LeBron James on Shootings: ‘No Room for Guns’

An emotional LeBron James reacted to the tragic news of a five-month-old baby being killed Thursday night in a drive-by shooting in Cleveland.

Speaking to reporters today at the Cavaliers’ training camp, following yet another mass shooting (this time in Oregon), LeBron called for stricter gun control measures across the U.S.

James, who has never shied away from commenting on hot-button social and political issues, says lawmakers must find a way to limit people’s access to firearms.

Per the NEOMG:

LeBron James said there is “no room for guns” as he bemoaned a rash of child shootings in Cleveland Friday and stated his support for stronger gun laws in America. […] James said he didn’t hear (President) Obama’s speech, but “I know what I see. I know how I feel. Obviously you’re not going to be able to take every gun out, I don’t know how you can do that,” James said. “There’s so many around now, today. But if there’s some stipulations behind it or some penalties, some big time penalties or rules or regulations about carrying firearms, legal or illegal, people will second-guess themselves.”

 

James didn’t specify if he was calling for stricter gun laws at the federal or state level. But his statements nevertheless represent perhaps the most pointed political stance James has taken on any issue over the years, even though he has a history of speaking out against violence toward unarmed African-Americans.

 

James said he saw news of the child Wakefield’s shooting break across his phone while he was sitting at home with his three children and “it automatically just hit me.” […] James also said he believes the work he’s doing through the LeBron James Family Foundation in Akron Public Schools, where his charitable organization is mentoring at-risk youths from the third grade through graduation, is tangentially keeping children away from guns and the streets by keeping them engaged in positive activities.