Bob Costas explains his on-air gun commentary, says he wishes he had more time to talk

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

NEW YORK Bob Costas isn't backing down from his halftime comments on gun violence, but he wishes he had more time.

The NBC sportscaster gave interviews Tuesday to Dan Patrick and Lawrence O'Donnell about his Sunday-night halftime commentary following Kansas City Chiefs player Jovan Belcher's murder of his girlfriend and subsequent suicide. Both interviews were longer than the commentary itself.

• Costas takes heat for on-air gun-control advocacy

"My mistake is I left it open for too much miscommunication," Costas said on the Dan Patrick Show. "A discussion should ensue about the football culture, the gun culture, domestic violence ... those issues should be discussed if we're looking for some kind of elusive perspective."

Costas said domestic violence, football, the gun culture and possible substance abuse could have been factors in the tragedy. He said the availability of a gun wasn't the only issue, but he didn't have more time for a nuanced discussion Sunday.

He added that he does not support the repeal of the Second Amendment but said he was concerned about the prevalence of guns and semi-automatic weapons in society.

"Among young people, there seems to be too cavalier an attitude toward guns," he said on the Dan Patrick Show.

Costas received some criticism for injecting politics into a sporting event.

After the sportscaster made his initial commentary, 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 also weighed in:

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

[1goldenrule]

The purpose for american citizens to have guns is to protect them from out of control boy friends, idiots shooting in movie theaters, and forces against the constitution both foreign and domestic. Bob Costas made the foolish stretch that having a gun entices the use of deadly force. How dumb was that? Bob costas claims that having a gun makes it convenient to kill when in fact you must make certain the weapon has a round chambered and the safety s off before its fired. You can just pick up a knife. The interview with Piers Morgan was all one sided in the news they read about the tragic circumstance that occurs when children who are uneducated about guns shoot one. If you exercise your right to own a gun you should also educate yourself and those around you how and when it is to be touched. My point is how many traffic deaths happened in the same week? I do not know but I would bet the farm it was a hell of a lot more than 3., yet neither Costas or Morgan brought it up. Nobody's calling for automobile control.
Guns make us citizens because they also protect us from our government. That's why Mr. Morgan is a subject.
Every American needs to remember gun control is not about guns, its only about control.

[One_American_2nd_amend]

Hey Moron, Now you going to call for cars to be banned? Costas You are worthless and I hope CBS fires your worthless ass. I am done with CBS and their people pushing their political views onto their watchers. It is one of the most one sided news organizations out their. Case and point where is the opposing view on Costas comments for banning guns. They almost never have opposing views. When they do the commutator jumps on the conservative view like a vulture on a dead animal. FIRE COSTAS NOW! Keep The Second Amendment or we will not have the first!

[RPMCanes]

Hey Bob, are you going to comment on how automobiles should be banned after the senseless and tragic accident that killed a Dallas Cowboy football player? Jackass...

[Jesus_to_ground_control]

The "Give the Monkey a Gun and See What Happens" controlled experiment # 1,532.

In the 1950's a U.S. government sponsored program(*1)used rhesus monkeys to see if they could protect the country against an invasion by low flying cockatoo bombers from South America(*2). Each was given a riffle with the same basic training as a human soldier. The conclusions after the 60 years study where terrifying: After only one week with riffles the monkeys stopped cooperating with the government and escaped after raiding the banana storage bin. It is thought that every monkey in the United States owns at least one gun today and that self inflicted gun wounds are the first leading cause of death for this species. It has also been established that they control the synthetic fur and banana trades worldwide. And most disturbing of all, there are more and more monkey related blogs talking about a spiritual awakening on December 21, 2012.

*1-More hush-hush than the Philadelphia Cheese Experiment
*2-See dogs that drive tanks in New-Zealand.

[zorroaca44]

As soon as I heard him voice his opinion I thought ... how dumb is this guy ... doesn't he know how many rednecks watch football?????

[Redman1898]

Wern if you want to give away your freedom and rights, go ahead. But do me a favor and leave mine alone. Why does it always come down to making what were unquestionable rights in this country illegal? Why do we blame inanimate objects (guns) for the failings of our society? Guns are not a throw back from the pioneer days. Crime still exists doesn't it? And not just in America. If you want to truly move society forward, then you have to first recognize that no country has ever legislated itself into prosperity. Guns aren't new to this country, socialism is.

[bobnjersey]

[Guns aren't new to this country, socialism is.]
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what does socialism have to do with guns ... other than the twisted connection it has in your head?

[Redman1898]

Really? If you're not smart enough to connect the dots, I can't help you.

[MarkT-LoveDogs]

Werntrouble- Have you looked at countries that did what you said?Create a place where law abiding citizens are unarmed and armed criminals know it-I know you don't want criminals to have guns but they don't follow the law -That is what makes them criminals- What do you think would happen ? All crimes goes up - Mexico , Canada and Great Britain- No Thank You - The 2nd amendment has to do with right to bear arms against our own government - If things go really really wrong - I can die fighting with liberty and freedom if our government makes laws against liberty and freedom...I say I would die if the US government went to war with its own citizens - It would not last very long..Do you know your history? The 1st thing Hitler did when he got into power- was make all firearms illegel for everyones safty and totality unarmed citizens that had to do everything he said- They could not fight- You hope people in power in USA won't abuse it? You trust too much.... I trust people in power will be held accountable for the decisions they make- Good and bad-

[prm777]

I like Bob Costas as a sports commentator and, although I was initially surprised that he would venture to speak on this topic, I don't begrudge him exercising his freedom of speech. Though I support the "right to bear arms", in general, I agree that there is a need to regulate them and do whatever possible to keep them out of the hands of criminals or those who've demonstrated mental instability or violent tendencies. I also see no reason for private citizens to own automatic weapons. Needless to say, guns alone do not kill people and those who are intent on violence can and often will find other means of perpetrating it when/if a gun is not available.

[996Ducati]

Bob Costas abused his sports-casting position by wading into an area that is well outside of his field of expertise. There are already plenty of laws on the books that regulate guns and prevent their possession by criminals. As a result, more gun laws will have little if any effect on preventing murder-suicides. Furthermore, almost all private citizens who own guns do not posses "automatic weapons".

[usnewscorrupt]

lkk

[bobnjersey]

[He added that he does not support the repeal of the Second Amendment but said he was concerned about the prevalence of guns and semi-automatic weapons in society]
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the 2nd amendment provides the right to own ... but it does not preclude the governments right to regulate.

it's not an all or nothing issue ... despite gun proponents trying to make it that way.

[bobnjersey]

[The entire purpose of the 2nd amendment was to stop it's "regulation" and the allow infringement free ownership of firearms. You've never owned a firearm in your life and you talk like you know something about it. Ignorant antigunners are all the same.]
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the whole of current law and rule by the ussc is in complete opposition to your belief.

as expected ... you're trying to make it an 'all or nothing' issue.

you have no idea who i am or what i own ... which makes you the ignorant one.