Charles Barkley Says His Gun Brings Sense of Security

Jovan Belcher: Charles Barkley, James Harrison say guns aren’t to blame (Washington Post)

In the vigorous debate over guns sparked by the murder-suicide committed by Jovan Belcher of the Kansas City Chiefs last weekend, Charles Barkley and James Harrison have spoken out in favor of responsible ownership. On the other side, John McEnroe’s views are more aligned with those of Bob Costas.

“I think, especially in the black culture, it’s a crime culture,” Barkley said in tonight’s episode of “Costas Tonight” on the NBC Sports Network. “We, as black people, and I always say we, we don’t have respect for each other. We got more black men in prison than we do in college, and crime in our neighborhoods is running rampant. I know everybody reacts when something like the Belcher thing happens, but being black, this is something you deal with all the time, and it’s just sad. I’m a guy and I carry a gun. I carry a gun.”

Barkley, who will turn 50 in February, said he has carried a gun for about 30 years and has never used it.