Last week, a deranged gunman killed 3 people and wounded five others at Michigan State University before taking his life. Like clockwork, pundits in the corporate press instantly began promoting all manner of gun control measures to address this perceived “epidemic” of mass shootings that have been taking place in 2023.
From politicians to media personalities, there seems to be a consensus that gun control is the magical solution to mass shootings. However, not all public figures are on board with such an agenda. Former NFL defensive end and one-time Pro Bowler Marcellus Wiley rejected such calls for civilian disarmament. In fact, he blamed individuals carrying out the shootings, not the weapons used in these bloody incidents.
"We’ve got to stop blaming the gun and start looking at the humans and the individuals who are now responsible with those guns" – Marcellus Wiley
"We’ve got to stop blaming the gun and start looking at the humans and the individuals who are now responsible with those guns," Wiley declared in a post he published on Twitter on Tuesday. “And unfortunately, like incidents today [the Michigan State mass shooting], irresponsible with those guns.”
"Someone told me this once: They said, ‘We blame guns in this country more than anything.’ But if you think about it, if you put a gun on a table, it does nothing," Wiley added. “It needs a human being to activate. It needs a human being to be that weapon of destruction.”
In sum, Wiley believes that the push for implementing gun control will not make the United States safer for the simple fact that criminals will still find ways to get their hands on weapons.
"Ban all the guns and then, guess what? That will make safer schools, safer streets, safer communities," Wiley continued sounding off. “I don’t think it would. You know why? Because if you ban all the guns, only the bad guys are going to get access to the guns, right? Because the bad guys are not going to follow the law.”
"Ban all the guns and then, guess what? That will make safer schools, safer streets, safer communities? I don’t think it would. You know why? Because if you ban all the guns, only the bad guys are going to get access to the guns, right? Because the bad guys are not going to follow the law.” – Marcellus Wiley
During his 10 seasons in the NFL, Wiley played for the Buffalo Bills, San Diego Chargers, Dallas Cowboys, and Jacksonville Chargers. After his professional football career, Wiley pivoted towards sports commentary. He has worked for ESPN’s NFL Live, co-hosted SportsNation, co-hosted Speak for Yourself next to sports commentator Jason Whitlock, and is now hosting the More To It podcast.
Wiley’s remarks are a far cry from most of the sports world which often parrots corporate media narratives on hot-button issues such as gun control. For example, after the Uvalde mass shooting in 2022, 75 professional sports teams participated in “Wear Orange Weekend," an event organized by pro-gun control organization Everytown for Gun Safety. The event’s goal was centered on raising awareness about gun violence and pushing for gun control to address this problem. Prominent sports teams such as the Houston Texans, San Antonio Spurs, and the Washington Nationals took part in this event.
Similarly, the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays went on social media to post facts about gun violence instead of focusing on sports related content. In light of all of this, it’s safe to say that sports are thoroughly politicized. Gun Control Inc.’s anti-gun allies have done a fantastic job in infiltrating nearly all facets of civil society and co-opting institutions to advance their anti-freedom agenda.
Dr. Gary Kleck and Dr. Marc Gertz’s research shows that firearms are used for self-defense between 2.2 to 2.5 million times each year. Guns are far more frequently used for good than for evil.
From the movies we watch to the sports games we attend, nearly all the entertainment we consume is suffused with overt political messaging. It can often be overwhelming to casual observers who just want to get away from the stresses of everyday life. However, it’s another sign of how relentless the Left is when it comes to its quest for hegemonic control of society.
Wiley’s comments are a breath of fresh air for a sports commentary field largely dominated by politically correct and regime-approved opinions. At the end of the day, guns are tools that can be used for good or for ill. However, they’re more frequently used for good as evidenced by criminologists Dr. Gary Kleck’s and Dr. Marc Gertz’s research demonstrating how there are roughly 2.2 to 2.5 million cases of firearms used in self-defense annually.
While many political observers may scoff at sports and general culture for being superficial and sensationalist in nature, its importance in shaping public opinion cannot be overstated. When public figures like Wiley offer dissent to the prevailing conventional wisdom, genuine changes in political discourse can take place.
Wiley’s comments should be commended, and he should receive further encouragement to continue voicing opinions that go against the grain. This is one of many ways we can break the Left’s near hegemonic grip on political discussions.
