In the tragic wake of Jovan Belcher‘s death, the Kansas City Chiefs organization has not only agreed to pay for Belcher’s funeral arrangements, but to assist the family of Kasandra Perkins as well.
According to TMZ, the Chiefs want to ensure that both families are free of debt in their time of grief:
Sources directly involved with the situation tell us … the Chiefs have made it clear they don’t want either family to be stuck with the massive bills stemming from the funerals or memorial services.
We’re told members of Belcher’s family — which now has custody of the couple’s orphaned newborn baby — graciously accepted the offer … and the team will cover all of the costs of Belcher’s memorial in KC and funeral in NY.
It’s unclear if Perkins’ family has accepted the offer as well.
News of the team assisting the family with the funeral costs comes just a day after the NFL released details of a collective bargaining deal, detailing the $1 million sum going towards Belcher and Perkin’s 3-month-old daughter, Zoey.
Both the KC Chiefs organization and the NFL have been sensitive and understanding since Belcher’s untimely death last week. Sports figures have spoken out since the incident, piggybacking on the gun-control conversation Belcher’s death has sparked.
The Washington Post reports that Charles Barkley has came out in support of gun ownership, but stresses that that individual be responsible.
“I carried a gun in my car, every year of my life since I was 20 — never had to use it,” he said. “I just feel safer with it because we have jocks who get robbed all the time, road rage and things like that. I feel a sense of peace when I have it with me, but it would take extreme circumstances for me to even touch it.”
The Belcher issue, for Barkley, is domestic violence. Belcher shot and killed his fiancee, then headed to Arrowhead Stadium, where he committed suicide.
“I hope people don’t [emphasize] the gun situation. I’m very sensitive to domestic violence because I have a daughter [who is 23 and that’s just one thing that I cannot accept in any shape or form whatsoever. It’s just a crazy situation.
“I don’t get into the gun stuff. Some guys have guns who go hunting. Where do we stop [gun control] at? I’m not a hunter, but we can’t say people can’t have guns. … Let’s not make this thing about guns. Let’s make this about mistreating women. That’s unacceptable.”
With all the hoopla about gun-control, we hope the positivity from the NFL and the KC Chiefs will surpass everyone’s opinion about the situation.
SOURCE: TMZ Washington Post
