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KC Chiefs player says guns weren’t the issue in parade shooting: ‘We need strong fathers’

March 20, 2024 | | Print Article

Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker believes men need to step up in their families to counter the “degenerative violence” that unfolded in the Super Bowl parade shooting in Missouri.

In a recent interview with “EWTN News In Depth,” the Super Bowl champion was asked about gun violence in the wake of the deadly shooting at the team’s victory parade in his hometown last month which left one person dead and nearly two dozen others injured. Butker did not take the bait, declaring that he didn’t think “guns are the issue” but the lack of “strong fathers” in homes.

“I had to do a lot of thinking about what took place at the parade. I know that gun violence was a big discussion, but at the end of the day this is degenerative violence, and it should not be occurring,” the 28-year-old devout Catholic stated.

“I think we need strong fathers in the home,” he continued.

“We need men that are leading, that are setting good examples, that are teaching the young men in our society that violence is not the way to handle our disputes,” Butker added.

He noted specifically the tragedy that unfolded in Kansas City at a victory rally for the team.

“It’s very unfortunate what happened. Unfortunately, many, many children were injured. A beautiful young lady was killed over someone getting offended and turning to violence to handle that dispute,” he said, referring to radio personality Lisa Lopez-Galvan who was fatally shot.

“It’s so sad. I don’t think guns are the issue. I think we need fathers in the home that are being great examples for our youth,” Butker said.

The team’s kicker helped out the family of Lopez-Galvan by providing a jersey for her to be buried in. She was reportedly wearing a white Butker jersey at the parade where she was fatally shot.

“Hearing that she was a fan of my outspokenness for our shared Catholic Faith makes this even more personal. I am honored to provide a jersey to the family for her to wear,” he said in a statement at the time.

Butker reflected on the tragic loss during his EWTN interview.

“I never set out to be an NFL kicker,” he said. “I never set out to have this platform. I never thought I’d be having this success in the NFL that I am. I never wanted to be this public person that people look to to see what their ideas are, what their stances are on different subjects, but because of that, it has given me a great following of people like this amazing woman.

“It’s the faith. It was the most important thing in her life. It’s the most important thing in my life. And to be able to receive that encouragement, that love, even though I never met her, I heard from her family how much she was encouraged by me and loved all my work, it’s just very encouraging for me to continue on the path that I’m on and to be never unwavering in my beliefs.”

See Butker’s full EWTN interview and his thoughts on the role of men and women in the family in the video below:

Frieda Powers
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