INDIANAPOLIS, IN – JANUARY 31: NBC host Bob Costas (Credit: Getty Images)
NBC Sports’ Bob Costas has been on a press junket this week attempting to clarify his halftime lecture on guns Sunday. Appearing on Fox News’ “The O’Reilly Factor” on Wednesday, Costas said “Americans have a right to bear arms” but also called for stricter controls on the sale of guns.
“Obviously Americans have a right to bear arms,” Costas told host Bill O’Reilly. “I didn’t call for a specific prohibition on guns.”
Costas reiterated that he was talking about the “gun culture” in America, not specifically gun control, when he quoted from sports writer Jason Whitlock’s column. O’Reilly warned Costas that he opened himself up to criticism when he aligned himself with someone as extreme as Whitlock, who recently said the NRA is the new KKK. Costas said he was unaware of Whitlock’s assessment of the NRA and he disagrees with it.
O’Reilly explained that gun control is an “emotional issue” in America because the Founding Fathers gave Americans the right to bear arms for two reasons: In case the government takes a turn towards tyranny and for self-protection.
When asked to clarify his exact position on gun control, Costas said “there should be more comprehensive and effective controls on the sale of guns.” He lamented the fact that “roughly 40 percent of guns purchased in this country do not require a background check.”
Costas also clashed with O’Reilly regarding whether Americans should carry a concealed handgun to defend themselves in dangerous situations. The example used was the shooting in Aurora, Colo., where shooter James Holmes opened fire in a crowded theater.
While O’Reilly said he would rather have a chance to defend himself and have a gun on his person, Costas said a mass shooting like that is very unlikely and there are too many instances that having a gun could result in tragedy. The Fox News host called it an “honest gentleman’s disagreement.”
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Comments (80)
disque-0-duc
Dec. 5, 2012 at 10:54pmO’Reilly simply let this gutless little Hobbit slide to home plate armed with a lot of misinformation. Way to go Bill. And BTW, Costas, stick to what you know – sports. These sportscasters seem to think they can deliberate intelligently in the political arena. Think about why you are a sportscaster and not an athlete, because you suck at sports.
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lovenfl3
Dec. 5, 2012 at 11:24pmI haven’t been watching Bill lately, but I did catch this one. I agree, he let him off the hook, kind of why I don’t watch Bill anymore. Costas should stick to announcing sports and leave his liberal views out of it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXRZa_qKQWw
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paulwbrown
Dec. 5, 2012 at 11:32pmExactly right. Bill, when he had the perfect opportunity to do so did not provide any statistics on the number of times firearms were used by citizens to save their lives, to prevent rapes and beatings, and to protect their homes. Neither did he provide statistics that crime has actually decreased in states that have shall issue concealed weapons permits. The truth is that O’Reilly is only half committed to the right to bear arms.
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Keatonc33
Dec. 6, 2012 at 12:05amPAULWBROWN.. I would love to see those statistics! especially then pared up against the number of times a gun has been used to commit Murder, assist with rapes and beatings and invade homes.. only fair right?
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Chuck Stein
Dec. 6, 2012 at 1:58amO’Reilly has never been solidly pro-2nd Amendment. So not any big surprise here.
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Redhawke
Dec. 6, 2012 at 5:26am@Keatonc33 Those statistics are easily found on the FBI and NRA websites. You will be surprised at the number of times a firearm is used for self defense.
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ambrosia
Dec. 6, 2012 at 9:12amCostass, the little, moronic munchkin
was chattering like a chipmunk in a California walnut grove.
Ha!
His eyes were starting to water
& it looked like it was way past time for a diaper change.
Really,
Billy-Blue-Eyes tried to get an answer out of him,
but you can be assured that if this twerp was in that theater
with or without a gun cuddling his hairless cheat,
he WOULD have been on all fours,
hanging on tight to his box of Goobers & Raisinets,
ignoring & crawling past youngsters & children
to save his own ugly mug & kookabura crotch.
Whadda’ DOPE-
the box of 40-year old, petrified peanut brittle in my granny’s pantry
has more brains than this snifflin’ dork !
He always reminded me of Jimmy Olsen from the Daily Planet-
tryin’ to BREAK news-
only Olsen was more virile than this idiot.
Notice how he says the word, “PACKING”-
as if some how,
the verbiage, alone makes him some tough…. more like “Mighty Mouse”
than “Minnie Mouse” !
