Given the residual threat of terror attacks, sports stadiums across America have focused on increased security. However, Republican legislators in Washington have proposed a bill that could permit licensed members of the public to enter sports stadiums with a concealed weapon.
The bill would mean that stadium operators would not be able to prevent or ban people from entering stadiums carrying a firearm.The bill was proposed by Conservatives Matt Shea, David Taylor and Bob McClasin. If successful, the bill could affect a number of stadiums in Washington, most notably Seattle's Safeco Field and the Seahawks' Century Link Field.
Opposition
The NFL is against the bill and plans to oppose the bill in congress. Ben McCarthey, a representative of the NFL, said:"We have a policy forbidding supporters carrying concealed weapons into NFL stadiums."
I served on NFL Security Committee so gonna again note that this is a bad idea. Alcohol + extreme passion + intense emotion = bad idea. https://t.co/keEhDW0KDQ
— Amy Trask (@AmyTrask) 11 December 2016
Major League Baseball responded in a similar manner: "The MLB is committed to providing a safe environment at all our ballparks and believes that our current policy is the right one for all of our fans," said Patrick Courtney, the MLB's chief communications officer.
Admittedly, the US does not possess the same reputation for violence as European countries, but there are evident concerns arising from firearms potentially being allowed in sports stadiums where tensions ignite on a regular basis.
In the NFL, the Seattle Seahawks have the lowest arrest rate at 0.8 arrests per game while the San Diego Chargers have the highest at 24.6 per game.
The bill will face vehement opposition in Washington considering the state's Democratic leaning. However, the bravado of conservative law makers is indicative of a shift in the political landscape following the election of Donald Trump and perhaps a sign of things to come.
"If you're concerned about bringing your family to a game, then that [the proposed bill] is clearly an issue. It's not just an issue for one team: it's an issue for all 32 teams. The Teams know this. The League knows this." said Amy Trask, a former Radlers executive who served on the NFL's security committee.
