Ken Berger: Wizards say Gilbert Arenas stored unloaded firearms in a locked box in his locker, no ammunition (UPDATED WITH GILBERT'S STATEMENT)
by Mike Prada on Dec 24, 2009 6:07 PM EST
in Agent Zeroisms
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PrintWell then. Ken Berger of CBS Sportsline tweets this news.
#Wizards statement: Arenas stored unloaded firearms in locked box, w/o ammo, in his locker. He and team cooperating with authorities.
This of course begs several questions, including:
- Why is Arenas storing his gun in the Wizards locker room?
- Why does Arenas have a gun at all?
- Did the Wizards know about this? If so, why didn't they do anything? If not, why not?
- Firearms? This is more than just one gun??
- This one seems silly, but why store guns in your locker unloaded and without ammunition? This lends credence to the "it's no big deal, just a stupid minor mistake" side of the story.
- Why does Arenas have a gun, considering he dodged a previous weapons charge earlier in his career (as detailed by Michael Lee)?
- What's going on in Arenas' life right now? Is there someone threatening him? Is there something wrong with his state of mind, beyond a "let's pat him on the back and nod about his quirkiness" way? Does this have anything to do with the rumors about his fiancee (hopefully not, but you never know)? Does he just have a gun for no reason?
It's the last question that has me worried here. I don't believe Arenas is a bad guy, and I don't think this is going to result in any sort of serious fine or suspension (probably one game tops). But I am very concerned that Arenas feels the need to have a gun on Wizards property. Here's hoping everything in his life is really okay, because I'm really not sure of that based on this news.
Arenas is supposed to make a statement later tonight. Considering how he tends to be way more honest than any other athlete (or even human being, really), hopefully he clears some of these concerns up.
UPDATE: Mike Jones tweets that Arenas turned himself in to the Wizards and they are cooperating. Interesting. Very, very interesting.
UPDATE 2: Via Comcast Sports Net, here's the Wizards' statement on the matter.
The Washington Wizards have learned that Gilbert Arenas stored firearms in a locked container in his locker, unloaded and without ammunition. The Wizards organization and Arenas promptly notified the local authorities and the NBA and are cooperating fully with law enforcement during its review of this matter and will have no further comment at this time.
UPDATE 3: Mike Jones caught up with Gilbert Arenas. Arenas had this to say.
"It happened like December 10th. Right after my daughter was born. I decided I didn't want the guns in my house and around the kids anymore, so i took them to my lock box at Verizon Center. Then like a week later, I turned them over to team security and told them to hand them over to the police, because I don't want them anymore. I wouldn't have brought them to D.C. had I known the rules. After my daughter was born, I was just like, I don't need these anymore.”
Doesn't answer the operative question -- why do you have a gun in the first place? -- but it answers some questions.
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Our Constitution incorporates something called the Second Amendment.
I don’t see why Arenas has to answer the question of why he had a gun in the first place. It’s a free country and the 2nd Amendment hasn’t been overturned to my knowledge. He made a mistake bringing them to Washington DC, but he was the one who voluntarily gave them to security to be given to the police. I don’t see the big deal at all.
even as someone who is totally anti-gun and thinks the NRA is the root of much evil
i agree with nate here.
high profile athletes/celebrities have guns. i don’t think they need them, but i’m neither rich nor famous, and it’s legal.
i believe we are past the point of feigning surprise in similar situations. not that i like it, but it’s honestly not for me to judge here.
"how ironic - you came here with a mouse in a bottle, now YOU are the mouse in the bottle" - B.M. Smith
by little stevie colter on Dec 24, 2009 7:09 PM EST up reply actions
You 100% correct
A lot of people own guns, and it’s a right guaranteed by the constitution. Who cares that he owns a gun.
But it’s a story because he had it in his locker. Big deal. It’ll be a relatively small fine, and we’ll all move on. I’m glad it wasn’t a Delonte West kinda thing. :)
My swag was phenomenal.
There were a bunch of athletes
Who were being robbed a while back so maybe he felt he needed to protect his family. I’m worried about him though. But at least he wasn’t trying to fedex them a la Lonnie Baxter. Sorry I’m trying to look at the bright side
by ooba on Dec 24, 2009 6:36 PM EST via mobile reply actions
Right, he doesn't have to answer the question
But you still hope he doesn’t have a gun because he was threatened by somebody.
For those claiming Second Amendment stuff — this isn’t a legal issue. We’re not mixing politics and sports here, and I’m not going to pass judgment on Arenas for having a gun. I’m just a wee bit worried about his safety. It’s a “hopefully everything in his life is okay” issue.
You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.
In your commentary
It sounded rather critical of Arenas for having a gun. Maybe that’s why people felt they needed to defend him. I guess if you are asking is there a specific reason he owns a gun besides the general want to, thats a legitimate concern. Otherwise, I could ask the same question of millions of Americans. Or for that matter, I could ask why don’t you own a gun (assuming you don’t)? It does seem to be a double-standard. But if you weren’t attempting to criticize him for owning a gun, I am fine if you are worried that he feels threatened.
Im not sure how it came across that way
I explicitly said he’s not a bad guy or anything and that I hope everything in his life is okay, but I’m also not the best judge of my words’ implications.
You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.
The implication...
… is that someone wouldn’t have a gun unless they were a bad guy or had something not okay going on in his life.
I agree with the concern, as an anti-gun guy, but might articulate it as “I hope his reason for having a gun wasn’t a concern about something going on his life”.
Nah it's cool
Just verifying. I agree though. If there is a reason he feels the need to own a gun, I am worried (though surrendering the guns seems to prove this point wrong). But if he just wanted to own a gun cuz he wanted a gun, good for him. But yeah, not a problem with what you said, after your answer.
And yeah, it's totally his right to own a gun
I just hope he doesn’t own one because he’s threatened by someone or something.
You know you'll get devoured by Cheaney, Wallace, and Juwan Howard.
He doesn't need a reason to have g un
Nobody does, and giving a reason does nothing to change the situation. People have guns in America. The 2nd amendment allows them that right. He didnt want them around his kids, and he tried to get rid of them, albeit the wrong way. He wasnt running around brandishing weapons or threatening anybody. This is a non-issue
by heelsnhairmetal on Dec 24, 2009 6:56 PM EST reply actions
The more I hear
The less I’m worried. And I agree it’s likely a small issue as these things go. My guess is a fine and no suspension, and we forget about it quickly if he keeps playing the way he has been.
something about me
fully believes his story :)
The most disappointing thing: no ammo
That goes against all that this site stands for. Didn’t he get the memo?
m*****f***ing c***s***ing peanut butter and jelly!! f*** f*** f***!!!
by JediLeroy on Dec 24, 2009 8:51 PM EST reply actions 3 recs
Maybe it's a DC/Virginia thing
Don’t you have to register your guns in DC? Sounds like he didn’t think to take care of that.
Guns and Such
Why do people own guns, drive under the infulence. smoke, have pit bulls, drive fast on ice roads, cheat on theri spouses, and all sorts of semi dangerous, slightly obsessive habits.
Beacause our country and human nature allows and creates the atmoshere for such choices. Passing judgement or wondering why is not for us. Holding them accountable when these choices can hurt other is
Irresponsible
My only complaint with this story is that he wasn’t responsible enough too hide the guns where no one would find them. I mean bringing them to the locker room seems insane to me. That’s the only part I have an issue with and of course I hope everything is well in his life.
by purpleonblack86 on Dec 25, 2009 5:48 PM EST reply actions
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