Joos, who would’ve tbought.
welcome to the club gabe…..lewinsky, kamala harris and i weren’t famous until we took a knee too…
You, and most others on this thread are extremely ignorant to mass shootings, and fail to address the elephant in the room. First, this was a tragic event and disgusting in any way. But, while this is horrible and over 10k americans lose their lives yearly to gunshot; the majority are gang members in inner cities and you and all the other woke elites refuse to address that fact. And, on a side note, over 1.3 million people successfully defended themselves with their firearm and proper use of their 2nd Amendment Right. So, for all you clowns jumping on this bandwagon to “ban guns” you are disgusting and using the deaths of 19 little kids to further your gross agenda. Mr. Kapler, you are a disgrace of a human being, and a sad pathetic little man. ( I assume that’s your pronoun of choice)
Oh yeah Fathers in Homes and God would make this Country Great Again
Ultra-MAGA out
F* you, you POS. It doesn’t, nor can it, represent, everyone, at all times. But it does do a damn good job for most, most of the time. Does it represent those hospitalized by the clot shot? Killed by the vaccines? Does it represent those killed by our drone attacks against children and wedding parties? Does it represent the Asians killed in our major cities? The homeless on the streets in San Francisco? The goldman banker shot in the NY subway? Those kiiled in the NY subway just last week? Does it represent the 35 blacks shot in Chicago, just this weekend? It’s not a perfect system, but it’s the best ever devised by man. That anthem, and that flag, does represent the thousands who died defending that flag andl anthem! Just go to Andrews AFB when the next C-17 lands with 28 caskets draped by the American Flag, while they are playing THAT anthem, and spit on those caskets, YOU HYPOCRITICAL BASTARD!
The mishandling, incompetence of a tragic school shooting is not what America is about. This tragic shooting does not define America nor does the hyperbole and vitriol you spew define America. Yes we are free and we are still the best country in the world despite America hating idiots like you. You should have cooled your jets and your moral outrage and stood for thd national anthem. Such an act says that we are united and all are committed to ending these acts of violence If you do not think we are free then you are free to break your contract with your team and leave the United States anytime you wish. But we all know you won’t do that. This country has given you the opportunity to earn millions of dollars And yet you claim we are not free. You spoiled little athletes need your butts kicked until you get it. We don’t want politics in sports and we don’t want t hear your political opinions. we don’t care. BtwvWhere is your moral outrage when these mass shootings happen in every city in this country every night in bars night clubs theaters dance clubs, and Chicago in New York in Baltimore and New Orleans where is your moral outrage pal. Stop the moral outrage virtual signaling I just play your game.
Gabe. I am so proud of you and inspired by you. Thank you for speaking your heart. You can still be a patriotic American and call on our country to be better. We can still be a great and powerful country if we have fewer guns. I pray that others will have the courage to be OK with a bit more regulations around gun ownership. Mostly I applaud you for sharing your personal thoughts and exposing yourself. You are a true great American.
“Peltzman”? It figures. With no means to defebd yourself don’t cry when you’re “marched off to the showers” if you know what I mean.
I agree. A country that actively forbade those two school teachers from having the means to protect themselves and their students deserves zero respect. Its sickening. They had to sit there and wait to die at the hands of this murderer, because some leftist nutjobs don’t want them to have a firearm inside their classroom. Sure lot of good that did them.
Those ladies deserved the ability to have their lives protected with the same type of weapons you and your major league baseball players will be protected with tonight. The same guns that are available and used to protect movie stars at the oscars. But our government doesn’t provide protection to those two beautiful ladies who were teaching in that classroom, in fact, the government that flag represents actively forbids them from having the means to protect themselves and their students.
Gabe Kaplan your stunt is all about you and your hunger for attention.
Like the poster above put your money where your mouth is.
Give each family that lost a loved one this week, 10 million dollars.
You won’t thought, because you are nothing but a tight fisted liberal.
Gabe Kaplan, all talk and no action.
Speaking of charity, how do you claim as a charitable contribution each year on your return?
Hear is a guess. Zero.
