Nope.... Just too easy! Gonna leave this one alone!

I am a lifelong NRA member and have had a permit to carry a concealed weapon for over 30 years. I have never felt compelled to carry one, nor would I ever bring one to my place of employment. I understand some player's paranoia, but guns don't belong in locker rooms or team hotels. Sorry luke, nobody's going to "get you". You have more much security than the average person.

Now, that being said, maybe if Trembley knew you were packing when you walked into his office, you might get more playing time in the field.... Just a joke!!

I'm not allowed to bring personal firearms into my workplace. Why do professional athletes think they should have the right? It's not like they have to walk through dangerous territory to get from their private, guarded parking lots to their private, guarded clubhouses anyway.

"We have good security," Scott said. "It's hard to get in here. Barring a tactical entry where terrorists come in and hold us hostage, that's about the only thing that could possibly warrant me carrying a gun in the clubhouse. That's highly unlikely and I admit that. But my personal belief is I don't want to suffer from the poor choices of others."

-------------------------------------------------------------

Hahaha. I'm glad he admits that it's unlikely that terrorists would use a tactical strike to break into the clubhouse and hold the Baltimore Orioles hostage.

I always wondered what players think about as the game drags on. Apparently Luke thinks about three things: how much he loves god, his sideburns, and fantasizing about blowing away terrorists and saving the season.

you guys (The Sun, everyone commenting) are totally blowing this out of proportion. The Sun is just trying to get things started by bringing up a total non-issue. Luke has never been in trouble with the law. He is careful with his gun. And he has a permit, and IS complying with the new rule.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?id=2691043

And for everyone trying to spin this into a way to take a shot at Christianity, please. Grow up.

My personal opinion aside, this is just bizarre.

Scott revealed himself in last week's article, when asked to comment on offseason improvements with the team, he chose to talk about himself and how much better his stats would have been had he gotten another 150 ab's last year.

See ya luke, let PIE play

No one has to look any further than the hostility on these blog pages to understand why any pro athlete might want protection when he is forced to mingle in public.

This ain't 1962 when people might say, "Hey, Artie. Let me buy you a beer or ten."

Scott hasn't done anything wrong, and has vowed to continue to not do anything wrong.

The rest is noise.

I get the feeling that some of the commentors haven't read the full article. Scott believes in the right to carry, but also that others have the right to set rules and he intends to follow them. What's the problem.

I am not a Luke Scott fan but he did score points with me when talking about himself rather than Oriole "improvements."

First off, he believes he should be playing the field -- not in the Tiger Woods sense, but rather with a glove. While no one is saying he would be showered with Gold Gloves if allowed to take the field, he certainly doesn't have a cast iron glove like Don Baylor had.

Secondly, what the Orioles did in the offseason outside of pitching can only be designed to limit Scott's play. I thought his answers were very diplomatic.

He didn't bristle like the manager seems to be doing a lot lately. He didn't throw dirt on anybody's reputation. He merely believes in himself and his skill set.

Yeah, we all know how his stats went from first half to second half. I will be taking a wait-and-see approach before I designate Scott as trade bait or a blossoming performer.

From his perspective, though, he can't prove anything if he's not playing. And the one stat that does seem to be consistent with his inconsistent amount of play is he is no pinch hitter.

If his role is to come off of the bench, then Trembley (and maybe others) are more incompetent than I already believe.

He believes in himself and said so in a respectful way. Luke Scott, the person, scored points with me.

trmahoney01:

I just read that article you posted. The problem isn't his guns; it's that he's kind of a douche.

how is protecting yourself being a douche? am i missing something?

Personally, I'll never understand how being a devout Christian involves carrying a gun, or why a gun is needed in the clubhouse. However, Luke seems like a decent guy, even though I disagree with him. From a baseball perspective, I don't understand why he didn't get more of an extended look at first. I'm afraid that Atkins may turn out to have been a greater gamble.

You "this isn't a second amendment issue" guys crack me up. Seriously.

Since when is a gun ban not a second amendment issue?

"You "this isn't a second amendment issue" guys crack me up. Seriously.

