NBA Personalities Lead Call For Reform After Latest School Shooting Incident

Basketball concerns took a backseat a few hours ahead of the possible series-clinching Game 4 between the Golden State Warriors and Dallas Mavericks because of an elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas.

The shooter, identified as 18-year-old Salvador Romas, visited Robb Elementary school and open-fired his weapons which ended the lives of 21 people–18 schoolchildren and three teachers as of the latest tally.

Warriors head coach Steve Kerr aired out his frustrations in his pre-game press obligation as the country deals with another mass shooting incident.

“When are we going to do something?” he said.

“I’m so tired of getting up here and offering condolences to the devastated families that are out there. I'm so tired of the excuse, but I'm sorry, I’m so tired of the moments of silence. Enough!”

Kerr went on to criticize 50 senators who have refused to vote on the Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019 (HR8), which would require thorough background checks on every person interested in buying a firearm.

The Warriors coach’s passion for securing firearm reforms has a history behind it as he was still living in Beirut, Lebanon when his father, 52-year-old Malcolm Kerr, was killed by members of the Shia Lebanese militia on January 18, 1984, in the hallway outside of his office in the American University of Beirut.

Kerr was 18 years old at the time of the incident.

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, a social activist in his own right, offered his condolences to the families dealing with the incident while also echoing Kerr’s sentiments.

“There simply has to be change! Has to be,” James wrote in a follow-up tweet.

Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics also chimed in on the matter, offering words of support.

Kerr has already said what possibly every other member of the NBA family wanted to say about the matter, even extending it to other Americans.

"You realize that 90% of Americans, regardless of the political party, want background checks, universal background checks. 90% of us. They won't vote on it because they want to hold on to their own power. It's pathetic. I have had enough,” Kerr said with finality and frustration boiling over as he stormed off the podium.

As the nation deals with another shooting incident, his Warriors will have an opportunity to move on to the 2022 NBA Finals with a Game 4 victory over the Mavericks.

View Kerr's full statement about the incident below.