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Former NFL Player Not Afraid to Be ‘Politically Incorrect’ on Gun Violence: ‘Gun Laws Are Not Going to Fix the Problem’

Feb. 18, 2013 12:45pm Jason Howerton

Former NFL Player Derwin L. Gray Not Afraid to Be Politically Incorrect on Gun Violence

Former NFL player and Pastor Derwin Gray

Gun violence is just a symptom of the real problems facing America, according to Derwin L. Gray, a former NFL player and founder of Transformation Church. He sat down with TheBlaze immediately following his speech at the GameChanger Leadership Summit, which took place at American Airlines Center in Dallas on Monday.

The event brought together a group of dynamic speakers to discuss how coaches and leaders can step up to impact a “fatherless generation.” Those included Glenn Beck, NFL star Tim Tebow, Olympic gold medalist Gabby Douglas and, of course, Derwin Gray.

“Too often we look at the symptoms and we treat symptoms, yet that doesn’t deal with the cause. And we have a cultural cancer, so to speak,” Gray told TheBlaze. “As a pastor, I contend that the issue is not gun laws. The issue is having a heart that is transformed, and there is only one surgeon that can transform hearts — his name is Jesus.”

The pastor said there should still be a national conversation about gun violence. However, he argued, “you don’t have to worry about gun laws if a heart is transformed.”

“Gun laws are not going to fix the problem,” Gray added.

He went on: “It seems like in this day and age, that’s so politically charged, we either want to under regulate or over regulate, when the reality is, a law can never change a heart, but the gospel of Jesus Chris can.”

Gray was born to a 17-year-old mother and a 19-year-old father who struggled with substance abuse. As a result, he was raised primarily by his grandmother. Lacking the “strong family unit,” Gray said he learned discipline, courage and hard work from his football coach at Judson High School, D.W. Rutledge, now the executive director of the Texas High School Coaches Association. Sports coaches have a unique role in shaping the lives of young players, especially those with broken homes, he explained.

After high school, Gray went on to play six seasons in the NFL, five with the Indianapolis Colts and one with Carolina Panthers. He later founded Transformation Church in Indian Land, S.C., a multi-ethnic, mult-generational church focused on serving the community.

“One of the major causes [of crime and violence] is a crumbling family unit,” Gray told TheBlaze. “If mom and dad are not there, and they are not in a healthy, sacrificial, loving relationship, passing those values along, then kids are going to get values from somewhere else. That’s primarily going to be through media, music and various other avenues that are not going to promote being in a stable, healthy marital relationship.”

Gray recalled speaking at schools where parents and teachers routinely ask him how to fix the problems occurring with today’s youth. He said they always focus on the “symptoms” because it’s not “politically correct to say the problem is the basic family unit is fractured and shattered, and it needs to be rediscovered.”

“But it seems like everything in our society is moving away from that,” he added.

The primary objective of Monday’s GameChangers event is to encourage coaches and leaders to recognize that they have a platform to “stand in the gap” and teach character, values and personal responsibility to players and young people.

As the Christian Post points out, studies indicate that roughly 40 percent of children in the U.S. grow up with absent fathers. Those same children are twice as likely to be incarcerated, 63 percent of youth suicides are from fatherless homes and 71 percent of all high school dropouts are from fatherless homes, statistics show.

In CONTROL, Glenn Beck presents a passionate, fact-based case for guns that reveals why gun control isn’t really about controlling guns at all; it’s about controlling us. Find out more HERE.

Back to The Blaze »

Comments (71)

YOURSENSEI
Posted on February 18, 2013 at 6:01pm
This is what you must know:

It’s nice to see a gay man speak out for the 2nd Amendment.

It is so.

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- Desertcatn
  Posted on February 18, 2013 at 6:41pm
  I didn’t know you were gay, good to know you support the second amendment!
  
  Report this comment
- Zipit
  Posted on February 18, 2013 at 7:29pm
  DESERT! WANG is WAY GAY! And the only thing he knows about the 2nd, has something to do with “PACKING NO.2″
  
  Sadly, IT IS SO!
  
  Report this comment
- VoxSanitas
  Posted on February 18, 2013 at 8:06pm
  This is what you should have said to Desertcatn, Sensei:
  
  I am neither gay nor man, but a figure of your rhetorical imagination
  
  It is so
  
  Report this comment
- pissantno.10
  Posted on February 18, 2013 at 8:08pm
  yoursence you have all ready said you love to hide under your mommys dress . and big men scare you and make you tinkle in your little pink underware. whats your problem winky boy
  
  Report this comment
- Desertcatn
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 1:02am
  Oh please, Vox, I do not want to spend time imagining anything about yoursense!
  
