NFL Players Turn In Guns In Wake Of Belcher Tragedy

[Tim Nunan]

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/12/10/ ... r-tragedy/

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - The tragic story of former Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher seems to be having a profound effect on some players around the league.

Belcher, the Long Island native who fatally shot his girlfriend before turning the gun on himself on December 1, shook the football world upside down when he committed murder-suicide.

And now, players are taking action to prevent further unthinkable incidents from occurring.

During Week 14′s coverage of Football Night in America, Peter King reported that multiple NFL players have turned in their firearms as a result of the Belcher tragedy.

“I’ve been told that in the last seven days, at least seven players around the league have gone to their team’s security officers to turn in the firearms that they possess from their homes,” King said during the broadcast. “I’m also told that one of these players had multiple firearms, as Jovan Belcher did — he had eight … He told his security officer, ‘I don’t trust myself with these guns in the house. Please take them away.’”

A recent USA Today poll revealed that three out of four NFL players own guns, whereas 40 to 45 percent of the general population owns firearms.

Belcher killed Kasandra Perkins at the couple’s home and then committed suicide in the parking lot of Arrowhead Stadium, police said. General manager Scott Pioli and head coach Romeo Crennel attempted to stop Belcher from killing himself, but he proceeded to do so in front of them.

Belcher left behind a three-month-old daughter.

According to Police Sgt. Richard Sharp, Belcher and Perkins had been arguing about relationship and financial issues for months, and the team provided counseling for the two so they could work out their issues.