Bill Cosby: Trayvon Martin Case About Guns, Not Race

Comedian Bill Cosby promotes new book 'I Didn't Ask To Be Born: But I'm Glad I Was' at the Barnes & Noble, 5th Avenue on November 2, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON — Actor and comedian Bill Cosby says the debate over the killing of Trayvon Martin by a neighborhood watch volunteer should be focused on guns, not race.

In an interview on CNN's "State of the Union" aired Sunday, Cosby said calling George Zimmerman a racist doesn't solve anything. Cosby says the bigger question is what Zimmerman was doing with a gun, and who taught him how to behave with it.

The shooting of the 17-year-old Martin on Feb. 26 has ignited a nationwide debate about race and self-defense.

Cosby said during the interview, which was taped Thursday afternoon, that he once owned a gun but no longer does. He says there is a need to get guns off the streets, and that people should be taught to use every possible alternative before shooting someone.

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Comments

[ChuinkyStar]

01:23 PM on 06/03/2012

I'm late on this whole subject, but I understand where Cosby is coming from. People make it sound like he disregards the fact that race has something to do with it, however, I believe that he acknowledges that race plays a part, but how can that subjective assumption be turned into fact and be dealt with accordingly?

The question of whether or not it was a racist crime is debatable, but the fact is that Zimmerman was in possession of a gun and that is unquestionable and therefore more likely to be solved.

[freerangevoter]

10:08 PM on 05/26/2012

I respect most of what Bill Cosby says, but I think it is safe to say that Bill has security guards and that they are armed. What right does he have to say that thise that cannot afford security must remain defensless as this country becomes unhinged?

[sandbag1300]

02:48 PM on 04/30/2012

Bill, we need to open a debate on whether our justice system values a life differently based on the race of an individual.

The perception, I believe, is that the US Justice system values the life of a black person differently than a person of another race. We should find out if the perception is backed up by fact. And, if the perception is backed up by fact we should change our justice system so that the value of a life is treated equally regardless of race. If the perception is not backed up by fact, we should let the facts be known in order to change the perception.

[Ed Forney]

08:31 AM on 04/23/2012

"people should be taught to use every possible alternative before shooting someone". Getting your brains bashed againts the pavement (if this should turn out to be truely the case), is reason enough for me, regardless of what transpired previously. I'm assuming that Zimmerman had a carry permit for the gun, but I don't recall reading anything about that yet. Lots of yet to be told facts.

[marc43]

04:49 PM on 04/21/2012

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/documents/crime/bill-cosbys-prior-bad-acts

No wonder he wants stronger gun laws. He's otherwise liable to get shot in the sweat-pants one of these rapes- I mean days... :)

[The Chimera]

01:14 AM on 04/23/2012

I realize this article is a little outdated. But do you realize that Bill Cosby's son Ennis was shot and killed while changing a tire on an LA freeway? The man might have a little unfortunate inside knowledge about too many guns in the wrong hands leading to the untimely deaths of innocent people.

[Alan Holley]

08:47 AM on 04/21/2012

I get it, use a gun, go to jail! If your name is OJ and you use a knife and have an all black jury and you get off!

[professordaley4]

10:17 AM on 04/21/2012

Do you know any white person who used a gun or knife and got off, or should Zimmerman be the first?

[Mike02]

08:55 PM on 04/20/2012

Seems to me without that gun, George would might be dead or seriously injured.

[zero republic]

05:35 AM on 04/21/2012

You should use those psychic powers of yours as evidence in court.

[ercolman]

10:49 AM on 04/20/2012

I've always enjoyed Bill Cosby. I think he is the first colored person I saw on TV back in the '50's. However, I'll never give up my guns. I'll defend my family if and when necessary.

[adamnshame]

02:23 AM on 04/20/2012

So since Trayvon was not an "angel", he deserved what he got?? Is that what your telling me? If that's the case then 99% of this nations population is past due to be killed.

[BrandonCox]

10:21 PM on 05/02/2012

Not 99% but about 40-50% sounds right.

[bikeamtn]

09:44 PM on 04/19/2012

George Zimmerman will stand trial (in the alleged homicide of Trayvon Martin) . You must understand that in light of the ‘OJ’, Amanda Knox, Casey Anthony trails and the like, local police, prosecutor and judges walk a fine line to get it right. Local police have the option to pass on up to a higher jurisdiction a case displaying high profile public interest as they may lack the necessary resources. I had no doubt that that case would go to trial, as it is not a mater of ‘self defense’. Defending what? a 17yr old walking home from the local store after buying candy – is that life threatening? Gated community policy, should be held liable.