What a complete insult! On the eve of the weekend when our nation honors those brave men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice!! To discredit our national anthem in this fashion?? If you feel you need to see change, do something PRODUCTIVE! Find better leaders! Contribute! Aid in a campaign! Here’s an idea, BE the leader you want to see in our nation! But to besmirch our national anthem in this fashion is just wrong!
Why do I need to own an AR-15?
Why did Rosa Parks need to sit in the front of the bus?
In a free country, there is no requirement to show need to exercise a natural right.
The right to self-defense is a natural right.
The right to self-defense is not a right that is awarded by the state, it is a natural right that is protected by the U.S. Constitution. It is necessary to remind the overbearing totalitarians. It is not, to protect ourselves from an assault by ducks, pheasants and geese.
Before the national socialists could destroy the Jewish community, they first delegitimized them, then they disarmed, them, then they slaughtered them. Europe, and not a few Americans, learned nothing from the last 100 years.
AMERICA: #56 IN MASS SHOOTINGS
Of the 86 countries where we have identified mass public shootings, the US ranks 56th per capita in its rate of attacks and 61st in mass public shooting murder rate. Norway, Finland, Switzerland and Russia all have at least 45 percent higher rates of murder from mass public shootings than the United States. - find source for this last part on Powerline blog
Kapler - what isn’t representing us well is leftism/globalism. In fact, it doesn’t represent America at all. If you want to protest something, try railing against the mental illness caused by democrat party and media BS. That’s what is to blame for every single problem in this country and across the entire globe. Your vitue signaling is worthless.
Patriotism is not a fair-weather game. Either you love the country and strive to improve it, or you pretend to care about the country only when convenient. The reason people respect the American flag is because this is a country where you, as a regular person, can fight to change that which you believe needs changing. If that is something to turn your back on, so be it, but do not pretend you love this country while doing so.
You, sir, are a rube.
You know what. I was wrong. I am the rube. Pardon me for being stupid.
Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety
A Holocaust tattoo on your calf eh! Hey (((Kapler))) you know why SIX (6) MILLION Joos died in the Holocaust and another THIRTY (30+) PLUS MILLION died in the.pogroms under Lenin and Stalin? Because they had been DISARMED you ignorant “cultural Jew”.
I agree with you, as someone who grew up in a communist regime, that a people that is free to bear arms protects its freedom. But…. use your brain!
No one is really talking about disarming the US population or banning weapons. Well over 80% of us are talking about sensible limits that would greatly diminish the number of crazies that can easily get their hands on a military grade weapon.
The issue is every/any firearm can be classified as “military-grade” by the bureaucrats thus we will NOT budge on this, the AR15 and other magazine fed bolt action and semi-auto firearms stay. Go find another solution to a problem easier solved by more firearms in the hands of competent citizens like the woman in West Virginia that took down the Son of Obama attempting to commit a mass shooting the other night arrned
Larry Pritchett says
Why do we let orgs like the NRA openly buy political favor ? Why are we letting 10 million gun owners hold the other 300 million hostage ? Its a ridiculous argument when you consider that all people are asking for is common sense legislation and taking away weapons that only serve one purpose. No one is talking about taking away your .45 or your 30.06 or your 12 gauge. If a government won’t protect its people then it has failed to uphold their most important duty. We need to vote these people out and reform election donations.
Larry Prichett,
You ain’t taking nothing, not a rifle, not a single round. And talking about “influence in politics” (and culture) why are Jews overrepresented?
Well, perhaps men like you should have concerned yourself letting thousands of thugs burn down cities in the Summer of 2020 unpunished while you cheered them on because you shared politics, while the police watched and did nothing on account of men like you. Your feckless ilk is the best marketing for semi-automatic weaponry, along with a failed administration punishing its citizens because we didn’t vote for them.
Men like you are why people are arming yourself. And PS. Don’t talk about things you have no idea what you speak. Over a 100M adults in this country own a fireman.
I am a little teapot and I like turtles. Liberals are slow like me.
Yeah, I don’t care what you think like ,ost Americans.
