Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker has won three Super Bowls, but the last one involved a shooting at the team's championship parade.
Local disc jockey Lisa Lopez-Galvan was killed and close to two dozen others were injured as a result. Three male suspects are facing federal gun charges.
Butker was asked for his thoughts on the shooting and how he might curb gun violence. His answer was well-thought-out and fairly direct.
"I had to do a lot of thinking about what took place at the parade. I know that gun violence was a big discussion, but at the end of the day this is degenerative violence, and it should not be occurring," he said in an interview with EWTN News. "I think we need strong fathers in the home. We need men that are leading, that are setting good examples, that are teaching the young men in our society that violence is not the way to handle our disputes.
"It's very unfortunate what happened. Unfortunately, many, many children were injured. A beautiful young lady was killed over someone getting offended and turning to violence to handle that dispute. It's so sad. I don't think guns are the issue. I think we need fathers in the home that are being great examples for our youth."
Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker celebrates after connecting on a field goal. (Getty)
Lopez-Galva wearing Butker's jersey when she died. He gave her family another so she could wear it while being laid to rest, per a request from the family.
"I never set out to be an NFL kicker," he said. "I never set out to have this platform. I never thought I'd be having this success in the NFL that I am. I never wanted to be this public person that people look to to see what their ideas are, what their stances are on different subjects, but because of that, it has given me a great following of people like this amazing woman.
"It's the faith. It was the most important thing in her life. It's the most important thing in my life. And to be able to receive that encouragement, that love, even though I never met her, I heard from her family how much she was encouraged by me and loved all my work, it's just very encouraging for me to continue on the path that I'm on and to be never unwavering in my beliefs."
