Wizards' "Gun Duel" Blown Out of Proportion
Posted: Wednesday, January 06, 2010
by Terry Mitchell
http://commenterry.blogs.com
There's a lot of handwringing going on right now over a recent incident in the locker room between Washington Wizards teammates Gilbert Arenas and Jevaris Crittenton. They allegedly drew unloaded guns on each during an argument over gambling debts.
However, this whole matter seems to me like much ado about nothing. Everyone should just relax, take a deep breath, and try to get over it. But the hysterical media and local law enforcement officials are hell-bent on making a mountain out of a mole hill.
Arenas and Crittenton may even face criminal charges as a result. And for what? The guns were not loaded and Arenas now claims that it was all just a big joke. Even if they were serious, no one was placed in danger because of what they did. Our country has gotten a little too wimpy on the subject of firearms. I'm not implying that we should return to the days when Aaron Burr killed Alexander Hamilton in a duel, but I do think we now go to ridiculous lengths in the name of protecting society from guns. I suppose Washingtonians are entitled to the same level of safety that will come from getting those two dangerous basketball players off the streets. By the way, the Wizards, formerly known as the Bullets, even changed their name because their politically-correct owner wanted to disassociate the team from gun violence. How ironic is that now?
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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)I agree it is getting blown out of proportion, yet you have to look at the proportions to begin with. In any other profession if an employee walks into work with an unloaded firearm, they get fired. If a postal worker does it, look out! And if a student does it at a school, mayhem erupts. Changing the name of the team was silly, I agree, yet this idiot should get fined big time for his 'lapse of judgement'. People are blowing this 'out of proportion' because DC has so much gun crime any incident sparks controversy. I'm all for freedom to own guns, but that doesn't give me the right to take it to work, loaded or not.Michael, when did I say anyone had a right to take a gun to work? I agree that Arenas (and perhaps Crittenton) should not go unpunished. He (they) should be hit with a big fine and/or suspension. However, the punishment should fit the crime. Politically correct NBA Commissioner David Stern has suspended Arenas indefintely and may even ban him from the league. Like everyone else, Stern is overreacting. Arenas did not kill anyone, and what he did was a first-time offense, as far as I know. Look at all the guys who have gotten multiple chances after drug abuse and other problems with the law. Allen Iverson is a prime example. That guy would have gone to jail right after high school if it had not been for the governor of Virginia intervening on his behalf.
You're right, I know you didn't say that. The first thought I had when I heard about this character, though, was that people all over will make the comparison. I did as well, which is something I probably should have thought more about. Basketball players (any pros, actually) are not in the same league (no pun intended) as you or I, so the rules are a little different. Regardless, I agree with your premise of overreaction. I really did like this one.
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