Professional Athletes and Concealed Carry

This is rather strange.

A tower of power, he stands 7 feet 1 inch, weighs 325 pounds, and bears a tattoo of Superman's signature "S" on his massive left arm. Yet NBA great Shaquille O'Neal protects himself off the basketball court with more than his physical might and inky bond with the Man of Steel.

He is licensed to carry a concealed weapon.

And

In an era in which rich and famous athletes increasingly perceive danger in the worlds they inhabit, legions have armed themselves against muggers, carjackers, jewelry-snatchers, and various other predators they consider potential threats. Players and team officials estimated a vast majority of NBA and NFL athletes carry firearms -- legally or illegally -- and that the number of handgun owners among them has reached an all-time high.

Handgun ownership is much less prevalent in Major League Baseball and rare in the National Hockey League.

"I would say about 90 percent of players in the league have guns to protect themselves," said New England Patriots receiver Jabar Gaffney, who holds a Texas license to carry a concealed weapon.

In the NBA, the figure "is closer to 100 percent than it is to 50 [percent]," said a team official who requested anonymity.

By adding handguns to their evening accessories, athletes not only have raised the stakes in their pursuit of personal security but may have increased the likelihood they could face criminal charges, as Gaffney learned last summer.

I really didn't expect that the number of athletes carrying would have been that high.

Of course, seeing as this is a Boglobe article, I knew there would be something to vilify the EVIL Gun Lobby:

While it's impossible to tally how many athletes illegally carry firearms, the total number of those who are licensed to carry concealed weapons also is incalculable because of laws backed by the National Rifle Association that prohibit the vast majority of states from license disclosure. Of the 46 states that require permits to carry concealed weapons, only a small number have made those records public, including Alabama, Florida, Indiana, Louisiana, Ohio, and South Carolina.

That's right. The fact that you carry a concealed weapon should be public knowledge. Just to ensure that if someone does plan to attack you, they know to shoot you quickly before you have any chance of defending yourself. Completely missing the point that knowledge of your ability to defend yourself can be a deterrent and uncertainty is even more effective in the overall deterrence of crime.

Heh, I turned the page and what do you know, they actually report on what I just typed.

In Massachusetts, 203,302 residents were licensed to carry concealed weapons as of August, according to the state Criminal History Systems Board. That's about one of every 23 residents among the 4.6 million who are at least 21 years old, the minimum age to obtain a license. But state law bars authorities from releasing the names of permit holders to "prevent individuals with devious motives from ascertaining who possesses firearms," according to a guide published by Secretary of State William F. Galvin.

Critics contend the prohibition prevents the public from knowing whether individuals with devious motives may possess firearms.

"Denying the public access to these records significantly impairs efforts to analyze the effects of concealed weapons laws on public safety and even to determine whether the permitting process is working properly," said Laura Cutilletta, a staff attorney for the San Francisco-based Legal Community Against Violence, which monitors gun laws.

Right. Devious motives? Huh, I guess having devious motives means that you'd resist that use of an illegal firearm. That logic is just stunning in it's complete detachment with reality.

The analysis argument is just as funny. Seeing as it comes from a Frisco anti-gun group, I'm not really surprised. Couldn't possibly trend the effects of concealed carry by looking at states and cities that have higher concealed carry rates compared to those that prohibit concealed carry.

Then of course, they go to how concealed carry is ineffective by looking at the Boston Celtic's Pierce stabbing.

Had Pierce been carrying a gun the night he was stabbed, he was asked, how might things have been different? "It probably wouldn't have been any different," he said. "Stuff happens so fast, who knows if it would have changed the outcome."

That's all the argument they can make. Didn't even bother to point out the specifics of Pierce's attack. They also don't appear to mention that Pierce now has a body guard. Nice if you can afford to have someone watch your backside.

But Rivers echoed NBA commissioner David Stern, who -- in a stunning plea by the head of a major professional sport -- urged players to leave their guns at home. Both the NBA and NFL have policies that bar players from carrying guns on league business and have stepped up efforts through seminars and other educational programs to discourage players from carrying handguns.

Interesting. Kind of that "you can't carry a gun at work" type thing. Couldn't possibly be attacked while on business now could you. Of course, I doubt that any of these guys are licensed to carry in the entire country. But, hey, that's not the companies problem now is it?

Watson and several other professional athletes who shun carrying handguns said their challenge is avoiding potential trouble.

"As far as what happened to [Telfair] and those guys, a lot of it is about where you go and what situations you put yourself in," Watson said. "For me, it's about trying to stay out of those situations."

Another player's suggestion: Don't advertise your wealth. "My thing is, if you don't wear the $50,000 chain, you don't need a gun to protect yourself," said Patriots lineman Jarvis Green, who said he goes unarmed.

Several ranked self-restraint among their best defenses. "You have to learn to walk away if somebody starts something," said Patriots receiver Doug Gabriel, who expressed no interest in carrying a gun.

Indeed a good practice, but still denies that things happen even to those that are very careful. I suppose you could live in a cave when not at work, but that isn't a life. Well, unless you're a monk or the like.