Community Corner

What's the Big Lesson from Kansas City Chiefs Shooting Tragedy?

Some say it shows the need for more gun control, others say it highlights the dirty little secret of head injuries in the NFL, and yet others say it puts a spotlight on domestic violence. What do you think the biggest lesson is?

Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher shot and killed the mother of his child and later himself this past Saturday morning. Proponents of gun control immediately cited it as another reason for stricter gun control. Strong Second Amendment supporters were quick to point out some of the other issues involved. This story in The Huffington Post talks about head injuries in the NFL, and this one in The Washington Times talks about previous reports of domestic violence.

Maybe it'll turn out that concussions, or traumatic brain injury, played some role in sparking those unconscionable actions. And maybe that will make a parent prioritize player safety should he or she allow a child to play football.

Maybe the image of a hulking 25-year-old linebacker, a man considered a leader by his teammates, holding a gun to his head outside Kansas City's practice facility will incite a conversation about gun control among a new demographic.Β 

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Or maybe a video will go viral. A video in which Brady Quinn, the embattled Chiefs quarterback, gives a remarkable postgame address that reminds us to think about our own relationships.

This was obviously a tragedy, but what do you think is the biggest lesson that we should take away from it? Is it a need for more gun control, a wake up call for the NFL to take a look at traumatic brain injuries, or should it prompt more be done to address domestic violence as a national problem?

Find out what's happening in Duluthwith free, real-time updates from Patch.


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