Mariners News: New Bill Will Allow More Firepower In Safeco Field

The Mariners organization may soon be writing a letter to Washington state representatives, Matt Shea, Bob McCaslin, and David Taylor about the headache their employees will be dealing with thanks to a bill the three republican men are proposing.

The seats inside Safeco and CenturyLink stadiums in Seattle, Washington may be filled with more firepower than the fields themselves, despite the high-priced star power that graces them each season in Seahawk and Mariners uniforms.

Due to House Bill 1050 proposed by 2nd amendment junkies Shea, McCaslin and Taylor, fans in both stadiums would be allowed to carry a firearm on the premises because:

"“A local governmental entity may not, whether by law, ordinance, regulation, rule, policy, or contractual agreement, prohibit persons with a valid concealed pistol license from carrying a concealed pistol in any stadium, convention center, arena, or similar facility, or on the grounds of any such facility, that is owned, operated, 21 managed, administered, controlled, or maintained by the local governmental entity, or leased or rented to a private or public entity by the local governmental entity.”"

This would mean that while you are bringing your son or daughter to what has always been a family-friendly environment, you may now have to worry that your child will be sitting next to a man or woman with a loaded weapon.

Without aimlessly bashing these representatives, let’s look at how necessary this isn’t for the eighty-one or eight games that will be played in Safeco or CenturyLink.

Of the eight mass shootings in Washington state in 2016 -a mass shooting is defined by the FBI as the killing of three or more people regardless of what weapon was used- only a couple were both in condensed areas and not gang, domestic or mental health related incidents.

Furthermore, in recent memory, there hasn’t been any shooting inside a stadium anywhere in the United States. And, when there were two shootings -one that occurred outside AT&T Stadium in 2015 in Arlington, Texas and one outside Candlestick Park in San Fransisco in 2011– it was only because people were carrying weapons even though NFL and all sporting enterprises forbid it inside any of their venues.

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Now, let me first say that eight mass shootings is far more than there should be, but I’m not here to rant about the well-known fact that the USA has had nearly one-third of the world’s combined mass shootings since 1966.

What matters are the facts of gun violence and the safety of the fans attending these events, many of which would be Mariners supporters.

Evidence shows us that more guns (and more places for those guns to be) means more violence.

The last place there should be any violence is in a sporting arena unless of course, you’re at a boxing or UFC match.

I will leave you will this image.

In 2016, the Mariners rallied around three-year-old Beatrix Hart, after her cotton candy sugar-high Instagram clip went viral because her obvious excitement was the kind of energy the Mariners needed down the stretch during their playoff push. Here is the clip:

Now imagine this same scenario, except this time, after Adam Lind hit the monstrous grand slam that he did, the man or woman sitting next to Beatrix and father has a gun, and it accidentally goes off because of all the commotion that is already taking place inside Safeco Field.

Fans would frantically rush up the aisles, some most likely trampling over each other in a rush to safety.

Just from the panic alone, dozens would be injured, and countless memories would be scared forever.

Why should Mariners and Seahawks fans consider this horrifying potential outcome as a realistic possibility? They shouldn’t. Mariners and Seahawks fans should not let these three men –who also want to make Eastern Washington its own state– gain traction with this inconceivable bill.

Next: Fans Unsure About Mariners Future Playoff Chances

Even though the MLB, NFL, and all major US sporting organizations ban weapons from arenas, the people of Washington need to let these companies and these teams know that this cannot be part of the future of American sports.