I believe we have the right to speak up about the things we’re most passionate about. I believe we also have the responsibility to find organizations that are doing good work and support those organizations when we speak up about issues. Voicing concerns thoughtfully and protesting peacefully are both patriotic actions; so is supporting organizations that are in the weeds solving problems.
This Memorial Day, I will be donating to two organizations. The first is Everytown, an organization dedicated to ending gun violence.
The second is Heart & Armor, an organization devoted to veteran health and linking the experience of veterans to civilians.
Today, I’ll be standing for the anthem. While I believe strongly in the right to protest and the importance of doing so, I also believe strongly in honoring and mourning our country’s service men and women who fought and died for that right. Those who serve in our military, and especially those who have paid the ultimate price for our rights and freedoms, deserve that acknowledgment and respect, and I am honored to stand on the line today to show mine.
Great! Glad you are doing this Gabe!
One has to define the problem before being able to solve it. There are two problems that people confuse here. One is sometimes cited as “280+ US school shootings”. These are different than Uvalde, though, they are kids from within a school bringing guns to school and settling scores amongs themselves, often gang-related. This problem persists due to the ease of getting illegal handguns and the fact that the areas affected are politically disenfranchised. This definitely isn’t a worry for your average active American voter, which is why they don’t truly care to address it.
The other problem is mass shootings like Uvalde. You can’t call these a “US problem”. Canada had two mass shootings of high renown in past five years, Quebec City and Nova Scotia. 28 dead total. Best US data set for these is Mother Jones Shooting Database, which shows 360 US mass shooting deaths since Jan 2017. Do the math to make it per capita yourself. 28 dead / 35 million people is 0.75 dead per million since 2017. In US, it’s 360 dead / 340 million, so 1.06 dead per million in same time frame. Amplified in US because the population is 10x, but similar scale issue. . NZ, Norway off the charts on these scales, e.g. 51 dead in NZ in 2019 Christchurch/5M population.
Mental health is clearly part of the issue on the mass shootings problem. Look at the extensive list of mental health involvement on the Mother Jones database and consider individual known mental health problems for Vegas shooter, VA tech, long ago the UT tower shooter.
Germany had a school shooting problem in the decade after Columbine, hit 0.5 dead per million in the single decade that followed. They addressed it by requiring every person under 25 who sought a gun to have a psychiatric evaluation. This hasn’t fully solved their problem – they had one school shooting already this year and they foiled one with no deaths as well – but it seems to have helped. By numbers of deaths, since 2009 they are looking good on mass shootings.
The other common data mistake is to talk about “gun deaths” in the US being high. But “gun deaths” is every death by gun. US Suicides by gun are 25k per year, and suicides not by gun are 20k per year. Homicides by gun are 15k per year and homicides not by gun are 5k per year. This all obviously is a far different problem than mass shootings, which by the Mother Jones database is about 30 people dead per year. Not 30k, 30. So 0.0005 of the “gun deaths”.
If you want to solve the problem of high US gun deaths, that is a good thing. But talk about it outside of the outrage over mass shootings which are virtually unrelated and contribute little to the issue.
Unfortunately, the major component of gun deaths is suicide where yes, suicide rates may be higher because of guns, but for example the UK has 11 deaths per million due to suicide per year and the US has 13. The presence of guns only contributes 20% and this suggests that hanging and self-poison are easy “switching” options. Most of the homicides in the US are gang-related and the non-gang homicide rates in US actually compare well to Europe.
I’m heavily in favor of modifying gun laws to reduce deaths. For example, Trump’s ban on bump stocks post-Vegas was important and I can’t believe Congress didn’t act to put that in law. However, we have to address the underlying mental health issues too. Germany’s school attacks 2000-2010 saw deaths of 15-20 with handguns only. Nova Scotia involved only single action rifles and handguns, 22 dead. VA Tech in US was handguns and 31 dead. On average you are going to lower deaths by focusing on weapon capacity and firing rate, etc. But you don’t remove the problem by doing so. Norway had a mass shooter last year – 5 killed with bow and arrow.
I also worry about switching to other methods. What was the Uvalde shooter going to do if he couldn’t buy guns? Sit at home and sulk or find a different way to take out his evil measure of pain? Total deaths could be higher with non-gun methods. Terrorists killed 86 in a truck attack in Nice with less access to guns. Bombing – technically hard for most mass shooters, but risk of high deaths upon success. Need to address mental health issue for sure and not create logjam by considering that just an NRA talking point to be ignored – that ensures inaction.
