By: Parisa Yan

23-year-old Ja Morant, a basketball star for the Memphis Grizzlies, was suspended for 25 games because he waved a gun in a video his friend shared on social media in May. It was not the first time he did it. He had already been suspended for eight games when he shared a similar video on Instagram.

“Firearms may be a tool in some instances, but they can also kill, maim and injure other people if not handled and stored properly,” said Kris Brown, the president of an organization named Brady, which helps stop gun violence. “Public figures have a responsibility to be held accountable for how they engage on these kinds of life-and-death issues. It’s not a small thing. People could die if they handle firearms in such a cavalier way, and they do every day.”

The NBA did a great job penalizing Ja Morant, according to Brown.

Did Morant break any rules? It does not seem like he did: He did not bring a gun into a locker room, as two players were suspended many games for in 2010. However, his action seemed to ruin the team’s efforts for gun safety, since in 2015 they partnered with Everytown for Gun Safety, a nonprofit organization that helps stop gun violence.

Sources:

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/16/sports/basketball/ja-morant-grizzlies-suspended-nba.html