Grab your box of Goobers & go AWAY, Minnie !
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ambrosia
Dec. 6, 2012 at 9:14amTYPO….
“cuddling his hairless chest”.
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Uechi
Dec. 6, 2012 at 10:48amI don’t watch Oreilly anymore after his stupid comments about the need for more gun regulations after the Colorado theatre shootings. Billy is a legend in his own mind and never lets anyone forget it.
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RedHarley
Dec. 6, 2012 at 1:22pmCost Ass suggested he is opposed to the unrestricted sale of “military-style artillery” and “automatic weapons,” both of which are banned……….and Billy Boy didn’t even challenge him on that.
This was an interview between two MORONS if you ask me.
Neither one has it correct when it comes to guns and the second amendment.
And Keating…….while you are doing the stats on the murders and rapes etc. you contend are caused by the GUNS, make sure you note where most of them happen. (I’ll give you a clue…..look for the places where guns are regulated the most)
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black9897
Dec. 6, 2012 at 1:39pmThere’s no debate. Bobby can go home.
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James
Dec. 5, 2012 at 10:40pmRead in another thread wherein the New York Post is reporting the obama administration sold weapons thru Qutar for the Syrian Rebels, be assured there were automatic shoulder fired weapons in the mix. Same thing they did in Lybia. I find it ironic, that the obama administration thru Feinstein, Lautenber and McCarthy are now readying new legislation to make it illegal and retroactive to own/possess certain classes of weapons, primarily detachable magazine fed rifles, which they gleefully call assualt werpons, which they are not. Anyone find this somewhat like Fast & Furiuos and other associated stupid acts, such as setting the Middle East on fire and revolution. The demo’s would seek to deprive us citizens of their 2nd amendment rights, but it’s perfectly okay to cause the shipment of “real automatic rifles” into Syria wherein no doubt many will wind up in the hands of Al Quada operatives, shall we say just like in Lybia. Is their no end to the democrat hypocracy. I could not be more dissgusted. Oh and by the way who do think is paying for all of this b*******; you and me, the taxpayer.
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rc30
Dec. 5, 2012 at 11:16pmI watched my friend Adam get shot. All we could do is hide behind our cars. Why because none of us had a weapon to fight back. We was with a bunch of other car guys behide a gas station. A group of young black males came into the parking lot and started doing burnouts spraying are cars with rocks. After they parked Adam ask them please don’t do that yes he did say please. He was not being rude or trying to start a fight. The young men got out there car and try to fight him. When we all stood up they backed off. They left and came back 15 to 20 min later. Two got out and laughed and shot at Adam many times. Three hit him and he died about 5 hours later. I think about that night all the time. How I hid behide my car and watch them shoot my friend. If just one of us had a gun just one maybe he still be here. He was 26 and was a good kid with a nice job and was all ways helping other racers. He was never in any trouble just a good kid from a good family. This happen in Flint Michigan July of 2006. Real easy to look up if anyone thinks I’m lieing.
If me or anyone of the 20 to 30 people that back there had a weapon it could have saved my friend. Just think the bad people in this world will not turn in there gun. How many guns are on the street that should not be there. Now people are talking about a ban on semi auto guns. It will be a crocks dream come true. People that talk about a ban don’t live in are world. Adam Mcintosh June or July 2006 Flint Michigan Look it up. Very S
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Hawk69
Dec. 6, 2012 at 2:42am@RC30 Great story, however no liberals in the media want to hear or report on your story. They will jump all over the Geroge Zimmerman story though. Even then they will distort the facts as much as they can to make Trayvon a 10 year old choir boy eating Skittles, and Zimmerman being an blue eyed devil and a KKK racist.
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sasquatch08
Dec. 5, 2012 at 10:26pmThe “culture” problem that we have is that, in some circles, violence is considered and acceptable way to deal with disagreements.
Any time people lose respect for a tool and think that carrying it adds inches to their… well you know, there’s going to be a problem because those people do not have any respect for the tool and the damage it can inflict if improperly used.
A hammer, machete or a garden hoe can be dangerous if the person who has it doesn’t respect both it and the people around them.
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502_eagle
Dec. 5, 2012 at 10:25pm“Gun-culture”? How about just culture?
Bob you said yesterday that no person should own a semi-automatic gun. Do you stand by that?
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Keatonc33
Dec. 6, 2012 at 12:06amwho wouldn’t stand by that?