I was born while my father was fighting in WWII. I became an LEO, with an hispanic girl friend, and a best friend from Belize, until he died. We were all Americans, living the dream. Reaching heights we could only imagine. I’ll always salute the flag and remember my best friends of all backgrounds, one of whom died in Vietnam (a Japanese American). All of us loved this country. I’m the only one surviving, but will pass this on to the kids and grandkids.
Thank you, Mr. Kapler. I look forward to seeing what you and the Giants will be doing to further the discussion as I think it’s time organizations started having these discussions and trying to make some change in our communities. I bet Mr. Kerr down the street would be open to partnering…
“Psrtnering” at a gloryhole you mean, it IS Sin Fransissyco after all.
You sir, are a national disgrace. Look forward to getting your ass booed at every stadium on future road trips.
I would like to know when men of the MLB are going to apologize to the state of GA and more specifically the city of Atlanta for the supposed “voter suppression laws,” moving the All-Star game intended to celebrate a local black hero by the name of Hank Aaron and punishing thousands of small business owners in the local area, all under false pretenses?
The votes are in you utter, gutless cowards. Record turnout under the supposed voter suppression laws. And I don’t remember a word from Gabe Kapler protesting these lies about America not living up to her ideals.
Men like Gabe Kapler and his duplicity make me puke. If there is justice, MLB implodes from their cowardice. Spare me your sanctimony. You’re part of the problem and too profoundly ignorant to know it, Coach.
Sir:
Why haven’t you protested all the gun-related deaths in Chicago? Children are dying there every day from shootings. And oh BTW Chicago has some of the strictest gun laws in the country. It not the guns but the evil hearts of the people using them. Also are we going to ban SUVs because the guy in Wisconsin used one to plow thru a parade and killed six people? People will use knives, cars, explosives, etc to kill. Let’s address the real cause - people either mentally ill or just plain evil. We need to look to heal the minds or repair the souls. And evil can only be eradicated. We need to address the crime issue by enforcing the laws on the books, not allow the criminal back out on the streets to do more crime.
Not to mention his support by voting DEM of the murder of millions of babies out of the womb. I guess only some children matter.
Go play your game in some other country. You are an irrelevant trained chimpanzee who entertains drunken morons.
You are a true leader. We need more people like you in major league sports and—probably more urgently—in congress. Thanks for having integrity and using your position to draw the attention to gun control that this tragic event merits.
Quote possibly the dumbest people push for gun control because they do not understand history. Push the person not the tool….. if outlawing guns worked then Chicago would be Mayberry
You fit right in there.
BTW who in the hell cares what dumb jocks and rock ‘n roll stars have to say on issues of actual importance? I think Kapler should join forces with Karenick and form the Grudge League of washed up nobodies.
I’m joining the NRA and adding MLB to my boycott list! I still believe in America and freedom
This written by a hypocrite who has armed security guards to protect him at his workplace.
We’re not even in the top 50 countries for mass shootings doofus.
It’s malevolent narcissistic individuals driven by social media. It’s not a gun problem.
You know what I’m not OK with, Gabe? I’m not OK with people like you using your way overpaid position as a political sounding board. You want to protest? Fine. Do it on your own time. You have that right. A right this country affords you. I used to be a diehard MLB fan. I haven’t watched a single game since others like yourself starting disrespecting our country by kneeling during our national anthem. Since you are so dissatisfied with this country, why don’t you leave? This country is the greatest in the world because our forefathers had the commonsense to allow its citizens to defend themselves from a tyrannical government. Similar to the one we have now. It is why we have the freedoms we have today. So please. Go ahead. Pack up your bags and hit the road. We will be better off without you.
stupid people on here don’t even know what an assault weapon is. It is not a semi auto AR 15. An assault weapon is a fully auto weapon, and that is already illegal. Why are most shootings in some of the stricest gun areas in america?chicago? calif? The prob is a heart issue, not a gun issue. Broken families, kids raised withouth their fathers. Start in the Home!!!
