Golden State Warriors Head Coach Steve Kerr expressed outrage on Tuesday's mass shooting at an elementary school in Texas that killed 19 children.
Speaking at a post-game media conference, Kerr, whose father was killed by terrorists in the 1980s, refrained from discussing the NBA Western Conference Finals Game 4 between his team and the Dallas Mavericks. Instead, he strongly condemned the recent fatal attack that occurred at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde.
"We're not going to talk about basketball," Kerr noted at the beginning of his team's press conference, as reported by Daily Mail.
Kerr Blasts Recent Attacks, US Politicians
"Any basketball questions don't matter," he said and voiced out his grievances about the series of fatal shootings in the country recently, including the shooting incident in a supermarket in Buffalo, New York, and the attack on churchgoers in southern California.
"Now we have children murdered at school. When are we going to do something? I'm tired. I'm so tired of getting up here and offering condolences to the devastated families that are out there. I'm so tired of the -- I'm sorry. I'm tired of the moments of silence. Enough."
Kerr, a gun control advocate, went on to say that the American basketball community "can't get numb" to such violence and "have a moment of silence."
"Fifty senators in Washington are going to hold us hostage. Do you realize that 90 percent of Americans, regardless of political party, want background checks -- universal background checks? Ninety percent of us. We are being held hostage by 50 senators in Washington who refuse to even put it to a vote, despite what we, the American people, want," he noted.
The Warriors' head coach remarked that the country's politicians will not vote on the matter "because they want to hold onto their own power."
"It's pathetic! I've had enough!" Kerr exclaimed.
Read Also : Dwayne Haskins' Death Report Reveals Steelers QB Was Drunk Before Tragic Death, Hit Twice in Florida Highway
Why Is Kerr Passionate About Ending Violence?
Kerr rarely speaks publicly about his father's death, but in an interview in 2016, he touched on how the tragedy impacted his life.
Malcolm Kerr was the president of the American University of Beirut, as per a story by Esquire. He also served as a university professor specializing in Middle Eastern and Arab studies. It was the middle of the Lebanese Civil War when he started serving in the former post in 1982. At the time, it was dangerous to be an American citizen residing there, as two separate bombs at the local US embassy happened.
On January 18, 1984, Kerr was shot and killed outside his office by two gunmen, signaling yet another probable attack on the US in Lebanon. His death was such a big deal that it even drew a statement from Ronald Reagan, the President of the United States during that period.
In a New York Times interview, he noted that he learned to use his childhood and growing-up experiences to "connect with players and try to keep that healthy perspective. Keep it fun, and don't take it too seriously." Kerr realized something from his experience playing for two of the best-ever basketball coaches-- Greg Popovich and Phil Jackson.
Meanwhile, several NBA players, including LeBron James, condemned the mass shooting, as per CBS News.
On Twitter, the NBA published a statement: "The NBA family is devastated by the horrific shooting that took place today in Uvalde, Texas. Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences go out to the victims' family and friends, and the entire Robb Elementary School and Uvalde community."
