LeBron James Says Access to Guns in America Is 'Ridiculous' After UNLV Mass Shooting
The Los Angeles Lakers star, who will play Thursday in the NBA's in-season tournament semifinals, spoke out shortly after the mass shooting at UNLV
Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images
LeBron James is using his platform to speak out about gun control.
After arriving at the NBA’s in-season tournament semifinals in Las Vegas the same day as the mass shooting nearby at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, the Los Angeles Lakers star, 38, said at a news conference Wednesday that access to firearms has become “ridiculous.”
"It just goes back to what I said before about guns in America,” James said. “I think it's such a longer conversation, but we keep dealing with the same story, this same conversation every single time it happens, and it just continues to happen. The ability to get a gun, the ability to do these things over and over and over, and there's been no change is literally ridiculous.”
He continued, “It makes no sense that we continue to lose innocent lives, on campuses, schools, at shopping markets and movie theaters and all type of stuff. It's ridiculous.”
Related: LeBron James Is Ready to 'Fight' for In-Season Tournament Title After Controversial Win Over Suns
James’ comments came after the news on Wednesday that three people had been killed by a gunman on the campus of the Las Vegas university.
At 11:45 a.m., campus police received a call about an active shooter, Adam Garcia, Vice President of Public Safety Services and Director of University Police Services Southern Command at UNLV said at a press conference on Wednesday. Subsequently, police "engaged the suspect," who is now dead, Garcia said. Multiple outlets including ABC News later identified the man as Anthony Polito, 67.
Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images
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As James looks ahead to Thursday — where the Lakers will face the New Orleans Pelicans at T-Mobile Arena in one of the semifinal games — the future Hall of Famer and off-the-court activist said his "condolences go to the families that lost loved ones, families and friends" at UNLV.
And he also shared his growing frustration regarding the nation's latest gun-related tragedy.
"The fact that we haven't changed anything — it's actually been easier to be able to own a firearm ... it's stupid," James said.
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