The date is February 15. Another school shooting, this time in Florida. Seventeen people dead.
Sorry, I can't say I'm sorry.
Correction: I am sorry. I'm horrified and saddened and shocked. As the news broke and as the events were unfolded in the evening news and morning shows, I found myself weeping more than once. I prayed. For the families and school district; indeed, for the community and nation as a whole, I am so sorry.
But according to many pundits and politicians, as well as quite a few on social media, they don't want my sympathy. "I am so fed up with 'thoughts and prayers'," is the common sentiment. In the wake of previous tragedies, some lawmakers have even walked out of the customary "moment of silence" in protest. And as I expressed my condolences on Facebook (under my civilian identity), some of my contacts thrashed me for offering words of comfort instead of writing angry letters to my congressman. A common meme purports to show the cycle in this country of "shooting--thoughts and prayers--calm--forgetfulness--shooting."
So, no, I'm not going to give public voice to my "thoughts and prayers." Instead, it's time to do what my liberal friends and left leaning commentators demand every time there is a terrible mass shooting in our country: have a conversation, once and for all, about gun violence in America. Since conservatives are fond of saying "now is not the time to fight about gun control,"--because, as we all know, people in crisis don't need hugs, they need hard-hitting partisan debate--I'm going to jump in the fray. To heck with "weeping with those who weep." It's time for a no-holds barred debate on gun violence. Bring it.
Except. . .when liberal pundits talk about a "conversation" or "debate" on gun violence, they usually are thinking of one thing: ban guns. To them, that is the only acceptable outcome of any conversation or legislation. The very thought that that is a somewhat naïve position or that there may be other ways of dealing with the issue either escapes their notice or is mentally repugnant to them. They want to open the gun debate, but they only want one solution: a solution that will alienate a great segment of our population and possibly raise Constitutional questions. "Let's discuss this, as long as you agree with me in the end," is sort of a lop-sided debate, in my humble opinion.
But by all means, let's do this. Yes, let's be serious about gun violence. Let's work on real solutions instead of spewing angry demands that the country acquiesce to our own social agenda. The real cycle in this country is "shooting--angry demands for liberal change--calm--forgetfulness--shooting."
And it's a cycle that needs to stop.
