The Second Most Frustrating Thing About the Shooting Story

[WooWooWoo]

is that we all know, deep down, nothing is going to change.

There isn't going to be a big push for gun control. There aren't going to be any new laws written. And most certainly the outright repeal of the 2nd Amendment isn't going to occur.

By this time next week we'll be back talking about the debt ceiling, and then after that, immigration reform, and then after that the Supreme Court will possibly legalize gay marriage, and then after that the mid-term elections, and then after that the great question of Hillary in 2016 will linger in the air for a year or so until she decides one way or the other.

Republicans will never budge on the gun issue. Democrats will talk softly about it and do nothing, because it's just not a winning political issue.

And all the while there will be more mass shootings, and the same people will say the same things and both sides will blame one another and absolutely nothing will change. And we'll keep on rolling through these cycles where something happens, people get outraged, then the outrage fades and we're focused on something else until the next time.

Now, THE most frustrating thing about the shooting story, the thing that makes people really uncomfortable, is that there is no good answer to this issue of gun violence. There's no practical solution. Nothing that will realistically occur to stop these type of events.

And I believe deep down everyone knows this.

That's why everyone is so angry. That's why I'm angry.

[no_hypocrisy]

1. I agree.

Your post reminds me of the last scene in Robert Alman's Nashville (1975). The Queen of Country Music, wearing white, has just been assassinated by a lone gunman in the midst of a crowd of fan while she was performing. The crowd is stunned, shocked, scared, outraged when it happens. Chaos reigns. A few minutes later, a nobody with a dream comes to the stage, picks up the dropped microphone and starts to sing. And sing what song? It Don't Worry Me. And it is infectious. The crowd hesistantly at first starts to sing along. Pretty soon, they're feeling pretty good, lustily singing and clapping their hands, smiling, the shooting all but forgotten. Just five minutes from tragedy to good times!

That's what will happen again here.

[Hoyt]

2. I think we need to change perception of guns. Until cigarettes were deemed "bad," majority smoked.

Until those who buy guns; practice on targets that resemble people; support NRA and other right wing groups; manufacturer, profit, and market guns that appeal to folks' baser instincts; and worse, are viewed like polluters, bigots, greedy banksters, republicans, etc., -- you are right, nothing will happen.

[October]

6. That is very true.

My children have grown up in a "smoke-free" environment, whereas I, as a child, was taught to deal with it (smoke).

[RegieRocker]

3. I am angry

because we don't want to address the real problem. The ails of our society. What causes a young man to want to kill children? That is what pissed me off secondly and along with using a horrible crime to further an agenda. There is something seriously wrong and we see it in the news everyday. Murders, road rage and the rudeness showed on black Friday to name a few. To me it makes no difference if its one child or twenty. It should be no child. It should be no one.

[slackmaster]

4. I understand your anger. I'm angry right now too, but I believe there are some incremental answers.

Measures that can improve access to mental health care, encourage the safe, secure storage of firearms, etc. There will never be a perfect solution that ensures nobody will ever again become a victim of violent crime, but that doesn't mean that nothing can be done about it.

[Hoyt]

7. "Incremental answers" = protecting gun cultists' cherished access to guns.

[slackmaster]

8. Hoyt, I think you are making the perfect the enemy of the good here.

I and most "white hat" gun owners are willing to cede some ground, but we're not going to give up the whole ranch.

[randome]

9. And those with guns react badly to being badmouthed and feeling they are forced.

Good point, slackmaster.

(Not that I'm saying YOU are reacting in any such way, just that the way to change is not found by denigrating people.)

[slackmaster]

10. Thank you, randome. This is a very emotional situation. People are rightly upset.

I think it's important that we all make an extra effort to be respectful of each other.

[Hoyt]

13. Little too late and not enough, Slackmaster.

You guys are just trying to preserve your access to guns. Like you say, I suspect you will do anything to preserve that access.

Enjoy your guns today.

[slackmaster]

14. The problem with insisting on getting everything is that usually you end up getting nothing

Don't say you weren't warned.

[Hoyt]

15. That's what you guys are hoping for, I am sure.

[bettyellen]

11. or, it's progress

[99Forever]

5. One thing is for damn sure.

If we do nothing, nothing will change.

So do something:


http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021981595

Join me in my pledge and let every candidate know you have.

Ya gotta start somewhere.

[Odin2005]

12. I'm opposed to total gun bans, but even simple, common-sense legislation...

...to even control the sale of firearms brings out the crazies. That's why we lost Congress in 1994.

This country is fucked up. *SIGH*

[Libertas1776]

16. Sadly...

i have to agree. It seems the only time anything major ever changes, either it be public opinion or legislative action, it's usually for the worse and not the better. Just look at the post 9/11 hysteria and the Patriot Act. We never channel our national anger for good things, like real gun control and major reform. We do the opposite. We take the reactionary stance. More guns! will prob be the answer for some. Leave things as they are, will the answer for most. We can't seem to foster any change for the good these days. If the slaughter of little children doesn't wake Americans up, then nothing will