LeBron James Slams Gun Control After UNLV Shooting: 'It's Ridiculous'

L.A. Lakers star LeBron James addressed the University of Nevada-Las Vegas shooting during a news conference at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Wednesday.

The NBA star shared his feelings on gun control and how "ridiculous" it is that nothing has changed.

James, who's in Vegas for Thursday night's in-season tournament semi-finals, addressed the campus shooting, shared his condolences for all involved, and his thoughts on the issue of gun control.

"Yeah, my brother from back home texted me and told me to be safe out here because he heard about a shooting at UNLV. First of all, my condolences go to the families that lost loved ones, families and friends and everything," James said during a press conference ahead of the inaugural in-season tournament semifinals, taking place just a few miles from UNLV.

"It just goes back to what I said before about guns in America. I think it's such a longer conversation, but we're the only ones who keep dealing with this same story, this same conversation every single time it happens, and it just continues to happen."

He continued to talk about the fact that it's "ridiculous" that nothing has changed.

"The ability to get a gun, the ability to do these things over and over and over, and there's been no change is literally ridiculous," he continued. "It makes no sense that we continue to lose innocent lives, on campuses, in schools, at shopping markets, movie theaters, and all types of stuff. It's ridiculous. And the fact that we haven't changed anything, it's actually been a lot easier to actually be able to own a firearm. It's stupid."

According to ESPN, the NBA also released a statement about the UNLV shooting.

"The NBA family is heartbroken by today's senseless shooting at UNLV," the statement reads. "We extend our sincerest condolences to the families and friends of the victims, as well as the entire Las Vegas community."

While there is not currently an NBA franchise in Vegas, there's been plenty of talk about bringing one to the city in the near future. James has even talked about his desire to be an owner of the team.

And while there is not an NBA team calling Vegas home just yet, the city hosts the NBA Summer League and will be home to the inaugural in-season tournament semifinals on Thursday and Finals on Saturday.

This isn't the first time the Lakers star has spoken out about gun control. In 2015 and 2018, James openly discussed his frustration on how nothing is changing.

According to The Messenger, James spoke out in favor of gun control in 2015 after a drive-by shooting in Cleveland took the life of 5-month-old Aavielle Wakefield.

James told reporters in October 2015, "I know what I see. I know how I feel." He continued to explain his stance on the issue of gun control.

"Obviously, you're not going to be able to take every gun out, I don't know how you can do that. There's so many around now, today," he said. "But if there's some stipulations behind it or some penalties, some big-time penalties or rules or regulations about carrying firearms, legal or illegal, people will second-guess themselves."

LeBron James also discussed the same topic in 2018 after a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida that left 17 people dead.

"We have a kid who wasn't legally unable to buy a beer at a bar, but he can go buy an AR-15?" James said in February 2018. "We've seen these schools and these tragedies in America and there's been no change to gun control. I don't have the answer to this. But we have to do something about it."