Thank you for having conviction. I appreciate you.
I think you are a national hero. I respect your choice to do as you see fit. I thank you for giving a shout out to Everytown. We may be able to make a difference this time because of people like you.
Nobility. That is all I can say 👏 Bravo Gabe!
I hope your action inspires others to speak up and stand up for what they believe in. Thank you!
Gabe, as a vet I support you 100%! To all those that might see my comment, I worked as the dugout security for the Red Sox for a few years. Gabe is one of the best I’ve ever worked with and I know he would never disrespect veterans. On the contrary, I believe by not appearing for the anthem, he’s in a way, honoring those that made the ultimate sacrifice by exercising his constitutional rights. Good on you Gabe.
He loves our country more than you love your guns. Always remember the 1st Amendment comes before the 2nd Amendment. If you really cared for life, you’d be doing anything to stop this violence. Kapler is doing what he can. What have you done Sir?
If you have served for 25 years. What did they teach you those 25 years? Other than bullying other people. There is a big difference between freedom of speech and bullying. Use your words carefully. People can still understand your point without losing respect for you.
👍
Wow, call other person an “ass”,”selfish” ask him to “leave” the country, and denied “At no point did I attempt to bully anyone.” Google cyber bullying! Also, every sentence you wrote, you have to verbally abuse other people. Don’t call other people uneducated when you don’t know for sure how many degrees they have earned. Just: Wow! I don’t need to waist more time.
You served your country for 25 years and you won’t defend Mr. Kapler’s right to free speech and to exercise his conscience peacefully? Must be terrible for you to know that you wasted 25 years of your life. Thank you, Gabe!
100% support you Gabe always a big fan of yours.
Gabe-
I support your views/opinions on the Uvalde nightmare 100%. Your comments are spot-on and I applaud you for speaking up on tis horrible event.
Funny thing the great part about the USA is you can pick and choose when you believe America is morally correct or wrong! First Amendment allows us to protest and defend our beliefs in any way seem fit. Just like you feel the need to defend your belief by commenting what you commented! God bless the USA, Kapler, and the SF Giants!
You obviously have no clue what you ‘served’ for. If, as an American, I choose not to stand for the anthem in protest, that is my or anyone else’s right, buffoon. Don’t like it? Leave.
I served defending a flag give people like you that would prefer someone else do the job defending our country the right to call people a ” buffon”. The difference between you and me is…I can say I defended the flag, whereas you can tell everyone you prefer to ride the coattails of people like me and protest the flag. You prefer that your freedoms be given to you because you are a citizen, and dont want to earn them, whereas I did ir for 25 years.
Those who think you are disrespecting the flag and anthem are ignorant of American values. Veterans know that their oath is to the constitution. They also know that your protest does not violate flag code while star-spangled merchandise like underwear and F150s are disrespectful and cited as direct violation of flag code.
they didnt sacrifice themselves so u can protest jeez. they did so u can live free. free of oppression. free to voice ur own opinion without fear of retribution. aint so free no more.
Wise decision for Memorial Day. You’re a mensch!
Thank you!
Rose
Gabe, will you protest for all the youth killed from the fentanyl smuggled in through our open borders? Or how about all the kids that are sex trafficked through our open boarders? How about the 40+ people annually shot in Chicago every Memorial Day? I’m all for protesting but you can make a larger impact if you start talking about some other real injustices.
Gabe, you are a man of values. Today was the right day to honor veterans, and of course we should all appreciate the sacrifice made by American service members. But I appreciate you making a statement about the scourge of gun violence that only this country engenders by those that hide behind the 2nd amendment. Outside of the military, no one should have the right to own a weapon of war. As John Prine once sang, “your flag decal won’t get you into heaven anymore, it’s already overcrowded by your dirty little war.” Today we can substitute assault rifles and school massacres for the reference to the 58,220 Americans killed in the Vietnam war.
Be quiet Georgie. You’re looking more like the moron.
Hey Jackie, take a seat and sit this one out, loser. You’re on the wrong side of things.
Kapler is not wrong for his concern about the direction of our country, but the reason Kapler suspended his Anthem protest today is exactly the same reason we should not bring the Anthem into any protest.