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DMENTED
Dec. 6, 2012 at 5:04amYOU would, buster. Gutless wonder that you are.
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godflesh
Dec. 5, 2012 at 10:06pmMen like Costas who are ready and lining up to hammer their guns into plows will be doomed to plow for the men that didn’t.
Free men own their own arms. Subjects are unarmed. Slaves are issued a weapon. Decide where you want to stand…. or kneel.
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godflesh
Dec. 5, 2012 at 10:01pmCivilian small arms are used more often for self defense than they are used in the commission of a crime. Guns.com has a small number of those stories scavenged from around the interwebs. You won’t hear about defensive use of civilian arms because it doesn’t fit the anti gun narrative of the liberal media but it is out there for those that are willing to look.
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Smokey_Bojangles
Dec. 5, 2012 at 9:56pmBill is talking out of both sides of his mouth again.
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One Man Mormon Blues Band
Dec. 5, 2012 at 9:48pmWhen I do not have a gun I am at the mercy of anyone who does, even if they have it illegally. In fact, I am at the mercy of anyone who has any weapon, or who is bigger and stronger than I am. If I have a gun, no one can force me to do anything. Then they are forced to act in a civilized manner and try to convince me by reasoning with me. Instead of blaming people with guns, why not arm victims before they become victims?
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ricckky
Dec. 5, 2012 at 9:42pmOh Yah and take the Liar with you–you jerk!!!!!
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justangry
Dec. 5, 2012 at 9:41pmI thought O’Reilly was a gun control guy too.
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resme
Dec. 5, 2012 at 11:58pmI heard bill o’reily crying for more “federal” laws last night for gun crimes, lol….
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DMENTED
Dec. 6, 2012 at 5:03amThey’re all slowly getting om board with Agenda 21.
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ricckky
Dec. 5, 2012 at 9:41pmCostas–GET OFF THE AIR YOU JERK!!!!!!!!!!!–Never again will I listen to your dribble you jerk!!! GO TO ALL YOUR HOLLYWOOD FRIENDS WHO live in a bubble of stupidity!!!!! YOU JERK!!!
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Tree_Butcher
Dec. 5, 2012 at 9:40pm“Costas reiterated that he was talking about the “gun culture” in America”… Hmm, well how about we look into the culture of violence in broadcast TV? Might that not be a factor?
NO? Too broad?
Anyone want to deny that football is a violent sport? NO? Then why the need for all the protective padding? Want to look up the criminal records of Football players vs. Pro Golf or NASCAR?
The gun is an easy to blame scapegoat, because people like Costas fear power in other people’s hands. If he actually gave a damn about the victims here, he would be praying for their souls and the little child left behind that has to live for the rest of her life that she is the daughter of a murderer.
If Costas had any honor, he would put the blame squarely on Belcher, and admit that he himself contributes to the violent culture of Football.
Having made that comparison, I know that there are a lot of good professional football players that have no record at all, and would put their own lives on the line to stop something like this from happening.
Right now we have our Armed Forces doing just this exact thing for all of us here, so we do not have to fight. Maybe you should think on things like this before your liberal knee-jerk reactions put your foot in your mouth and my rights into question.
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Banter
Dec. 5, 2012 at 9:59pmWell stated.
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Banter
Dec. 5, 2012 at 9:37pmFunny, didn’t hear a Costas diatribe on the murder of agent Brian Terry by guns supplied by holder.
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BasketFullOfPuppies
Dec. 5, 2012 at 9:31pmSure, shootings like that in Aurora are rare. But, when you’re in that situation, statistics really don’t come to mind, and people like Bob Costas will only issue a few words about the horrible tragedy and how guns should be regulated. But, murder is already illegal and the murderers don’t seem to care. So, maybe we should be armed, if we decide that it is in our best interest, and let people like Bob Costas learn their lesson the hard way. FWIW, one home invasion in his neighborhood, and I’ll bet he’s first in line to buy a gun.
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TADTAD
Dec. 5, 2012 at 9:24pmAt least Costas can admit that he’s the cut and run type,and when seconds count, he’ll be digging a foxhole in record time. I applaud a”man” that admits he’s a coward.
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garbagecanlogic
Dec. 5, 2012 at 9:21pmCostus is such a progressive wimp!
O’Reilly is such a wishy washy idiot! Why is it that he will interrupt his normal guests so that they never get their point across because “he gets it”, but he lets costus run his mouth forever – saying nothing?