  Report this comment
- Zipit
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 1:41am
  Gee VOX! Maybe you and WANG can get together and listen to some WAY GAY MUSIC, pack some no. 2, and discuss the second INYOURENDMENT!
  
  Report this comment
PatMcGroyn
Posted on February 18, 2013 at 4:45pm
He hit it. The downfall of the family is the root of most troubles in the U.S. No matter what the liberals say, it doesn’t take a village, it takes mom and dad.

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- SpeakSoftlyAndCarry
  Posted on February 18, 2013 at 7:17pm
  The only time it takes a village to raise a child is when that child is the Village Idiot’s child.
  
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- Proud American 71111
  Posted on February 18, 2013 at 7:27pm
  Amen Patmcgroyn, I get so tired of hearing that “It takes a village” bs. Where does that come from??? If I am not mistaken that is an old African saying and maybe it used to work that way a long time ago in Africa, but now look at Africa, they have never been able to care for themselves in modern times without outside help. The left tries to say that it takes a village to sweep the true problems under the rug, because they really know that the lack of two parent households or even the lack of a father present in their childs life is the main cause of problems in our society. The government has pushed the destruction of the family unit, more importantly the Christian family unit, at every opportunity because this helps them gain/maintain control of them. In the 70′s when I was a child, most parents raised their own kids, on their own. Sure the neighbors told on the kids if they misbehaved, but the parents ignore their job of RAISING THEIR OWN CHILDREN. Today so many people expect the government, schools, teachers, the police, foster care to rear their children. Too often my wife with will never have parents come to meetings or reply to notes/calls, even though most of here kids are on welfare and don’t work at all. They show up in pacts whenever free food or other stuff is given out, but never to take care of their kids. What a screwed up society the welfare state has created. IT TAKES A REAL FAMILY/PARENTS TO RAISE A CHILD. RAISE YOUR OWN KIDS PEOPLE!!!!!!
  
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- Shrugged
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 7:04am
  Amen! The only thing it takes a village to do is defend itself against a tyrannical government. The other name for that is militia — as per the 2nd amendment.
  
  Report this comment
rbolt
Posted on February 18, 2013 at 3:55pm
Obama knows that gun laws are not going to solve the gun problem. He doesn’t want gun control for public safety. He wants gun control for power and control. Everything the liberals do is for power and control.

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- Seagal45
  Posted on February 18, 2013 at 4:05pm
  You are right on the money. I was just in the local gun shop today and everyone says the same exact thing. It is so ridiculous, criminals don’t obey laws, that is why they are criminals.
  
  Report this comment
- wmcritter
  Posted on February 18, 2013 at 4:07pm
  The Democrats have never been opposed to guns. If you pay attention, you will see they are buying them for the government in record numbers. No, Democrats do not want to get rid of guns, they only want to take them away from “we the people”. In Democrat Utopia, government has all the guns, and the sheep are in their place.
  
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- A Hoosier Says
  Posted on February 18, 2013 at 9:45pm
  Well said, rbolt. The issue is never the issue with the left.
  
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ADNIL
Posted on February 18, 2013 at 3:27pm
I think he nailed it.

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- CABERNETQHS
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 8:11am
  The troubled teens I work with have brought me to this conclusion years ago. It’s great to see famous people speaking out in support for family values and common sense.
  
  Report this comment
The_Almighty_Creestof
Posted on February 18, 2013 at 3:13pm
Since I give no weight to atheletes/actors/celebs who side with the evil liberal progressives…I can’t really give weight to those who wind up on the right side of the arguement either.

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- ThankYouFounders
  Posted on February 18, 2013 at 3:57pm
  You are looking at the symptom. Actors, athletes, etc., tend to be immersed in the Progressive/Liberal rot-gut culture and thus, their ideas only reflect this worldview. This person obviously rejected that worldview and nailed the problem square on the head.
  
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Geronimo
Posted on February 18, 2013 at 2:55pm
Speak the truth and pray that the blinded will have their eyes and ears opened. As a society that tries to deny Jesus Christ and take God out of public life is a society that spins downward and out of control. We reap what we sow.

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Just4Rocks
Posted on February 18, 2013 at 2:48pm
Look at the Eleven Comandments- they’re for building and having a strong family, a strong community and a strong country. Yes we fail at being perfect, forgive us, forgive them and try to be better. Without sharing and caring about the laws that have stood the tests of time we clutter the world with pain. Don’t talk to me about repression of impulses and how they lead to mental illness. Do you think a single mother with three baby daddies proves their mental health?