The anthem is a moment to unite us all in honoring the ideals on which this country is founded and those that have surved to protect our rights and freedom.
The National Anthem and the Pledge of Allegiance give each of us the opportunity to recommit ourselves to the principles, the promise, and to the constant effort needed to work towards make this country great for the benefit of all!
Kap, I appreciate your post and your peaceful protest. Go Giants!
In today’s America, cowards using fake names feel emboldened to attack others. Just as you choose to hide in anonymity to assert an opinion protected by the First Amendment, Gabe has that same right to express his opinion and take action based on it.
I live in Texas where we have had mass shootings in schools (Santa Fe and Uvalde), a Walmart (El Paso), a church (Sutherland Springs), and against the police (Dallas). In response, we have had Republican “leadership” give their “thoughts and prayers” but offer no solutions and say that they are “livid” when questioned as to why the “good guys with guns” stood by while the children – now dead – repeatedly called 911 begging for help. In a typical Trump move, they are now looking for the scapegoat to blame.
When expressing opinions, we have choices: (1) keep quiet and voice no opinion; (2) fall into line behind a loud mouth bully, letting them do all the talking and/or hiding behind a fake name to hurl insults; or (3) step up, express your opinion, and accept the consequences from one’s deeds or words.
It is ironic that many of the loudest mouths attacking Gabe never served in the service, never lost someone in the fight for America’s freedom or the defense of our country, and are doing so for personal gain (Nick Adams) or jealousy (Lenny Dykstra).
Those same people who say “it’s all about you (Gabe)” have no issues with Donald Trump’s lies about the 2020 election. Trump had multiple opportunities to address this problem, starting with the school in Parkland, Florida but wouldn’t. He would rather dance at the NRA convention.
As for those like Nick Adams who say “I will never attend another baseball game,” it’s easy to say that when you haven’t invested the money in season tickets or the time going to games. Another chicken shit move in my opinion.
Gabe, thanks for what you have said and are doing.
Thank you, Gabe, for being a public figure willing to take a stand against stupidity and injustice a la John Lennon. The Second Amendment be damned, nobody in this country should own military-style assault rifles (hello, Canada). And for those who treat the Second Amendment as holy testimony just remember it’s that same US Constitution that protected slavery. Let’s move on. Hope the Giants have the second-best season in baseball this year (second-best to the Cardinals ;-).
Thank you for using the privilege of your public position to take a stand and give a voice to those victimized by gun violence. I appreciate your deliberate decision regarding standing on Memorial Day as I am a Gold Star family member as well as hope that it was only a temporary stay and that you will continue to model integrity for those in your circle of influence. Thank you.
“A Little Rebellion Now and Then Is a Good Thing”, as Thomas Jefferson once wrote.
What some people don’t seem to get is that freedom includes the freedom to protest. And that freedom applies to all Americans. “Freedom” doesn’t mean you have to implictly agree with everything. Most of what has made America has been about protest, from the Boston Tea Party, to Rosa Parks. Protest has formed America. Saying that someone doesn’t have a right to protest because they haven’t served or because they’re an athlete is missing the point completely. Or should only ex-service personnel have the right to an opinion? As is evident here, not all ex-service personnel have the same opinion. I know quite a few people who served in the US Army and Air Force who have very “liberal” views. You don’t earn the right to determine what’s right or wrong by serving. You’re as free to agree or disagree as anyone. As anyone.
America was founded on the very principle of protest, on the freedom to criticize the system, oppose your king, to think freely, challenge things, and to be free of oppression and persecution from ANYTHING.
To say to someone that exercising their right to protest means they should move to China is just about the most ignorant thing I’ve seen in a long while, because China is exactly the place where you can’t protest.
If you don’t like Kapler’s views, watch another team. Switch channels. Go vent somewhere. You’re free to do so. Saying Kap doesn’t have the right to protest simply because you DISAGREE is about as un-American as you can get. And you’re welcome to disagree with that as well.
I support Kapler who is using his platform to bring attention to a problem America is and has been unwilling to address. The soldiers who fought for the flag also fought for Kapler’s right to protest.
Gabe’s original discussion was about the murder of 19 children and two adults at Robb Elementary school. Why is it necessary to allow an 18 year old to purchase assault rifles as it was in Parkland, Florida. The police initially showing up at these schools are less equipped then the shooters. Our police and our citizens are not collateral damage. Tell that to the families that loss their loved ones.