Snoop Dogg, Joe Montana support anti-violence campaign
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- It has been almost a week since a deadly rampage cut short the lives of six UC Santa Barbara students. Three of the young men were from the Bay Area. Now there is a new call for gun control, and entertainment heavyweights and sports icons are leading the charge.
It's an anti-gun message coming from a rapper who's had a string of run-ins with the law over his alleged use of guns. Snoop Dogg held a news conference and fundraiser for his "No Guns Allowed" campaign. The rapper was joined by Joe Montana, Diana Nyad, MC Hammer and Willie Brown, among others.
With his past, Snoop Dogg might not be everyone's first choice to carry an anti-gun message. However, some think he is a good voice for this campaign -- one that might actually be heard out on the streets.
"No guns allowed" is a message Snoop Dogg first delivered in a song and is one the rapper admits took him years to understand. He was acquitted of murder in 1996 following the death of an alleged gang member, killed by gunfire from a car the rapper was riding in. His most recent arrest was in 2006, when he was accused of carrying a gun and marijuana at the Bob Hope Airport. Now, his publicist told ABC7 News that he currently owns no guns.
"I've made my mistakes, but I've grown and learned. I just don't feel like guns are necessary," said Snoop.
He wants others to realize guns can escalate situations to the point of no return. The group "It Takes the Hood To Save the Hood" knows that all too well.
Alberta Turner lost her son and recently her nephew. She believes celebrity role models will make a difference. She said, "My nephew just got killed three days ago, he was only 19."
"People have had enough," Steve Sposato said. He lost his wife in the 101 California shooting in San Francisco in 1993. "Someone like Snoop Dogg has got a tremendous influence on some of the population. You know, the youth, people that may be more inclined to go after a gun at some point in their life. If he can carry a message that this is not the path to take, more power to him."
Thursday night's event was planned months ago, but the tragedy at Santa Barbara renewed their resolve to fight for changes on Capitol Hill.
"Let's change some of these laws. So the NRA is powerful, but I just can't believe that all of America couldn't change that around," Nyad said.
"When our kids can't go to school and feel safe, then we have problems," Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana said.
"The reality is we need more men, women to stand up and say enough is enough," MC Hammer said.
After the violent rampage in Isla Vista, many are calling for greater gun laws, but Snoop Dogg's "No Guns Allowed" campaign doesn't specifically call for that.
Yih-Chau Chang is an open carry gun advocate.
"Whether these types of messages are effective is something else altogether, right?" he said. "You have these gun free zones that basically post the same message, but obviously violent crime still happens in these gun free zones."
We've seen dozens of school shootings since Columbine. Together this group hopes there's not one more.