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chips1
Posted on February 18, 2013 at 2:31pm
Obama doesn’t recognize the right of a citizen to protect their families, because he never belonged to one. He was brought up in a loveless situation and, in fact, is in his own loveless marriage. Seperate vacations, lack of giving his kids the benefit of a father. He is spreading his evil values to his own children and this reduces their chances to find happiness.

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- S-O-B-E-R
  Posted on February 18, 2013 at 8:55pm
  I was so looking forward to happy and smiling families in the Whitehouse again…
  
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OniKaze
Posted on February 18, 2013 at 2:06pm
Could not be more correct…

Whether you think religion is the answer or not is not important (Personally, I don’t think it is a “religion” issue, as it is just a simple matter of actions being De-attached from consequences…), what IS important is that people realize that GUNS are not the problem.. It is the minds (and morals) of the people that is the problem…

If you take away a gun from a homicidal maniac, he will STILL be a homicidal maniac.. Now he just needs to find a new tool to carry out his deeds…

We have ENOUGH gun laws, NOW what we need is to start tying consequences to actions, so that moving forward Children realize that THERE ARE consequences for EVERYTHING you do, and there is no “un-pulling” of a trigger….

Guns and bullets do NOT have thoughts of their own… They simply do as their wielder intends… Nothing more… Nothing less…

Don’t blame the gun… Blame the person holding it…

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- sillyfreshness
  Posted on February 18, 2013 at 2:44pm
  Too bad the NFL has turned into such a leftist, politically correct company. All these supposed “tough guys” who tout the benefits of gay marriage and gun control. The NFL can stick it.
  
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- Xanderson
  Posted on February 18, 2013 at 3:27pm
  Gray said they always focus on the “symptoms” because it’s not “politically correct to say the problem is the basic family unit is fractured and shattered, and it needs to be rediscovered.”
  
  Incredibly sad that this obvious observation is what is considered “politically incorrect” in 2013 America! Any honest teacher will admit they can tell which students come from intact families and which do not. Obama can’t wait to get your kids into federally mandated pre-K and away from their unqualified parents!
  
  Report this comment
- dawghowse
  Posted on February 18, 2013 at 9:50pm
  ONIKAZE, So well said. If you don’t mind I would like to repost this in another forum. You stated it so well I can’t think of when I have seen it as well put.
  
  Report this comment
The-Monk
Posted on February 18, 2013 at 1:57pm
I guess Derwin L. Gray will be blacklisted from ever speaking at a CBC function…..

I can still say “blacklisted”….. right?

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- chips1
  Posted on February 18, 2013 at 2:34pm
  Dr. Carson said it was alright, so it’s OK.
  
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Bomar
Posted on February 18, 2013 at 1:54pm
Derwin played his college football at BYU. I am sure that the education that he received there contributed to opinions and the direction of his life after the NFL.

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The-Monk
Posted on February 18, 2013 at 1:50pm
First Dr. Carson and now this?

Things are looking up : )

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- Cavallo
  Posted on February 18, 2013 at 2:00pm
  Just the 5% speaking up.
  
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- The-Monk
  Posted on February 18, 2013 at 2:23pm
  Hi Cavallo,
  
  Hopefully, some of the 95% will hear them. : )
  
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- wmcritter
  Posted on February 18, 2013 at 4:10pm
  @The-Monk How will the other 95% ever hear the 5%? You think BET or MSNBC is ever going to let these messages be broadcast? Of course not. Low information voters will never hear a different view point.
  
  Report this comment
ds7
Posted on February 18, 2013 at 1:50pm
remember dewey gray well…BYU 1989-1992

that’s where he went “after high school”…wonder why he left that out of his resume?

“…After high school, Gray went on to play six seasons in the NFL, five with the Indianapolis Colts and one with Carolina Panthers. He later founded Transformation Church in Indian Land, S.C., a multi-ethnic, mult-generational church focused on serving the community…”

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- thelongversion
  Posted on February 18, 2013 at 1:57pm
  Hey if nothing else it proves people can go to BYU and NOT be forced to join the Mormon church. That’s one that gets used on non-Mormon recruits by other schools competing for athletes all the time. Good job Dewey!
  
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JonSigMan
Posted on February 18, 2013 at 1:42pm
Bravo! Bravo! Very well stated.

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Alice P M
Posted on February 18, 2013 at 1:29pm
Key words “fatherless generation.” And you only have the feminists to blame.

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- joeslick
  Posted on February 18, 2013 at 2:10pm
  And “The New Deal” had a lot to do with it too….just sayin.
  