Dear Gabe,
Thank you for putting pen to paper and saying what many of us have been saying (some of us doing or trying to do - use our body language and our gestures as a form of civil disobedience and protest) over and over and over again. What you have said is spot on. The fact that you’ve acknowledged that you allowed your integrity to be compromised speaks to the true integrity you possess. Thank you for being a man of integrity and for taking what your dad taught you to heart and action.
I HOPE that enough of us will finally be heard by the leaders WE elected and that something is FINALLY done to right a wrong that has consumed to many lives already. An entire generation has grown up in fear of mass school or public place shootings. We should be ashamed of ourselves for allowing this to go in for far too long. I am. We should not have to have armed teachers and I am adamantly against that - I do not think that will prevent or make these murderous events less common. We need gun reform, comprehensive background checks, waiting periods, safety course training and certification that must be renewed every year or something acceptable towards that requirement, and proof of proper storage of guns and ammunition, and limits on how many and how much can be had. No average citizen needs to own a weapon that was created for the military for wartime use. No one needs to be allowed to go buy back to back to back weapons and hundreds if not thousands of rounds of ammunition. No ONE needs that much lethal weaponry to own, store, or use in America on CHILDREN, on people of color, grocery shoppers, on church goers, on movie watchers, on mall shoppers… ENOUGH ENOUGH ENOUGH
Thank you for your essay and thank you for protesting and demanding change.
Tessa Dailey
Who cares dude. Just manage your baseball team buddy. That’s what you’re paid to do. I don’t watch games for your political opinions. With that being said, when was the last time your vote or opinion mattered. It’s going to take a lot more than voting or depending on some politician to change this country. There is no voting our way out of this… TINVOWOOT!
YES…
FWIW: USN 1967-71, Vietnam 1968, Medevac
You absolutely have a right to kneel, or stay in the locker room. All people who have any issue with our Country should protest. BLM, against abortions, Sports deals made with China, Voting rights…..Pick whatever you feel passionate about and protest it. Half the team would remain in the locker room in “protest”. How about standing for the flag that gives you the right to be mad, to protest how you see fit and not be killed or “missing” like in some other super powers. Give up managing and run for office. You made enough as a player and a manager to fund your own campaign.
Have you ever disrespected our anthem by protesting the millions of babies that have been killed in our country through abortion? We all know the answer is no, so your protest has nothing to do with saving children. You have been tricked into doing the bidding for power hungry democrats who fantasize about controlling an America with no second amendment to get in the way of their destructive agenda. I pray that you and every other American realizes this truth before it’s too late.
“You have been tricked into doing the bidding for power hungry democrats who fantasize about controlling an America with no second amendment to get in the way of their destructive agenda. I pray that you and every other American realizes this truth before it’s too late.” Did you ever look at any maps or globes and see what America is, it is shown as a continent of 35 countries.
Typical democrat. Wants to talk about anything but actual solutions. Since when do you recognize borders anyway?
Thanks, rich guy who has turned his back on black people. For every white man shot tom death, 16 black men are shot to death by gang bangers. You don’t give a rat’s ass about black people. You are a minstrel show phony. I’m sure the Right People approve of you.
This entire blog is the same old arguments - more gun regulation vs second amendment.
We should be looking at real solutions - of all the money Congress allocated for complete bullshit - and we can’t provide security at our schools ?
Politicians on both sides of the aisle are failing us.
let me guess…Gabriel is Jewish. This is so scripted it’s embarrassing.
Subversive Kike’s mother loves JEW cock.
Some of these comments are truly pitiful. The bleating of slaves. This here - Gabe - is a man at a time when manhood is rare. Gabe your essay shames us all. Our silent complicity and vocal enablement is just not acceptable any more.
Thank you.
Gabe is a SanFran homofag. Not a man at all
Kaplerbis an idiot and so is MLB. Sticking with UFC. MLB has been lame for the last 20 years. Go woke go broke
Hey commie. Drugs are illegal and they’re everywhere. Until we address the mental issues this will never stop.
