Giants' Gabe Kapler pens heartfelt message in wake of Texas shooting

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr has recently generated headlines not for basketball-related reasons but for his passionate pleas for stricter gun control measures in the United States following the horrific shooting in Uvalde, Texas, that killed 19 young children and two teachers. That incident followed a different mass shooting that occurred near Buffalo, New York, on May 14. 

As noted by an ESPN piece, San Francisco Giants manager Gabe Kapler took to his personal website to share his feelings on the nation's latest gun-related tragedy. 

"When I was the same age as the children in Uvalde, my father taught me to stand for the pledge of allegiance when I believed my country was representing its people well or to protest and stay seated when it wasn’t. I don’t believe it is representing us well right now," Kapler wrote. 

He continued: "We elect our politicians to represent our interests. Immediately following this shooting, we were told we needed locked doors and armed teachers. We were given thoughts and prayers. We were told it could have been worse, and we just need love." 

Kapler added that he wanted to make some sort of gesture ahead of Wednesday's game against the New York Mets. 

"Every time I place my hand over my heart and remove my hat, I’m participating in a self congratulatory glorification of the ONLY country where these mass shootings take place," he said. "On Wednesday, I walked out onto the field, I listened to the announcement as we honored the victims in Uvalde. I bowed my head. I stood for the national anthem. Metallica riffed on City Connect guitars.

"My brain said drop to a knee; my body didn’t listen. I wanted to walk back inside; instead I froze. I felt like a coward. I didn’t want to call attention to myself. I didn’t want to take away from the victims or their families. There was a baseball game, a rock band, the lights, the pageantry. I knew that thousands of people were using this game to escape the horrors of the world for just a little bit. I knew that thousands more wouldn’t understand the gesture and would take it as an offense to the military, to veterans, to themselves." 

During the 2016 NFL season, former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick routinely kneeled during playings of the national anthem ahead of games to protest racial inequality and police violence. Kaepernick hasn't played in the league since.  

"But I am not OK with the state of this country," Kapler admitted. "I wish I hadn’t let my discomfort compromise my integrity. I wish that I could have demonstrated what I learned from my dad, that when you’re dissatisfied with your country, you let it be known through protest. The home of the brave should encourage this." 

It's unclear if Kapler and/or his players will protest in any way before Friday's series-opener at the Cincinnati Reds.