NBC's Bob Costas advocated gun control on "Sunday Night Football" last night in a commentary on the murder-suicide of Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher. The Associated Press says the comments caused an immediate debate on social media. Quoting Fox Sports columnist Jason Whitlock, Costas said, "If Jovan Belcher didn't possess a gun, he and Kasandra Perkins would both be alive today."

Belcher shot and killed Perkins, the mother of his 3-month-old daughter, on Saturday morning, then drove to Kansas City's Arrowhead Stadium and committed suicide in the parking lot of the team's practice facility. Online, many people criticized Costas for expressing his personal views on a program meant for entertainment. Several said Costas did not appreciate the value of guns in self-defense.