It’s a shame Plaxico Burress shot himself in the thigh almost 18
months ago, but it has shed light on more athletes pulling the
trigger on themselves.

Back in September, Burress received jail time after it was found
he didn’t have a valid New York state license for the gun while in
an NYC nightclub in November 2008.

Unfortunately, athletes owning firearms aren’t learning from
Burress’ err in judgment. Instead, they have escalated the gun
problem in the professional theater, walking around a la cowboys in
a late 1800s boomtown.

This is partly because the law has been giving out bogus
sentences in regards to athletes’ misconduct with guns, allowing
them to believe they are above statutes made for all law-abiding
citizens.

By now, even a non-sports fan knows about Gilbert Arenas and his
“joke” with teammate Javaris Crittenton.

I’m not sure if bringing four firearms into a team locker room
is too funny.

But, one of the Washington Wizards’ guards primary punishments
ended up being a punch line, as he is spending 30 days in a
Montgomery County, Maryland, halfway house for carrying a pistol
without a license. He could have been convicted of four counts of
illegal gun possession, one for each of the pistols in the locker
room.

Oh, and that’s not even mentioning the cache of handguns
reportedly found at his home that could rival the firepower of a
small-town police department.

The slaps on Arenas’ wrist don’t stop there. He received a
$5,000 fine and 400 hours of community service that can’t be
performed at basketball clinics.

Umm, I’ve known wayward college kids who have done almost as
much as repayment for being punished.

In addition, Arenas was suspended for the rest of the NBA’s
season, arguably what hurts him the most after missing mass amounts
of playing time during his last few injury-plagued seasons.

Above all, everything Arenas did screams irresponsibility,
especially for a basketball player implicit in a group of pro
athletes who are constantly put on pedestals to be outstanding role
models.

As in Arenas’ case, Burress’ discipline wasn’t substantial,
either.

With good behavior, he’ll most likely serve 20 of the 24 months
in his sentence. And, there’s still no reprimand in place for him
from the NFL when he becomes a free man, although he is barred from
any NFL-related activity (for example, contract negotiations with
any team) while behind bars.

With that said, Burress might have more motivation to be a
changed man. I mean, he literally had to walk away from his
family.

It was brutal to watch the one-time Steelers and Giants wide
receiver walk into his sentencing hearing with three-year-old son
Elijah clinging to his chest. Not to mention, he left behind
Tiffany, his pregnant wife.

Even the most staunch proponent of gun laws has to feel
sympathetic.

Now, set the compassion aside, and welcome Shaun Rogers.

The Cleveland Browns’ Pro-Bowl caliber defensive lineman was
arrested April 1 at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport for
carrying a loaded semi-automatic handgun.

Even though the pistol was on safe mode, the gun was cocked with
one bullet in the chamber.

Yeah. Locked and loaded. In an airport.

Unlike Burress and Arenas, Rogers had a legitimate
concealed-pistol license in the state of Michigan, according to
police officer Mark Tescar who made a report on the arrest.

No matter, carrying a licensed pistol in an airport is as good
as bringing a bomb in the White House and saying you’re not going
detonate the explosive.

Plus, it’s illegal.

Again, this time with a heightened rhetorical effect, what was
this guy thinking?

Certainly not the implications this ill-advised decision will
have on his future.

Sure, I do believe these players deserve second chances. Yet, at
some point, an example needs to be made of players who mess up like
those before them.

Maybe, just maybe, Rogers will be the precedent, one that
resonates with the contingent of players with pistol ownership.

It’s not that I consider owning a gun to be a crime; however,
it’s the case that I believe lawless, gun-owning athletes should be
prosecuted to a much greater extent, or as much as any other
citizen would be.

Because, I can assure you, this won’t be the last such incident
involving a pro athlete.

Here’s a shout-out to the Cuyahoga County (Ohio) Common Pleas
grand jury, one that will hear Rogers’ case in which he pleaded not
guilty to carrying a concealed weapon. Commissioner Goodell, you’re
also not off the hook.

We’re all waiting for the next move.