DAVE ROSS

After another mass shooting, will the status quo survive?

Feb 19, 2018, 7:06 AM | Updated: 7:07 am

shooting, ar-15...

Alessandra Mondolfi holds a sign against AR-15 weapons as she yells, "No More" during a protest against guns on the steps of the Broward County Federal courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

(AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

The students and teachers who packed that rally in Parkland, Florida over the weekend weren’t just sad, they were angry.

But where should they direct that anger?

  • At the family who took in Nikolas Cruz, hoping to help him. But who let him keep his guns?
  • The gun dealer who sold him the AR-15 legally a year ago – having no idea it would be used in a massacre?
  • The FBI for failing to follow up on a tip that Nikolas Cruz owned guns, and was acting erratically?

Or do you get angry at the status quo which allows anybody who’s old enough and can pass a cursory background check to buy a military weapon. Technically, of course, it’s only military “style” weapon. But that’s starting to feel like a meaningless distinction lately.

I think that gun owners who like the status quo are going to find themselves confronted more and more by people who have experienced the status quo-first hand — like those students in Parkland who saw more hostile gunfire in those five minutes than most soldiers see in their careers.

I occurs to me – in a few weeks we may soon have ICE agents going door-to-door in the name of public safety, deporting unarmed DACA residents, with no criminal records.

Perhaps their time would be better spent helping the FBI check out some of those tips.

Dave's Commentary

Dave Ross on KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM
  • listen to dave rossTune in to KIRO Newsradio weekdays at 5am for Dave Ross on Seattle's Morning News.

Dave Ross

drivers data insurance...

Dave Ross

Ross: As cars release driving data to insurance, is your driving my business?

Every move you make, every swerve you take, every lane change you fake – someone’s watching you. Do drivers have a right to keep driving data private?

12 hours ago

rent control...

Dave Ross

Ross: Rent control was never the answer in Wash.

The rent control bill died in the Washington State Legislature this week, even though Democrats control both houses.

21 days ago

end of democracy...

Dave Ross

Ross: Conservative activist earns applause for pledging an ‘end of Democracy’

The theme from Jack Posobiec's speech is that Jan. 6 was a righteous attack not on democracy, but on those who threaten democracy.

21 days ago

Image: Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colorado, is seen on Capitol Hill on Jan. 6, 2023. (Photo: Alex Brand...

Dave Ross

Ross: Voters can help cull bad politicians from the herd early

Let's remember that just about every occupant of a higher office once occupied a lower office, and was put there by us, Dave Ross says.

28 days ago

Super Bowl celebration...

Dave Ross

Ross: The NFL does it again

The NFL once again put on a show that was able to keep me tuned in for four hours even though I had no stake in either team.

1 month ago

social media...

Dave Ross

Ross: Is the Wild West of social media over after Senate hearing?

The original social media business model was genius -- get ordinary people to create content for free, sell ads and give the content creators a cut.

2 months ago

After another mass shooting, will the status quo survive?