Praise Be To Obama. Psalm 109:8
The U.S. Out Of The U.N.
The U.N. Out Of The U.S.
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Hawk69
Dec. 6, 2012 at 2:55amOreilly is a weak ass rino and Costas is a straight up socialist. Bill is such a douche-bag, I am sick of this rino representing conservatives. Costas probably only came on the rinos show because he knew he was a soft touch.
A 230lb man kills a woman and Bob (*******) Costas blames guns. When a pit-bull kills a baby will Costas blame Purina?
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TPartyXpress
Dec. 5, 2012 at 9:19pmO’Rino just made him look better. Great move, dummy.
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sandrarama
Dec. 5, 2012 at 9:13pmI have not seen the interview yet. I can imagine it’s a lot of “bloviating” from O’Reilly, constantly interrupting to make his point, despite his interview to understand someone else’s point. Who cares? Costas is an idiot and so is O’Reilly. I watch football to have a good time and escape from reality. Can NBC kindly get rid of that idiot and move him to MSNBC with Madcow and the other “Baghdad Bobs” so we can enjoy football sans political commentary?
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rickc34
Dec. 5, 2012 at 9:18pmFunniest thing is call Bill and Bob gentlemen. Pinheads maybe.
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RLTW
Dec. 5, 2012 at 9:43pmI’m only jumping in here to say O’Reilly is a POS, thanks.
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Landon410
Dec. 5, 2012 at 9:12pmCostas back peddles fast enough he might be able to be a DB in the NFL
haha, Bob, you’re wrong…….. i should have the right to own guns the military has, because when some president has the balls enough to try something I want the ability to fight back and do some damage
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DEFCON4
Dec. 5, 2012 at 9:10pmDuring the interview, The right to bear arms for the purpose of deterring a tyrannical government,
was never mentioned. *Pinheads*
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brianemcfarlane
Dec. 5, 2012 at 9:05pmSo, Costas thinks that if I want to sell my anomynous gun to my neighbor I need to do a background check on him? Or lets say I am inheriting my fathers guns I would need to pass a backgroung check? I don’t know but my guess is Belcher would have passed a background just like the theater shooter did. Humans are the problem, I don’t think we can change that, we will have to live with it as best we can
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Akridgerunner
Dec. 5, 2012 at 9:01pmCostas just doesn’t seem to have the brains and common sense to STFU about gun control. Cut your losses Bobby… CLAM UP!! And slink back into your hole…
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1776freedomofspeech
Dec. 5, 2012 at 9:01pmCostas is a loser with a concentration camp occupant mindset.
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BlackCrow
Dec. 5, 2012 at 8:56pmThen we should have controls on idiots running their mouths. After all I have a right to keep and bear arms as much as he does to flap his trap.
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progressiveslayer
Dec. 5, 2012 at 8:49pm“Obviously Americans have a right to bear arms,” Costas told host Bill O’Reilly. “I didn’t call for a specific prohibition on guns.”
Sounds like you got the message Bob,maybe you should’ve thought that way before you made an @ss of yourself.
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rickc34
Dec. 5, 2012 at 8:56pmWell now all the criminals know Costas hates guns.
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GeorgieJo
Dec. 5, 2012 at 9:02pmCostas mentioned DIRTY HARRY 3-4 times.
Liberal Moonies just cannot forget Eastwood talking to an empty chair…BUT the moonies voted for an empty chair. O’Reilly is losing touch. Who cares what this buffoon Costas thinks or says?
Dennis Miller made a touchdown.
Oblamo is after SUCCESSFUL people.
Democrats punish acheivement.They want EVERYBODY ON the GOVT plantation.
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Gregb
Dec. 5, 2012 at 9:44pmcostas made two major erroneous statements…
1. the shooter was not wearing body armor, he was wearing a batman suit
2. he didn’t have military grade weapons. he didn’t have an “automatic” it was a semi-automatic weapon.
o’reilly didn’t catch either of those mistakes
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henryKnox
Dec. 5, 2012 at 10:47pmHe actually did call for a specific prohibition on guns. He thought it would be okay for people to have small arms but not anything like the military would have. I’m sure that means anything that would actually allow us to exercise our right to defend ourselves from a tyrannical gov’t. He doesn’t get it. He even said that he would rather cower under the seat than defend himself or his family and just hope that the gunman killed others and not him. What an idiot.
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