Since when is a gun ban not a second amendment issue?"

Because the Orioles bear responsibility for the protection of their employees and their fans on their property. Just like my employer has a responsibility to protect me and my coworkers while I'm here at work.

It's exactly like empoyers banning pornography and other inapporpriate material, that's not a violation of the first amendment any more than the gun thing is a violation of the second.

Luke, carry around a gun all you want on your own time. Like all things potentially dangerous to members of society, it needs to be regulated for the protection of all.

Personally, gun rights activists creep me out, as do grown men athletes who believe a man in the sky helps them to succeed on the field.

trmahoney1:

Nothing to do with protecting yourself. It's just the impression I got from reading his quotes.

Carl:

It's not a 2nd amendment issue in the same way that it's not a 1st amendment issue if I ban you from saying stupid things in my house.

I believe in "the right to bear arms" and I own a couple of guns, but please, can anyone tell me what good would come from carrying a gun into a locker room? I understand that Luke Scott will comply with the rule but he also stated that he has had a gun in his locker. What is he thinking? Why would he have brought it there?

After being caught stealing twice in a game by wieters last year, I would think Carl Crawford would like Matt's gear checked for a rifle.

First, I don't understand how Scott being a Christian has anything to do with owning or carrying a gun. He hasn't done anything wrong. It's a very stupid arguement that's nothing more then a personal attack. We're talking about an inanimate object.

Second, it really irritates me how this can be turned into a negitive spin. It's been documented that Scott also preaches gun safety, education and proper training. And while I can't speak for everybody, any responsible gun owner should feel the same. We're not talking about a gun-toting lunatic who doesn't have the respect or mental capacity to display the responsibility to carry.

Last, on the subject of MLB policy, I don't disagree with it. But I think that the majority who make good decisions shouldn't be catagorized with the few who make stupid and ignorant ones.

"I've carried them in the locker room, and nobody really knows about it."
Nice..you jackass..Where do you think you are?? The Wild West?? What a piece of garbage.
Guns dont kill people..people kill people

Everyone who has posted so far seems to have missed Luke's main point, which was that he doesn't like the idea of having to forfeit a basic individual Constitutional right because of the mistakes of others.

Now... please read carefully:

The MLB "BAN" never before existed until recently, and was modeled after the NBA and/or NFL "Bans", which were only instituted AFTER there was a particular instance of what they considered abuse.
In other words, if the NFL, NBA, or MLB were really primarily interested in "protecting" their athletes, then why did it take an "incident" to call their attention to the issue?

It is very clear that in all cases, these bans were institued as the direct results of the actions of a handful of irresponsible individuals, and......
exactly as Luke Scott claims..... HE is having to forego a basic right simply because of THEIR actions.

THIS is his complaint, gentlemen.
And he's absolutely correct.

Luke now comes across as a certified idiot , .... or maybe I do .

With every right comes responsibility; you can't have one without the other.

I have no problem with what Scott said in the Sun article. He seems to be a responsible gun owner who obeys the law. Even though he disagrees with the MLB rule regarding guns not being allowed in the clubhouse, he still obeys it.

Rights are not limitless in a civil society. The limits come at the point where one citizen's rights infringe upon another's. For example, the right of free speech ends at the point when speech is used to incite violence. If there weren't reasonable limits to the exercising of one's rights, there would be anarchy.

To believe that one should be able to do whatever they want, whenever and wherever they want without giving any consideration to those around them is simply childish.

...And that's why I call Luke Scott "THE GUNNER!"

I was a police officer, state investigator and federal agent for 40 years. I carried a conceled weapon all of that time and no one ever knew. Because of that I now have a license to carry a weapon anywhere in the US and I do. Still no one knows I have a weapon on me. I do not carry it so much to protect myself, I feel safe, I carry it because I never want to be present where a crime is being commited and I can't do anything about it because the bad guy is armed and I am not.

Yesterday I went to the local Sheriff's range and qualified with a revolver and an automatic. I have to do it once a year. There were about 300 retired police officers and federal agents there with me and we all carry conceled weapons for the same reason. We don't want to be caught unarmed in a situation where we could stop a crime or save a life. We are not paranoid, thinking we are in constant danger, we were that for our entire careers.

