The shock of no longer being shocked
Oct 1, 2015, 10:03 PM | Updated: Oct 2, 2015, 7:38 am
President Obama pauses as he speaks in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House on Thursday. (AP)
(AP)
It’s true — what President Obama said after Thursday’s shooting at an Oregon community college.
“The media response is routine. My response here at this podium ends up being routine,” the President said.
He’s right. Reporters ask the same questions.
“Do you intend to bring gun control legislation back up?” asked Nancy Cordes.
“I would love to bring it back up, but I can’t do it until I have the votes,” answered Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.
Related: A brief history of deadly shootings at American universities
Politicians give the same answers because the debate hasn’t changed in all these years. It’s politicians who blame the guns, versus politicians who blame everything but the guns.
We agree it’s a terrible thing, we all send our thoughts and prayers, and we all salute the ordinary people who step up and who become heroes. But I’m ashamed to admit that when I saw the bulletin, I didn’t have the sense of shock I used to have.
Related: Gunman opens fire at Oregon college; at least 9 killed
I felt sadness, but no surprise. Even worse, and I hate admitting this too, I couldn’t feel outrage. Because what’s the point of raging against what always turns out to be some form of craziness.
The only hope of prevention is the friends and family of the person who snaps. They have to connect the dots — the anger, the rants, online postings, the collecting of weapons — and then do something.
Otherwise, all that’s left is to say to ourselves, “Well, at least it doesn’t happen that often.”
Just like we said a few weeks ago, and a few weeks before that, and it’s what we will probably say a few weeks from now.
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