[levicousa]

07:40 PM on 04/18/2012

Cos is right. Clearly, the focus should be on the 'stand your ground ' law and questions about Zimmerman carrying a gun...but.. sometimes Cos sounds brain dead. (smile)

[PistolaBandera]

12:20 PM on 04/18/2012

My research as a violence policy advocate tells us that the Constitution is a Living Document that can be changed daily to reflect the readers view and the Second Amendment is an outdated concept because the police and military protect everyone at all times. The glorious victories in the Heller and McDonald cases are a practical defeat for the NRA Insurrectionist Extremist Gunophile Fetishists. Their legendary scare tactics of gun bans are “off the table” and Assault Weapon bans are now constitutional since Slippery Slopes have never applied to guns because guns are bad and therefore different and their Common Sense restrictions could never be applied to other rights like Freedom of Speech or Abortion. Background Check Loopholes should be improved to include the Make and Model of the trunk of the car that the illegal gun was sold from since this would help to prove that there was no background check performed at the time of the back alley sale. Trace statistics of stolen guns should also be updated to include the number of times a gun was stolen or sold illegally on the black market so the original owners insurance can pay for the lost fees and fines created when others misused the gun. Let’s not forget about Laughner Style Assault Clips. It’s important to note that none of what I write is personal conjecture but instead comes from the study of statistics, polls, and opinion found here as well as other sites on the Internet.

[imsadriver]

05:16 PM on 04/17/2012

Sorry, I went over the word limit and erased some thing I wanted to be clear about. Cars kill people too, but we don't take them off the streets. And the driver training in the US is about the worst you can find.....about as bad as firearms training. They give out guns to anyone with little to no training. I don't have the stats on how many people who carry a gun with a permit kill people, but I would bet it's small. But certainly, like Mr. Cosby said it needs to be known that it's the last resort, and that would come with mandatory training from pros. I didn't let my kids get their driver's license till they pasted racing school. Not to race, but to learn car control. They give any 15 or 16 year old a license to drive a deadly weapon with little more training than teaching them to parallel park. And there are more people with cars than guns!

[JollyBully]

01:32 AM on 04/18/2012

why is it always car, beer, sex all legal. so with this lets, give condoms, 9mms, driver license to every 16 years old, let them get drunk, race and if the crash does kill them, lets have a shoot out. Sounds dumb, however it is true. So maybe we ban it all.......no lets....blame it on race.................yes!

[kjoq]

09:54 AM on 04/19/2012

But the primary function of a car is not to kill or wound. The primary function of a gun is.

[imsadriver]

04:50 PM on 04/19/2012

So what? I have used my guns (as most people do) for target practice. And people have used cars as weapons....Now, I have carried for protection no doubt. But I don't like being on the wrong end of a gun with no legal right to have one to protect myself. kjoq, you probably have never looked down the wrong end....I have. I also have never drawn a gun on anyone nor would I want to.

[silibalt]

05:09 PM on 04/17/2012

Man kills with his mind. His hands and his weapons are an extension of his will. The fallacy of our era is that equipment is the equivalent of force. To blame the gun is to blame the car when a drunk hits you in a cross walk. A machine can only do what a person puts it into motion for. If you hit someone with a garden shovel and they die does that make the shovel a murderous weapon? I know plenty of martial arts types who could kill you with the latest issue of cat fancy does that make a rolled up magazine a deadly weapon as well? Because then you might as well outlaw alcoholic beverages, fat foods, and any sharp object a person could get their hands on.

[zero republic]

05:39 AM on 04/21/2012

The difference is that it takes some skills, time, and force to use other weapons. It takes almost none to point a gun at someone and pull the trigger with your finger. The problem though is kids getting a hold of their dads guns and using them at school. Parents should be executed for allowing this to happen.

[imsadriver]

05:06 PM on 04/17/2012

I agree with Mr. Cosby's feelings that this is not about race....it's about guns. I think it's wrong to fan the flames of racism over this. Black people shoot white people and white people shoot black people. Asian people shoot people too. It's nothing to do with this. Like Mr. Cosby said...people need to be taught ever possible alternative to shooting (assuming the weapon carried is legal). I have posted over and over on this blog that I have over many years carried a handgun with a permit. I have owned guns since I was 10 and have been shooting since I was 8. I'm 57 and I've never shot nor want to shot anyone ever. Let the court decide, and leave race out of this. there are more people with cars than guns) as firearms training requirements. Let's toss the racial thing out and be adult about it. When I heard the story at first, I didn't know what race either man was and thought the same thing I think now.....Zimmerman went looking for trouble,and the result was a young man lost his life, but that's for the court to decide.

[ACSial]

06:28 PM on 04/17/2012

I still can't take Bill Cosby, Oprah Winfrey, Michale Bloomberg, or any other anti-gun celebrity, or politician seriously, when they avail themselves of armed security and bodyguards. Mr Cosby and all of these other rich folk should fire their security staff and bodyguards, and try living nice, unprotected lives, like the mere plebs they preach to.

And people should quit A. lionizing Trayvon Martin, and B. start taking a critical look at the urban 'gangsta' culture peddled by the media. Martin had no good reason to carry drugs, steal jewelry, and assault a bus driver. And parents should not allow their children to be sucked into the wretched lifestyles of criminals like Snoop Dogg and 50 Cent--people who really should be blacklisted as artists.

[imsadriver]

09:20 PM on 04/17/2012

I agree with what you said. And the "gangsta" culture is peddled by the record companies and the artists (sic) if you want to call them that. And you are correct....they don't carry guns anymore...they have "people" for that.

[JPALA]

12:54 PM on 04/18/2012

So it is finally comeing out that trayvon martin is not the sweet child his family say he is