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In the past seven days there have been seven mass shootings in the U.S., the last two in Georgia and Colorado. I’m not going to rant and rave as I usually do, because frankly, I just don’t have it in me right now. As President Obama said in his statement addressing the latest massacre in Boulder, Colorado:
A once-in-a-century pandemic cannot be the only thing that slows mass shootings in this country. We shouldn’t have to choose between one type of tragedy and another. It’s time for leaders everywhere to listen to the American people when they say enough is enough—because this is a normal we can no longer afford.
Thoughts and prayers are not enough.
By Hook Or By Book 
Thank you for remembering the victims…innocent people who were murdered in a society that can’t control itself
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I’d say we can’t keep going on like this John, but apparently we can.😔
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But as any American gun owner wil tell you.
“I need my gun, and have a right to own it”.
More guns than people. The ongoing shame of a supposedly ‘civilised’ country that is actually (and undoubtedly) one of the most uncivilised on this planet.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I believe in responsible gun ownership Pete, but Republicans and the NRA have this Wild West mentality where anything goes.
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Trouble is, those shooters were all once ‘responsible gun owners’. Sadly, it is an American affliction, dear KIm. You are going to have to accpet the shootings, however bad they are.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I have to respectfully disagree with you there my friend. Most mass shooters were never responsible gun owners.
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But they presumably qualified as such to be allowed to buy the guns in the first place? Either the checks are flawed, or there are no real checks. I don’t think I am ever going to be able to find common ground with anyone in America over this issue, as the obsession with owning guns seems to be completely rooted in the American psyche, Kim. I doubt anyone in the UK will ever understand that.
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Background checks such as they are are definitely flawed Pete. It also doesn’t have to be all or nothing. For what it’s worth, take a look at Annie’s comment. She makes some excellent points.
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Until we address mental illness its not going to go away. Its not the guns, its the people who have the guns and are mentally ill .
Trying to take guns away isn’t going to do anything .
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I think it’s a combination Susan. Most mentally ill people don’t commit violence. They tend to be victims of violence. I’m afraid just blaming this on mentally ill people will result in scapegoating. As I said to Pete, I’m for responsible gun ownership, but this “anything goes” mentality needs to stop. I don’t think expanded background checks are too much to ask for, and I don’t think the average citizen needs to have assault weapons.
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No but most of the mass shootings were done by mentally ill no?
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You know, that’s a loaded (no pun intended) question. Wouldn’t you say that anyone capable of taking multiple lives indiscriminately, having something mentally wrong with them?
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Of course but you can’t say its a republican thing…..the dude in Colorado hated President Trump. He obviously wasn’t a republican…
You said…….
“but Republicans and the NRA have this Wild West mentality where anything goes”
The law says its our second amendment right to bear arms. No president who wanted to have that changed has gotten it done. Its not going to change now………
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What I blame the NRA and the majority of Republicans for is not being willing to compromise. I have a gun permit, but I don’t believe I should be able to use it in purchasing a cache of AR-15s.
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I normally wouldn’t link-drop in someone’s comments, but I just did a post yesterday about violence, and despite the stereotypes, people with mental illness are less likely to commit gun violence than the national average. https://mentalhealthathome.org/2021/03/23/psychotic-does-not-mean-violent/
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Thanks for the link Ashley.
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When people blame mental illness for mass shootings, are they looking at what happens in other parts of the world? How many mass shootings happen in the UK, France and Germany? How many happen in Canada, Australia or Japan? I find it to be a copout argument to say mental illness is to blame. Yes, there could (and should) be many improvements to how mental health is handled, but there can also be huge improvements to how guns are accessed. The six countries I mentioned all take different approaches to gun control, and none of them have the issue with mass shootings that the US has. For that matter, they all have much lower overall homicide rates.
May I reblog this on the Coalition page?
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Good points. And yes you can reblog this. Thanks!
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My heart breaks. Obama said it so well.
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He did.
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This is horrible! 😱 how could people have it in them to kill an innocent!?