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- Verceofreason
  Posted on February 18, 2013 at 11:47pm
  I don’t get your point/
  So you think women shouldn’t work.
  Or get equal pay?
  Or what?
  
  Report this comment
PIGSWILLNEVERFLY
Posted on February 18, 2013 at 1:25pm
This is an excellent read: http://www.americanthinker.com/2013/02/a_blind_pendulum.html

what happens when the pendulum swings so far…..

By Glenn Fairman http://www.palookavillepost.com

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- GuruMeditation
  Posted on February 18, 2013 at 6:34pm
  I suspect it will not be pretty when it swings the other way.
  
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Vision Harry
Posted on February 18, 2013 at 1:20pm
Thanks Pastor, for saying what the rest of sane America is thinking…

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sharkee
Posted on February 18, 2013 at 1:16pm
The inner city youths need immediate REHAB for the SOUL … They need old school training and MEGA SUPPORT if their parents can’t.

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NewCreationDave
Posted on February 18, 2013 at 1:05pm
The fact that he is so obviously right and yet so many people cannot see it and don’t get it is a sad testimony to the power of man’s sinful nature combined with the successful dumbing-down efforts of the Liberals

http://newcreationservantry.com/
http://www.newcreationservantry.com/pages/plan_of_salvation-overview.pdf

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republic2011
Posted on February 18, 2013 at 1:01pm
He’s right. Lower taxes so that at least one parent can stay home during the formative years. Stop printing money, so the dollar can go farther. Get the government out of our Churches. Get the Federal gov. out of our schools. Get the government out of our bedrooms and marriage. If we want smaller government, people have to strengthen their communities. They need to understand that morality is taught at home and in the churches/synagogues. Stop relying on the public/private school teacher to raise your children (that was never their job).

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GhostOfJefferson
Posted on February 18, 2013 at 12:58pm
“As the Christian Post points out, studies indicate that roughly 40 percent of children in the U.S. grow up with absent fathers. Those same children are twice as likely to be incarcerated, 63 percent of youth suicides are from fatherless homes and 71 percent of all high school dropouts are from fatherless homes, statistics show.”

All hail no fault divorce, a culture where it is not shameful to be pregnant at 16, a court system that tramples fathers into the mud just for sport and a pop culture that has made fathers into buffoons, jokes and seen as unnecessary. And all hail the philosophies that tell us to jeer at those who put 2 and 2 together and can’t help but notice the correlations.

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- Cavallo
  Posted on February 18, 2013 at 1:48pm
  Life according to Jim, Everybody Loves Raymond, Family Guy, Tool Time (although Tim’s new show Last Man Standing makes him much less of a buffoon and merely more exasperated and sarcastic), and a myriad of others make men out to be stupid morons only around for the paycheck they might contribute. The women are seen as enlightened, the sole source of sanity and logic, tolerating the man’s idiocy because that is what is expected. I can think of one notable exception and that is Red from That 70s show. However maybe he is such a note because he is supposed to be a caricature of when it was socially popular to be a rugged individual who strives for practicality in life and never shies from responsibility. With the reinforcement that men are superfluous, and familial duty is only for half wits, why stick around? That senile pervert Uncle Sam is quite willing to step in and pretend to be the Daddy figure for women and their bastard children. In a society that promotes narcissism, combined with denigration of fathers, why take on the role of traditional father? Baby Daddies are so much more chic.
  
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- GhostOfJefferson
  Posted on February 18, 2013 at 2:28pm
  Yeah, Last Man Standing seems to me like “the Toolman” grew a pair, got serious and stood up for himself. Wasn’t half bad, but I’ve only seen if a handful of times at best.
  
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- DLV
  Posted on February 19, 2013 at 3:00am
  Cavallo- I love red from that 70s show. It’s supposed to be how the 70s were and they did a great job. Nice point
  
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facilitiesmgr
Posted on February 18, 2013 at 12:58pm
Pastor Gray has hit the “nail on the head” in three ways: 1) people have to have a “heart” change if there are to be any long lasting changes in the way people live. 2) The breakdown of the family is especially detrimental to how well our society operates or not. 3) The males in this society need to become real men and step up to the plate and lead their families well, not just be sperm donors.

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Spitfire68
Posted on February 18, 2013 at 12:54pm
Derwin Gray is spot on!!!!

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CloudNine
Posted on February 18, 2013 at 12:54pm
There you have it folks…He nailed it!

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Gonzo
Posted on February 18, 2013 at 12:53pm
Good job pastor, we need more good men like you.

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