McNair Murder: What should be regulated? Firearms or Mistresses

The murder of former NFL quarterback Steve McNair has prompted some media outlets and at least one Tennessee state senator to use the killing as a potential springboard to push for more state firearms legislation. McNair’s killer was his 20 year old girlfriend, Sahel Kazemi. Reported to be despondent over a looming breakup with the former Tennessee Titan quarterback, Kazemi purchased a handgun through a individual private sale and then used that weapon two days later to kill McNair. She then shot herself in the head. The “issue” at hand is had Kazemi tried to purchase that weapon in a Tennessee gun shop she would have been turned away because she was not 21 years old. However, there is no such requirement for a private sale of a handgun.

After the killing, Senator Thema Harper contended “you should not be able to just walk down the street and buy a gun.” Nashville’s, News Channel 5 reported that Harper would support changes in gun laws to create requirements to track private gun sales and set minimum ages for all handgun purchases.

The reality check is that enforcing firearms regulations at established gun shops is complex and an expensive requirement for states due to requirements of The Brady Bill. Ask any state comptroller how much state government money is spent on participation in the national instant background check and one realizes the cost to track private gun sales would be astronomical.

Like many politicians Sen. Harper she probably means well but to base legislation on a knee jerk reaction to a sensational murder of a national sports figure isn’t leadership. She wonders if McNair and Zazemi would still be alive today if there had been stricter firearms laws in force? One has to wonder what Harper would be doing had McNair been stabbed, or choked, or hit by a car.

Perhaps there’s a more culpable issue than the firearm. It could be said that had Steve McNair, who was married, not been galavanting around with a 20 year old woman he would still be alive today. Period. End of story. Perhaps Sen. Harper would support legislation to require the tracking and reporting of adulterous relationships and would she set an age limit for mistresses?