Gun control does not work. It’s a proven failure in many of our largest cities in the US. The often-cited city of Chicago, in 2021 had more than 1,000 homicides that were gun-related, according to the medical examiner’s office. The overwhelming majority of slayings in the city — more than 90% — were a result of gun violence. All told, there were at least 4,300 gunshot victims, in a city where guns are illegal! Yes, many of those guns were purchased in Indiana (lawfully - some of them certainly, others as straw purchases). Persons carrying guns from Indiana to Chicago to commit crimes are criminals.
Reasonable background checks are good and already on the books. Waiting periods are good and again, already on the books. Banning extended magazines is stupid, as people can just double up their total magazines - it takes seconds to switch a spent mag for a fresh one. Banning ‘assault’ rifles is stupid as any sporting rifle can do exactly the same thing.
We have a mental health problem, not a gun problem. The right to keep and bear arms shall NOT be infringed. If we are a nation of laws, there’s one.
The coaches father and mother raised a frickin sissy. Everyone regardless of their beliefs should at least profess their allegiance to the country. Common sense bipartisanship. Common sense patriotism. He did nothing but draw attention to his selfish sorry ass. That’s our primary agreement. Not standing is a rebellious unpatriotic act. This is a new phenomenon that degrades our unity. Guns don’t kill mental cases do. Shame on the the little baby..
Pp.s
I live to laugh at and listen to liberals squirm like a caterpillar in a frying pan.
Leave the country now and your multi-million contract …. Goto North Korea where you have no freedom
A lot of valid points. Lots lot problems with our elected officials, politics and policies in this country, but….. Still can’t believe people, especially athletes getting paid millions of dollars to play a sport don’t realize the anthem is not about your stance on current affairs. It’s played to respect all the people who sacrificed and died for this country so you can literally play a game and make a living (a very very good one at that). # kaplifestyle. Come on gabe, mass shorting don’t happen in other countries?!?! Get real!! They just blow each other up with bombs or chop hands off for stealing or kill citizens for being gay or committing adultery, etc. People flood this country on record numbers, it’s not a terrible place, but unfortunately terrible things do happen. Go ahead and take a knee when they play the anthem. I’m sure that will fix the mental health problems in this country and the gun control issue.
What are you gun-nuts going to do when they repeal the 2nd amendment? Seriously. It’s going to happen. The absurdity of the 2nd amendment will become clear and your straw-man arguments will turn to dust. You can count on it. Oh sure, you’ll be able to keep your guns, and even play war with your little militias, pretending to be John Wayne, but your time will come to an end.
GABE, YOU’RE A CUNT.
DO EVERYONE A FAVOR AND COMMIT SUICIDE NOW.
What is more important than the health and well being of our children? I applaud your statement, prayers won’t change future mass murders, but a majority of people standing up and saying this has to stop and ejecting officials who have the courage to make a change in our laws regarding automatic weapons, background checks and registering guns - like automobiles.
Where are you for the children in Chicago killed? The violence in the womb by Banned Parenthood…
Stay the hell in your locke(d)r room you coward…
JMJUSA, you’re just another RW idiot. Chicago has the strict gun laws that we need nationwide to prevent Uvalde from happening again. We don’t have kids shots in Chicago like we do in Texas, which has no gun control laws.
California banned assault weapons in 2002. There has not been any mass shootings in California since then. What more evidence do you want?
He’s a Jew. His loyalties lie elsewhere.
YOUR MOTHER LOVES THE JEW COCK
You’re a good guy Gabe and I appreciate that this is how you feel you can make a difference. I also appreciate that you believe this is the only country this happens in. That’s not accurate but we do give these things the most publicity. Which is actually the one thing that has been proven out in study after study to lead to more of them. Mass media coverage. But again you’re a person with a platform doing what you can. Texas is going to address this in the way they decide to and it won’t line up politically with what San Francisco would do and people need to accept that. It shouldn’t be “my solution or no solution”.
