Prior to the March 23 game between the Golden State Warriors and Philadelphia 76ers, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr used his press conference time to speak on the current issues of gun violence, specifically the recent mass shootings in Atlanta and Boulder.

On March 16, a 21-year-old man shot and killed eight people at three different spas in the Atlanta, Georgia area. On March 22, ten people, including a member of law enforcement were also shot and killed by a 21-year-old man inside a Boulder, Colorado grocery store. Both men are facing several murder charges.

Kerr, as he sat in front of a black screen which displayed the names of the 18 victims from the shootings, showed his respect and paid tribute to the victims. “I think it’s first of all important to reference their names. These are people who have been lost. The thought of the mothers and fathers and sisters, brothers, daughters and sons who are grieving right now with the loss of the people behind me is just devastating.” Kerr then goes on to say, “particularly in the wake of what is just a common occurrence in our country and an inability of our representatives in government to do anything about it.”

A man known for advocating gun control, Kerr understands the issue at hand. His father was a victim of gun violence when he was assassinated in Lebanon in the 1980’s. Kerr is very involved with the Bay Area community, often supporting the “Vote For Our Lives” and “March For Our Lives” groups, which were started by students after a school shooting in 2018.

Earlier this month, the House of Representatives passed a bill that would require in-depth background checks on anybody trying to buy or transfer a firearm in the United States. However, the bill has still not been presented to the Senate. Kerr believes the government is taking this issue too lightly.

“The gun in Atlanta was bought that day without a background check. Eight people died as a result. This bill was passed by the House, it hasn’t even been presented in the Senate. It wasn’t last year because of the makeup of the Senate. I imagine it will be presented in the Senate this term, but I am just sort of at a loss for words at this point,” says Kerr.

Kerr was especially enraged by the comments made by Texas Senator Ted Cruz, who claimed the push for background checks after the Colorado shooting to be “ridiculous theater.” Kerr made a statement addressing the comment, asking Cruz how he would feel if somebody close to him was a victim.

“If it happened, would you not want there to be something in place where there was a background check? It’s mind boggling to me,” he said.

Many Republican politicians are not listening to the people they are supposed to be representing. The urge to pass gun control laws continues to increase among the people with shootings occurring in the United States so often.

“We have to address it,” says Kerr. “I think everybody is sick and tired of the rhetoric that’s out there, particularly amongst the Republican Senators. We’re not being represented.”