NFL all time greats demand a plan to end gun violence

[aaaaaa5a]

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Stars of the commercial.




Deion Sanders is a Hall of Fame defensive back who won Super Bowls with the 49ers and Cowboys. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest coverage corners in league history.




Marshall Faulk was an all star running back with the Rams. He won a Super Bowl in 1999 and was elected to the Hall of Fame shortly after his retirement. He was the catalyst to the "Greatest Show on Turf" offense that is considered one of the best offenses in the history of the sport.



Michael Irvin was the top wide receiver and Hall of Fame player for the Dallas Cowboys. He is a 3 time Super Bowl Champion. His Cowboy teams of the early 1990s are regarded among the greatest teams of all time.



Emmitt Smith is the all time leading rusher in NFL history. No player in the history of the sport has run for more yards than Smith during his now Hall of Fame career. He won 3 Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys. He is a Super Bowl MVP. Like Irvin, he was a big star with the Dallas Cowboys during the early 1990s.



Ladianian Thomlison was an all star running back with the San Diego Chargers. Just recently retired, he is a sure fire, first ballot Hall of Famer. He is 5th all time in rushing yards and scored the 3rd most touchdowns in NFL history. He was the NFL's league MVP in 2006.


Please help spread the word of this video.

[Sekhmets Daughter]

1. Great ad.

Thanks for posting it.

[Cirque du So-What]

2. Looks like the NRA's 'enemies list' just got a bit lengthier

This will reach a new demographic - one inclined to pay 'liberal Hollywood types' no mind.

[aaaaaa5a]

4. I hope you are right.

Leaders have to understand that the NRA's membership is only about 4 million nationwide. And most of them support basic rules like background checks and closing the gun show loop hole.


This ad proves the messaging is working. The coalition is growing.


After all, you can't get more "manly" than NFL players... can you?

[Cirque du So-What]

6. Yeah, I was thinking that as well

about the 'manly men' in the NFL. I know it's highly unlikely, but wouldn't it be *golden* if some NASCAR drivers could be persuaded to make a similar ad?

[aaaaaa5a]

12. Given the NASCAR demographic, that would have even more impact.

But I highly doubt we would see that. NASCAR drivers and and the sports management would likely be opposed just on the basis that it is something Obama is for.


NASCAR is the most political sports organization we have in the country. Both its stars and its fans. Both Michelle Obama and Jill Biden were booed loudly when they attended a NASCAR event.

I found that interesting because the NFL is 75% black, but Bush could attend NFL events and be well received. In fact Bush even attends NFL games in Houston occasionally, and the fan fare and player reaction is nothing like what Jill and Michelle got from NASCAR.


NBA, MLB and NFL teams can visit the White House regardless of who is President without a lot of kickback. But when Obama wanted to recognize the NASCAR champion it was a completely different story. I believe at one point NASCAR even refused to meet with the President. Its amazing in our political culture how reasonable one side is compared to the other.

[Schema Thing]

3. This is a masterpiece of persuasive art.

Very VERY well done.

[2theleft]

5. Love to see this.

Some of these guys always seem to surprise me in very good ways.

[freshwest]

7. This is *important.* I'm glad to see this. Thanks for posting.

[WillyT]

8. HUGE K & R !!!

[oldhippydude]

9. the irony of a lot of Cowboy players

among my football worshiping friends I know 2 who shot their TV.... both Cowboy fans when loosing

[Cha]

10. Thank you, aaaaaa5a! This is compelling from the NFL

guys. It reminds of the Super Bowl when they showed the faces of the Players as the kids from Sandy Hook and Jennifer Hudson sang America the Beautiful!

[aaaaaa5a]

13. Its good to see an organization as big and powerful as the NFL getting behind an issue. nt

[Cha]

14. Exactly!

[October]

11. It's going to take time, but it's a start.

The remarks on the YouTube page for this ad are typical - so many ignorant, paranoid, armed cowards.

[hack89]

15. They could start with the NFL - it is the empitomy of a gun culture.

NFL players: Three out of four own guns

Yet less than a week removed from the tragic shootings in Kansas City, NFL players aren't ready to give any ground on their belief that carrying guns is not only a right but, in their world, a necessity. Indeed, numerous players told USA TODAY Sports that in their estimation, roughly three-quarters of NFL players owned guns, compared with 40% to 45% of households in the general population, according to the National Rifle Association.

Though no statistics on NFL gun ownership exist, and league spokesman Greg Aiello called the percentage estimates "a wild guess," even former Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy — widely viewed, even now, as the moral compass of the NFL — says the number of players who armed themselves during his tenure "shocked" him.

When Dungy, now an NBC analyst, was coaching the Colts, he'd always ask at the first team meeting of the year, "How many of you guys have guns?" Then he would tell the players that they needed to register their weapons in Indiana.

"I was always shocked at the number of guys who raised their hand. ... That was kind of eye-opening to me. ... (But) it's just a fact of life. These guys had them. ... I think so many of these young guys have been around guns and have seen guns, and they just feel that's part of the landscape for them growing up."

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2012/12/06/jovan-belcher-kansas-city-chief-nfl-guns/1752195/

[Jefferson23]

17. Looks like that may have changed regarding support for regulating them further.

Just a wild guess.

[hack89]

18. Somehow I doubt it. Time will tell. nt

[Jefferson23]

19. Excuse me, I was being sarcastic..not always a clear read on the internet.

There has been a change already..see OP for details.

[hack89]

20. I think they should have called out their fellow players

tell them to put away the guns and become role models. Who are kids going to emulate - a politician or a star athlete?

[Jefferson23]

22. Evidently they're concerned more about laws that would limit use to gun owners of all persuasions.

Not a problem exclusive to one group.

[Jefferson23]

16. Thanks..this is good, let them pile on. K&R n/t

[malaise]

21. Excellent

Rec

[Skittles]

23. NRA dutifully recordiing them on their massive "enemies" list

[BrotherIvan]

24. I don't watch football

But I support this ad and everyone involved with this message. I hope it get through to some of the fans that it's way past time.