This is where I take issue though. You want to know something that REALLY doesn’t happen in any other country and actually most states in America? Name another state (or country) running a supervised drug consumption site in the main plaza of the city like the one in United Nations Plaza. Openly allowing drug dealers to sell fentanyl to people supervised by the gov. Those are people’s kids too. Parents agonize over kicking their kids out of the house to keep from enabling them to urge them to get help and SFO does the enabling instead. Or they go to the “safe sleeping site” where there are countless rapes and people pimping out addicted women for drug money. The local gov blames unaffordable housing for this. Conveniently they award all their donors contracts to help this. It doesn’t help. Dopesick people don’t need housing. They need detox and programs. Tonight there are thousands of parents across the country praying that their son or daughter lives through another night in SFO and trying not to think of what they have to do to survive there on the streets.
This is the city you represent Gabe and where you could really speak out and make a difference. But you don’t. There’s nothing brave about speaking out in San Francisco about your issues with US gun policy. Somebody who is brave would stand up against the humanitarian crisis in your own city.
I like how people are trying to argue facts when it’s obvious Kapler is just preening his Woke views.
Before Uvalde, there were children being shot in Chicago. Most of them are black. They are still being shot and killed. It is not in large numbers like double digits but it is still a large number. Over 250 in a year.
Did you hear Kapler or Kerr comment even once about what is going on Chicago? Of course not. Ask yourself, why not?
Every country that has gun control also has mass killings.., in Mexico it is every day mass killings… protect your freedoms
Funny. All the anti guns libs come out of the woodwork when school shooting takes places. It’s so so easy. Be against guns. Blame NRA. All the celebs and libs do it. But come Tuesday. Will Kapler and company say one word about shooting deaths in Chicago. Philadelphia. Baltimore. On and on. All the big lib cities where week after week day after day. One shooting death after another. Most victims black. Most shooters black. But shhhhh. Don’t talk about that. No Gabe. You take your knee for show over this and just let the inner city kill itself. I mean. People like you (born and bred by anti War activists) never address hard problems. Just stick to the easy headline grab while the people you so claim to care about kill each other in record numbers.
Touche’! Bravo!
Lol, you never were to bright Gabe. Knew you from your Red Sox days. However when it comes to arrogance and privilege you’re right at the top. Try to keep things in perspective even as your hated for Western Civ blinds you. 99% + are not going around killing people or cowering from helping others in need. However if you listen to the lies and distortions of the media they could easily convince you otherwise. Big picture, the global maxists want to disarm Americans so the take over can be completed, pronto. Discuss among yourselves.
You worthless chicken shite. Woke tool. You aren’t brave, you are a punk.
Then quit you over paid self righteous a hole.
Eff off Mr. Kotter.
Like most mass murderers, just another anti-gop left wing nut job.
The AR-15 was designed for one a specific purpose: To kill humans. To kill a lot of humans at once, quickly and efficiently. Specifically, it was designed to kill humans with AK-47s before they kill you. Since the AR-15s invention in 1959, hundreds of millions of dollars in research and development, refinements and improvements have gone into making it the ultimate killing machine. Good enough for U.S. soldiers to take versions of it to combat for six decades. This is not a hunting rifle. It’s not a “sporting rifle.” It’s a machine for killing a lot of humans at once. Why are military grade weapons available to the general public? Because the NRA bribes politicians. Why don’t mass killings happen in other first world countries? Because military grade weapons are illegal for public use in Australia, Britain, Germany, Japan, China. Do you really think it’s about the 2nd Amendment? They were talking about single load muskets. back then. The issue here is modern military grade guns available to the public, period. There will always be crazy people. There will always be ways into a school for someone hell-bent on getting in. Why on earth would we want anyone but a soldier on the battlefield to have a military grade assault rifle? To hunt pigs? The Zombie apocalypse? How about mass killing of school children? Grow up America. Vote the NRA payola scoundrels that hide behind the flag and the 2nd amendment out of office. At this point, we all have blood on our hands for allowing this to happen. There’s no excuse.
