Bob Costas criticized for advocating for gun control at halftime of game

Announcer Bob Costas before the game between the New Orleans Saints and the San Diego Chargers at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on October 7, 2012 in New Orleans, Louisiana. / Photo by Harry How/Getty Images

ARLINGTON, Texas NBC broadcaster Bob Costas used his halftime segment on "Sunday Night Football" to advocate for gun control following this weekend's murder-suicide involving Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher, causing an immediate debate on social media.

In a segment about 90 seconds long, Costas paraphrased and quoted extensively from a piece by Fox Sports columnist Jason Whitlock.

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Cops: NFL player kills girlfriend, then self

After praising the column, Costas said: "In the coming days, Jovan Belcher's actions and their possible connection to football will be analyzed. Who knows? But here, wrote Jason Whitlock, is what I believe. If Jovan Belcher didn't possess a gun, he and Kasandra Perkins would both be alive today."

Belcher shot and killed Perkins, the mother of his 3-month-old daughter, on Saturday morning, then drove to Arrowhead Stadium and committed suicide in the parking lot of the team's practice facility.

• Mixed reactions over Chiefs player murder-suicide
• K.C. Chiefs' Jovan Belcher kills girlfriend, self

The online reaction to Costas' segment was swift, with many people criticizing the broadcaster for expressing his personal views on a program meant for entertainment.

Summed up Deadspin's Sean Newell: "It is so laughably out of touch it almost has to be satire."

TV host Lou Dobbs tweeted:

The Media Left at Halftime: Bob Costas pushing gun control, quoting...who else?..a sports writer on ridding the country of the 2nd Amendment

— lou dobbs (@loudobbsnews) December 3, 2012

Fox commentator Andy Levy:

Bob Costas, who's gotten rich thanks in part to a sport that destroys men's bodies and brains, gives us a little civics lecture.

— Andy Levy (@andylevy) December 3, 2012

However, some people supported Costas' opinion. NFL free agent Chris Harris tweeted:

Bob Costas just spoke some truth and real profound stuff on the #SNF halftime show.

— Chris Harris (@ChrisHarrisNFL) December 3, 2012

Tweeted National Post sports columnist Bruce Arthur:

Bob Costas just quoted Jason Whitlock, and the whole thing made perfect sense.

— Bruce Arthur (@bruce_arthur) December 3, 2012

[dh47]

We tune into sporting events to enjoy the game, not to be subject to the personal views, relating to anything except the event we are watching, of some jackass sports reporter.

[Quilting-Mama]

i agree with the person that said that if this NFL player wanted to kill his wife eventually he would. He didn't need a gun. If he didn't have a gun he would use something else. He could have used a knife or a baseball bat, etc. Besides, guns don't kill, people do!!

[maggierda]

Bob needs to shut his pie hole and respect lives lost instead of standing on those lost and use them as his own personal platform.

[GHDSD]

For all of you anti-gun folks out there please at LEAST consider this:
Back in WWII, Japanese Commander-in-Chief Isoroku Yamamoto is quoted as saying ""Japan would never invade the United States. We would find a rifle behind every blade of grass." If we disarm our society, it does nothing but help enable our enemies to invade our soil. It's too damn bad our society does not fathom what life would be like if armies landed on one of our shores and overran our government. Ignorance is bliss I guess .....

[Liberalie]

Sorry Bob, this was not the spot for your 2nd amendment beliefs.
This spot should be reserved for sport related topics only.
If you persist in using this spot for other then sports related
topics I'll have to turn you off at half time.

[tltotem]

Bob Costas got it right! Thank you, Bob!

[RockyUSMC]

I guess this requires more little grey cells than either Mr. Costas or Mr. Whitlock possess. Please let me know when you figure out how to legislate intent. Jovan Belcher killed his girlfriend and then himself. Whether he had a gun, knife, baseball bat, golf club or just his bare hands he at some point intended to kill her and then himself. Not having a firearm would not have prevented that. It would have only changed how Jovan ended his life. When you all figure out how to legislate the intent of Jovan Belcher and the hundreds of others like him then, call me and I'll vote for your gun laws. Leave the millions of law abiding citizens alone who do not harm anyone. I don't own a firearm but, I believe law abiding citizens should be able to, period end of subject. Those who seek to criminalize the innocent and not punish the guilty have either got to be crazy themselves or possess another agenda.

[ozarkbowhunt]

Spoons make people fat (just ask Rosie O'Donnell). Better ban spoons.

[ozarkbowhunt]

Bob...just another clueless stooge from the liberal media

[Rkf11]

It's hard to believe that Bob Costas even has a point on gun control. He basically said that everyone that has them is looking to rob a seven eleven. The country we live in is so screwed up that people think a gun kills people. Anything can be used as a weapon. Jovan was determined to do what he did and yes it is a tragedy but we can't change it. He was a big man and could of just as easily beat her to death, stabbed her, ran over etc. Dont point fingers at a cause that is innocent. Don't hurt us sportsman anymore than you already have with anti gun bills and protest. It's not our fault,!!!!