One more thing. I am a Christian and I carry a conceled weapon to church; at the request of the pastor. No one but him knows I have it. The reason is incidents like the one in California recently when two hooded guys came in during services and shot two worshipers. I think the likleyhood of someone walking in and shouting "Allah Akbar" and starting to shoot is almost inevitable. Being a Christian doesn't mean letting someone kill you without fighting back.

Another reason to not like Luke Scott. He's a terrible L fielder. Just because you can carry a gun doesn't mean you have to or should. What are his reasons for actually bringing the guns to work? What was he afraid of? Wonder how many of his teammates knew he had them there. He put them ALL at risk. What was he going to do? Shoot people who disagreed with you? Get rid of him and let Pie play.

PS - Send him to Texas. They love gun freaks down there as well as the "not so smarts."

To those who say that MLB only instituted this policy because of the NBA, I say that the NBA and MLB did not have a policy banning guns in locker rooms because it never crossed their minds that they needed a policy to dictate common sense. For those of you old enough to remember Irma Bombeck.... please don't eat the daisies.

Don't most shootings by disgruntled employees or former employees happen at the job site???

Another point: The Second Amendment guarantees Americans the right to keep and BEAR arms, not just keep them in their homes.
I understand that some don't agree with The Constitution but I get furious at those who spit on it, ignore it or pretend it only applies in situations THEY feel are appropriate.

Dan Gibson -

It's strange. I did 2 tours of Iraq and have been denied twice by the state of Maryland to carry a firearm. I was even on the Army Marksmanship Unit on the Pistol Team as a competiter and instructor. But I guess that's not enough to convince the State that I have the credentials. Maybe I'm overqualified, lol.

Pat W -

How does he put his teammates at risk? I don't understand. Maybe you should move to Texas....

I'm sorry, but I carry a concealed brain which no one knows about unless I use it to debunk a few absolutely ridiculous remarks written above:
1. Scott is NOT a "terrible" left-fielder.
He's about average.

2. Luke is NOT an "idiot". Certified or otherwise.

3. Luke doesn't "bring guns to work".
That would entail carrying them onto the playing field.
If a person has a concealed weapons license and uses it responsibly, then I see absolutely no harm in traveling to the park with it concealed under one's street clothes and storing it in one's locker with one's clothing upon changing into one's work uniform.
No one knows about it one way or the other.

4. One's choice to carry a gun has absolutely NOTHING to do one way or the other with one's choice to be a Christian.

5. Laws and policies are written all the time in order to dictate common sense.
Isn't it common sense that one should not steal someone else's property?
Isn't it common sense that one should not lie?
Isn't it common sense that one should not murder another?
Isn't it common sense that one should stop before proceeding through a busy intersection?

A ban "never crossed their minds"?
Well why the hell not?
I'll tell you why not.... BECAUSE IT WAS NEVER A PROBLEM AND STILL ISN'T A PROBLEM.
The ban is a DIRECT RESULT of an isolated incident or two.
The NBA, NFL, and MLB did not RESPOND to a real need for a policy.

Instead they REACTED to a couple of isolated instances.

In what way is it common sense that one should not simply carry a concealed weapon into one's locker or dressing room for safekeeping?
In what way does that simple act, of which no one is even aware "endanger" anyone?

Some of you folks really need to find your way out of the crib and prepare yourselves for the light of day.

More people are killed or injured every day by common household kitchen knives or automobiles than by guns.

Let's ban those items next.
I mean gosh.... it's only common sense.

MLB baseball should ban baseball bats because Jose Offerman attacked the pitcher and catcher a couple years ago. I mean, you just can't trust people.....

Common sense people, common sense.

There are so many factors involved in why this isn't a good idea from someone potentially breaking into the clubhouse to a fight breaking out to someone just fooling around. There are rule and if he doesn't like the rules that the Orioles and MLB have about not allowing guns in the clubhouse, he can take his bat and go home. This isn't about whether someone believes in the right to have guns, it's not allowed by the O's and MLB so it should be a non-issue.

