June 21st, 2023

Black athletes’ unholy fascination with guns

Self defense, ‘thug mentality’ lead to troubling incidents

It seems that not a week goes by without news headlines about athletes, many of whom are Black, being involved with guns. The latest incident to grab our attention involves New England Patriots defensive back Jack Jones, who was detained at Logan Airport with two guns and a clip of bullets in his carry-on bag. One unanswered question: “What was in this young man’s head?” He gave the standard excuse: “It is not my weapon, and I don’t know how it got in my bag.” How many times have we heard that line?

The bigger question in my mind is why professional athletes feel the need to carry guns. Many of these young men are not trained to handle a firearm, less “carry” one. In many years of reporting, far too many athletes have told me they carry guns for protection. They feel that they are targets for young thugs out to rip them off. At the same time, I know that way too many Black athletes carry guns for the “show.”

Their thug mentality makes them targets for young criminals looking to rip them off and make a name for themselves. I have heard of athletes being robbed of their possessions even though they had guns on their person. Their thug mindset is overwhelmed by the other lousy guy pulling his weapon first. These athletes must look at themselves in the mirror and realize they are a significant part of the problem. When they tell the public they are “strapped” and boast about it, they beg for the wrong kind of attention.

When young gangsters see these highly paid athletes trying to act tough, they think, “Let’s just see how tough said athlete is.” I have had many street thugs say, “These highly paid athletes have more to lose than I do, so I will put them to the test to see how they will react, especially if I get the drop on them and pull my weapon first. This mentality plays heavy in the thug world.

How do we combat this thinking? Psychologists and sociologists have spent many hours trying to find answers to this dilemma with few or no concrete solutions. The athletes could help the situation by changing their lifestyles. Note to athletes: You must elevate yourself from the thug lifestyle if you genuinely expect to gain real street credibility. Real brave people don’t have to carry guns and act tough to be respected.

Another part of this scenario is to give up your possessions when confronted by a thug imitating you. Jewelry and other expensive items should be insured, thus possibly eliminating the need to die. This kind of thinking does not sit well with many athletes. They have spent their lives being fake “tough guys” who need a gun to boost their egos. And they fail to understand what my father told me many years ago: “Once you reach for a gun and fire a bullet from its chamber, your life changes forever. The bullet can’t return, creating a world of problems that most of us cannot handle.” He also told me: “Worldly possessions are nowhere near as important as your life.” I have tried to live by those words.

I pray that these athletes would heed my father’s advice and give up their fascination with guns and the thug mentality so pervasive in our society today. I know it can be done, but will athletes do it?

Money and fame should elevate you to a higher way of living. That may mean giving up associations with people (both men and women) who can bring you down from the lofty lifestyle that you worked so hard to achieve.

athletes, handguns, Ja Morant