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Kim, the time is now. But, the problem is greater than the mass shootings. By far, most gun deaths are suicide. This is the reason for Nan’s comment on choice of weapon. Also, homes that have a handgun have a much higher propensity for suicide than those without. All it takes is one impulsive act and it is over, a child, spouse or self is lost. Gun owners agree by significant majority on several changes, so we should start there. Doing nothing is not working. Not acknowledging we have a problem is not working. This slippery slope BS is just that. Thoughts and prayers are shallow. WE must do something, especially with the NRA so weakened by the embezzlement scandal that led to Wayne LaPierre’s termination. We need legislators to act like parents and spouses and less like lobby-funded drones. Keith
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I especially like your last sentence Keith.
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Thanks Kim.
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I am always angry and sad seeing these shootings but this time it felt even more shocking as I recognized the place when we visited Colorado three years ago.
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Boulder is a lovely city Sophie.
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I read somewhere this morning the Boulder shooter was born three days before the Columbine mass shooting. Twenty-two years and nothing has changed except for the more than 1,000 innocent people who are no longer here, victims of mass shooters. We all have blood on our hands for not pulling together and demanding change.
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Wow! That’s ironic.
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So sad, and yes, no more thoughts and prayers!
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God helps those who help themselves.
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I have nothing to add to all these comments. Something needs to be done, but I do not know what that is. How do you determine who is a responsible gun owner? I mean that sincerely. There are too many innocent people being killed, and it is just so sad.
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I think a good start would be expanding background checks and a total ban of assault weapons. I grew up going target shooting with my dad, and had a wonderful time.
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I definitely agree, no one needs assault rifles in their homes.
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Yes, things are crazy, but this nation has been educated to think in terms of black or white, and that leaves out empathy, and it leaves out the ability to see nuances. Our toolbox has gotten covered over with cobwebs, and no one is used to Critical Thinking, which is our best tool, I think, along with empathy, of course, to solve the set of problems that got us into this situation.
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Well said Shira.
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Thank you, Kim.
I hope it is helpful.
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I’ll be sharing this post shortly.
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Thanks Shira.
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Thank YOU, Kim, for writing the article about a topic that needs to be addressed in the short-term (as in, NOW) if we are to have a long-term…
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This post was devastating enough already and then I saw the teddy bear on the grave in the last image. 😦
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Yeah. That got to me as well.
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Well done, Kim. I was going to chime in to address some of the thoughts, but talking to a wall will yield better results.
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Forgive me if I missed a comment making these points.
We know an assault weapons ban works because we had one for years: gun violence dropped considerably, and rose when the legislation expired.
We also know a majority of Americans, including gun owners, support background checks and a ban on assault weapons. If we had no filibuster, there would be gun legislation. Although President Biden said this is not a partisan issue, it is in the Senate. Manchin told the Sandy Hook parents at that time that he would support gun legislation. He needs to make good on his words.
The gun lobby has misinterpreted the Constitution for years. The founders’ call for a well-regulated militia was never intended to be a free-for-all. Even conservative Justice Scalia said there could be limits on guns.
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These are all GREAT points Annie!
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Reblogged this on The Novel: UnHoly Pursuit: Devil on my Trail and commented:
In case everyone hasn’t heard, there’s been another mass shooting in Colorado. The second one in less than a week.
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I’m sad and mad about all the shooting of innocent people. The leaders must do something.
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But will they?🤔
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Exactly, almost all the political leaders have their own agenda! 😦
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Kim have you seen that the court of appeals says there is no provision in the 2nd that makes open carry a necessity? chuq
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I did read that out of Hawaii. Looks like it’s going to be a fight in the Supreme Court.
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Reblogged this on Coalition of the Brave and commented:
A compelling, heart-breaking post.
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Thank you for sharing this.
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I’ve been trying to post on your blog, but I keep getting a message saying “invalid security token.”
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I just saw where a ‘man’ in body armor and with a cache of guns and ammo was stopped before he could enter a grocery store in Atlanta. I thought we would see safer gun laws after Sandy Hook. Boy, was I wrong!
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