National Rifle Association: More Guns Could Have Saved Javon Belcher’s Girlfriend

NBC sports anchor Bob Costas believes that Kasandra Perkins’ life could have been saved had her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs Linebacker Javon Belcher, not had access to a firearm. The CEO of the National Rifle Association, on the other hand, thinks the situation might have resolved itself had both Belcher and Perkins had guns.

CEO Wayne LaPierre made the case on NRA News, arguing that Costas, “wouldn’t have said a thing [after the shooting] if this woman had saved her life by having a firearm available from Jovan Belcher. He wouldn’t have said anything about it.” He later followed up the argument in an interview with USA Today:

“The one thing missing in that equation is that woman owning a gun so she could have saved her life from that murderer,” LaPierre told USA TODAY Sports on Thursday [...]

“Owning guns is a mainstream part of American culture and it’s growing every day. My God, there’s nothing more mainstream in this country than 100 million Americans who own firearms.”

Whether or not Perkins owned a gun, the woman was obviously unprepared for the sudden attack that ended her life last Saturday. Had she been armed, it’s possible the event could have become a shootout — further endangering the two onlookers to Perkins’ murder: The couple’s infant daughter, and Belcher’s mother.

Having a gun in the home increases the likelihood of both murders and suicides. According to the Brady Campaign, “A gun in the home is more likely to be used in a homicide, suicide, or unintentional shooting than to be used in self-defense.”

Put simply, Perkins was a victim of domestic violence by a man who was able to purchase guns that, until the incident occurred, LaPierre would have said were for self-protection. The two guns Belcher used (on himself and Perkins) were both obtained legally.