What was supposed to be a day of celebration quickly turned to tragedy on Monday morning, after a mass shooting at the Highland Park Independence Day parade left six dead and over two dozen injured. This tragedy is yet another unfortunate example of rampant gun violence in America. Highland Park marks the 78th mass shooting in America in the last ten years.
The Chicago White Sox released a statement and canceled their postgame firework show out of respect for the victims. They also held a moment of silence before the game.
You can read the team’s complete statement below:
“Our hearts are with the Highland Park community. The entire Chicago White Sox organization expresses our deepest sympathies to the families and friends of the innocent victims of today’s horrific shooting and all of those who have been affected by this tragedy. After consulting with Major League Baseball, tonight’s scheduled game against Minnesota will take place at 7:10 p.m. However, the postgame fireworks celebration is canceled. A moment of silence will be held before the start of tonight’s game.”
Hendriks Calls For More Gun Control
Liam Hendriks, who was reinstated from the 10-day IL on Monday, addressed the shooting with the media. Behind him was a shirt hanging on his locker that read “Stars & Stripes & Reproductive Rights.”
“I had to take a driving test when I [came] over [to America]. I won’t have to take a test if I want to get a gun. That’s stupid. Whoever thought that was a great idea is an idiot.” – Liam Hendriks pic.twitter.com/iErEJWfPzg
— White Sox Talk (@NBCSWhiteSox) July 4, 2022
“Something needs to change,” Hendriks told reporters. “Something needs to be done, something needs to happen because there’s way too many people losing their lives.
“It’s not only about the people that lose their lives. The families of that, the tragedy they go through, the entire community when people are concerned about leaving the house, concerned about doing the day-to-day things of going to work or any number of these things.”
Hendriks has never been afraid to speak his mind and did not hold back on his thoughts on America’s gun laws.
“That’s what America is known for,” Hendriks said. “There’s a lot of things that are good over here, but you look at the negatives, and it’s just the complete…I can walk into a store as a non-American and buy a handgun in certain states. That baffles me. I had to take a driving test when I was over here.”
“I won’t have to take a test if I want to get a gun. That’s stupid. Whoever thought that was a great idea is an idiot.”
Hendriks added, “We really need to reflect on what’s going on.”
Hendriks is Australia, a country with a history of gun laws. After the Port Arthur massacre in 1996, the Australian government responded swiftly with strict gun laws. There has not been a mass shooting in Australia since.
“Too many people are dying, and it’s no excuse to be on this side or that side,” he said. “That’s no excuse. At some point, things need to get done.
“It’s getting to the point where civilization as you know it may be ending because there’s two drastically different sides.
“Something needs to change, something needs to happen, and it needs to happen quick.”
Ozzie Guillen Fights Back Tears
Hendriks wasn’t the only one with a strong reaction to the shooting. Former White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen shared an emotional response on the NBC SPORTS Chicago White Sox pregame show.
An emotional Ozzie Guillen addressed today's deadly mass shooting in Highland Park 🖤 pic.twitter.com/4JArJ6AN5O
— White Sox Talk (@NBCSWhiteSox) July 4, 2022
“It’s kind of sad, because when you pick a town, a country like we pick and these things happen and the last thing you want to think about is the game tonight. Very big game. Very big game.
“And it’s such a sad day, happening again and again. It’s a super important game today in Chicago. But that’s the last thing had to be in our mind because our heart breaks for the community of Highland Park. For us here in Illinois. This is our home. And just a very sad day.
“I feel sad for the families and everyone affected by this. And I’m proud to make my life in America and especially here in Chicago, Illinois — the home of my family, my kids, my grandkids.
“But days like this, it’s very, very hard to forget because I see this thing happening again and again and again. And to be a grandpa now, you’ve think like, where are we going to?
“Okay, let’s play the game and enjoy it. But that’s the second thought we’re going to have in our mind on a day like today.”
"Safety and education are the best things you can give your kids, and I think right now, we're a little behind." – Ozzie Guillen pic.twitter.com/gl7b6kMM9u
— White Sox Talk (@NBCSWhiteSox) July 4, 2022
