Barkley: Burress an 'idiot'

In an interview on WIP with

earlier this week,

called

an "idiot" but said he's carried a gun himself the last 20 years.

"First of all I think he’s an idiot for carrying a gun in a nightclub," Barkley said. "...Clearly it’s dumb to carry a gun in a night club but he could have killed himself or a stranger and then clearly his life would have been over or he would have been in jail for a long time. They probably would have sued him for all his money."

Barkley then said that he's had a gun for the last 20 years, but he wanted to make it clear that he was in no way defending Burress.

"I think anybody who carries a gun on their body is an idiot but I got no problem carrying a gun in my vehicle at all times and I’m going to continue to do it. But anybody who goes in a nightclub with a gun, they are an idiot, plain and simple."

Why does Barkley carry a gun? He cited recent NBA players getting robbed, and also Giants wide receiver

, who was robbed at gunpoint just days before the Burress incident. He said athletes who have a lot of money, jewelery and nice cars have to be careful. Barkley said carrying a gun has never gotten him into trouble over the years.

"All the times I’ve gotten in fights and arguments and disagreements with fans, my gun never has come in to play but I feel safer when it’s beside me," he said.

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