On a side note, I agree with onceawarrior in that Luke seems to be acting a bit selfish with his talking about what he would with an extra 100 more AB's instead of talking about the club. There is a time and place to talk about individual achievements and goals, but there shouldn't be one person and I mean one person that was on the 09 Orioles that should be talking about anything other than the club improving after barely avoiding a 100 loss season by lucking out against a Jays team in disarray at that point.

I've been blasted (no pun, Luke) form saying this before, but the O's made a big mistake not taking Jim Thome and making him the every day DH. He's not a kid, but he would crush the ball at OPACY. I personally feel that both Luke and Wiggy are more concerned about their AB's and #s than playing for a a winning team. I heard what Felix said about losing his job to Nolan and he didn't say well if they would've given me two more months, I would've done x, y or z, but rather he said that was the decision the O's made and he knew he had to make the most out of future opportunities.

Wiggy has said on at least 3 different occasions that he was told he would play 3B in 2010 when he signed last year. I find that hard to believe because while Melvin had an expensive option, he was coming off one of the best 2nd half performances that I've seen from an Oriole in a long time. Wiggy had a chance last year to show what he could do and if he decided not to come into camp in the best shape to impress the brass last year and wait for this year to do it, who's fault is that?

Personally, I would not want to work with a guy who so much as wants to carry a gun.

This will be a PR nightmare. In Baltimore and on the road. Look for Scott to get traded before the end of spring training for as much as a "player to be named."

We all know he is excess baggage anyway.

Why don't all of you "pro athletes are so safe" people give former umpire Steve Palermo a call and see what he has to say. Gunned down at a Texas restaurant while trying to assist a female led to the loss of his career, and almost of his life. This ban stems from the absolute juvenile disrespect of firearms by a few "more money than brains" knuckleheads. Luke has stated that he will abide by the ban though he disagrees with it. Exactly what do you want from this man?

Go O's!

First, I don't think his second half of the year season slump was a fluke. I have never liked his swing, even though he hit 25 hrs. He is not going to have a good year...he kind of reminds me of Larry Sheets...a couple of good years and then pitchers learn how to exploit weeknesses in his swing...which Luke has.

Secondly, I am a math teacher and I have more of a chance to have a terrorist come in to my school and blow everyone up and I am totally not allowed to carry a firearm...so what the heck does this guy need a firearm at an O's game for? What is he going to have it in his back pocket when he is playing? Weird!!!! The O's should have signed Jermaine Dye to DH, not Scott, but now they should just have Pie DH.

Luke - shut your mouth and hit the ball. We don't care about your lunatic politics.

My remarks on Scott's being a terrible L fielder was based on the remarks of long-time baseball people who sit around me at OPACY - people who know the sport better than I do. Also, Lynchburg, VA is about as far south as I'd want to live. I mean, who wants to live in a part of the country where you can only buy white sheets?

All of a sudden I like Luke. "From my cold dead hands" Lets keep it confined to sports though. If I tried to comment on someones politics my comment wouldn't be allowed. I already tried that.

To Dan Gibson: Someone coming into a church and shouting "Allah Akbar"? How many times has that happened exactly (in the US)?. Most of the church shooting incidents I've heard of have been perpetrated by self-identified conservative Christians. The abortion provider shot in his church, the massacre at a Unitarian church in Tennessee because the right-wing nut job didn't approve of the church's political views... But regardless of that, studies have shown that civilians armed with concealed weapons in situations like that do more harm than good. Even people with weapons training panic and start shooting into the crowd causing more carnage. What we need is heroes like that math teacher in Colorado who can tackle the shooter, get him on the ground, and stop the bullets from flying, not add more to the storm.

As for Luke Scott, I support his right to free expression, but the views he expresses certainly don't make me any more apt to cheer for him... not that I get too excited about one-trick ponies who can only hit home runs anyway.

Do you remember what happened to Washington Wizards basketball star Gilbert Arenas' 2nd amendment rights when he brought "guns into the locker room?"

Check out Dan Steinber's column: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dcsportsbog/2010/02/luke_scotts_gilbert_arenas_mom.html