If the gun proponents have their way, DC could become the gun toting wild wild west. Wizards player Gilbert Arenas could be their poster boy. Fortunately we are not there yet. On December 21, 2009 Gilbert Arenas brought 4 guns to the Wizards locker room. He claims he needed to get them out of his home and away from his children. So he brought them to work around players and fans. He called everything a joke or a prank involving an alleged confrontation with another player. He thought the DC laws allowed him to bring guns. What’s even stranger is that former owner Abe Pollin changed the team’s name from the Bullets to the Wizards out of his opposition to gun violence. No offense but Abe Pollin is probably turning over in his grave right about now.
Gilbert’s incident is no laughing matter. The NBA has a clause in its contracts forbidding guns at arenas, locker rooms or any promotional appearances. Permanent repercussions could come from the NBA league against Arenas. The US Attorney’s Office is convening a Grand Jury to investigate to see if any DC hand gun laws were broken. An indictment could be issued. And unfortunately for Arenas, ignorance of the law is never an excuse. As recently as January 5, 2010, Arenas has been laughing and joking over the entire matter. Guns are no joke. They kill, maim and injure persons. Arenas fails to realize his livelihood or liberty could be at stake. He says he feels no remorse because he doesn’t feel he did anything wrong. He even called Commissioner Stern “mean”.
Well, Commissioner David Stern apparently decided enough is enough. So Gilbert Arenas who turned 28 on Wednesday, January 6 got a birthday present from NBA Commissioner Stern. The Commissioner indefinitely suspended Arenas. It’s clear that Arenas has shot himself in the foot by shooting off his mouth. Hopefully he’s not mortally wounded by his own actions. Maybe now Arenas will have the time on his hands to ponder the seriousness of the incident and his response to it. In the interim, he could always go work for the NRA (National Rifle Association).