Note: This entry was written after a mass shooting event at a FedEx Ground facility in Indianapolis, Indiana, on April 15, 2021. Nine people were killed, including the gunman, a nineteen year-old former employee.
by Tom Shafer
April 16, 2021
So, just three weeks ago, I wrote about the “incident” in Boulder, Colorado, noting then that unfortunately, I would have many more opportunities to address the topic of mass shootings.
I didn’t think I would need to do it so soon though.
And actually, I could have composed multiple monologues on the issue during the past month. Since the killing of eight people at three Atlanta-area spas back on March 16th, the Gun Violence Archive has tabulated forty-five mass shootings in America (“the foundation definition being that they – mass shootings – have a minimum of four victims shot, either injured or killed, not including any shooter”).
Forty-five . . . in just one month.
Statistically, a total of 70 people died in those “incidents,” and 186 were injured. But of course, a statistic does not tally the surviving family and friends who will forever have to deal with the ramifications of a mass shooting event. A statistic can’t record the emotional toll a mass shooting event has on the survivors.
And yet, America doesn’t have the will to do anything about this epidemic.
Yes, I said America. Because America en masse elected the politicians who collectively have the ability to solve this problem – or at least have the ability to enact legislation that will TRY to solve this problem.
And before you attempt to argue that bills are pending or that the majority of Americans support some gun control measures, a majority of American politicians really have no interest (at least politically) in passing those bills or measures.
How do I know?
Sandy Hook.
Remember Sandy Hook? The elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut? Twenty-six people killed, six teachers and twenty children aged six or seven?
Twenty children aged six or seven. Twenty children aged six or seven.
Do you remember what happened after that tragedy, all of the legislation passed to TRY to curb our nation’s gun violence?
Nothing.
Not one thing.
So, if we as a country decide that we are going to do nothing to protect children aged six or seven, what makes you think that we are going to do something now?
Michael Smerconish, who is a lawyer, CNN television commentator, and SiriusXM radio host – and former speechwriter for George W. Bush – tweeted this earlier today:
I hate to admit it, but this says it all.
After a mass shooting event, some politicians, mostly Republican, like to pull out the “we don’t have a gun problem, we have a people problem” explanation.
But that doesn’t quite work. Our country doesn’t have the market cornered on “crazy” or “emotionally-disturbed” people. I’m sure that we are no different in that regard than the rest of the world.
But we have cornered the market on guns. On whole, American civilians own 46% of the worldwide total of civilian-held firearms.
And we are just 4.25% of the total worldwide population.
So maybe it’s not a gun problem – or a people problem. But it’s definitely an American problem.
And for that reason, America wears – and has industriously earned – the moniker, “Stupidest Country on the Planet.”
Makes you feel proud, doesn’t it?