Two types of mindsets exist in this nation, and, most likely, the world. One mindset is of slaves. The other is of free people. Slaves abrogate their beings and minds to their overlords. Free people take full responsibility for their thinking, intentions, conduct, and actions. Slaves expect their masters to rule them as a group, as all slaves are the same. Free people expect those they allow to represent them to treat them as individuals, holding them individually for their individual conduct and actions. Our society is morphing into a society of willing slaves.
Wow, so many more millions will you have to get before you stand and honor the flag that represents all the heroes bloodshed for your sorry woke a$$? You are a privileged d*ck who, with your little narcissistic mind, needs to be in a bread line for a couple of years. You then might, but probably wouldn’t, be grateful for living in the land of opportunity. I am white guy making $44 g’s a year…yeah, you have it pretty rough buddy.
We need to do something about these mass shootings! I applaud Kapler and Kerr for using their platform to raise awareness for gun shootings and supporting gun control.
As a San Francisco liberal, I think we need to do the following:
1) Ban all guns in private hands. Only the government should have guns. This will make our country safer, like China, North Korea, or Iran, where private gun ownership is unheard of. You’re much safer in these countries.
2) Defund the Police! Because Texas didn’t defund the police, it made shootings like this more likely to happen!
3) Stop blaming people for their actions and hold the gun makers responsible. Stop complaining about the perpetrator. That’s a red herring that the RW press is focusing on. The biggest factor was the guns he had. When a cop shoots an innocent black victim, we liberals do not blame the police. We blame the guns!
4) Have transgendered bathrooms. The perpetrator was trangendered and probably felt unwelcome because of the lack of proper LGBTQ+ bathrooms
5) All schools should have mandatory “Gun Free Zone” signs. The school in Uvalde didn’t have such signs. Gun Free Zones are prohibited in Texas. A Gun Free Zone would have deterred the perpetrator from entering the school with his guns
6) We must make concrete steps to fight global warming. These types of atrocious shootings will become more common if we don’t do anything about global warming.
I don’t blame you. Biden is terrible let’s go Brandons!
Sir, AFTER you have really studied American history, thoroughly, then I might give some weight to your arguments. As it now stands, congratulations on a superficial gloss of pathos used to justify your self-congratulatory virtue signaling. Go home and shut up until you can educate yourself.
The escalating chaos, societal and economic, has a heightening intensity that requires a strong voice (singularity) of purpose for your actions, which you are already effectively communicating. Consider harnessing the multitude of opposing opinions received here with a balanced sub-messaging strategy that continues to garner consideration for change. Your path and vision are commendable.
Pussy.
Lead by example. Disarm all the security at the Stadium. Do not allow Police to patrol the stadium. Stop using taxpayers money to build sport stadiums. Tax payers money can be used for the community. You are privileged person who throws a ball around for entertainment. I am sure you live in a very nice gated home. You are far removed from reality.
If you haven’t noticed, Kapler does support Defunding the Police. Defunding the Police would have prevented this shooting from occuring.
Insufferable and sanctimonious is a terrible way to go through life. I would rather light myself on fire than return to this page.
Instead of throwing a self obsessed fit, try petitioning your govt. to make schools and the children inside of schools into a hard target. Fence all the way around the school. One gate only. Well trained armed guards at the gate, preferably combat veterans. Observer 100 yards outside the wire to check out everyone approaching the one gate. Spend more on school security than on airport security.
Your hissy fit is infantile. Stop acting like a spoiled child.
Thank you for your activism as a public figure.
Hey chickenshit. Go F yourself.
Where lead by satanic pedofiles, but I’d still stand for the flag.
To disrespect the flag & all those who died fighting for our freedom, is un-American & quite despicable.
a godless society has problems. America is godlessness is supported and fostered by the Left.
The direction of America sits at the feet of the Democrat leaders. They are godless, immoral scum.
So, Gabe. Just curious…..What is your stance on ABORTION? Because if you approve of killing innocents in the womb, you have no right to comment and you’re just another leftist hypocrite.
Gabe?
You were born with a very specific physical skill. Good for you. If it were not for that freak twist of DNA, no one would be reading this. Immediately donate 100 percent of your salary to a charity working on this cause, or be quiet. You’re not very bright.