Breaking America’s fetish for lethal weapons
gun control
The March for Our Lives activists are avoiding some of the patterns that have paralyzed previous efforts.
An assault weapons ban wouldn't end violence or hate—but it would reduce the body count.
It’s damnable that any reflection on American gun violence is quickly out of date. I was in Texas when the October 1 shooting occurred in Roseburg, Oregon, leaving 10 dead including the gunman. I was revising an article provoked by that shooting when 14 were shot dead December 2 in San Bernardino, California. Now there are two statistics I can’t get out of my mind: first, mass shootings (resulting in four or more deaths) occur at a rate of more than one a day in the United States. Second, more American gun deaths have occurred since 1970 than American war deaths since 1775. This is insane. What’s wrong?
President Obama is furious that legislators lack the will to address gun violence. But there are steps he could take without them.
On the radio last week, I heard a police officer being interviewed about the shootings in his town of Roseberg, Oregon. He said something like, “We’re just in shock. Things like this always happen somewhere else, not in a town like ours.” I was surprised to hear this. I take it for granted that, someday, a public shooting is going to happen in a town, school, or church near me, maybe at a time when I happen to be there.
Deadly illusion
Philosopher Firmin DaBrabander has written a judicious exposition of the crisis of guns in our society. He pays particular attention to the ideology, claims, and consequences of the NRA.
In the wake of the shootings in Las Vegas—in which bystander Joseph Robert Wilcox tried to take a shooter out and instead was himself shot and killed—Adam Weinstein offers a very thoughtful take on the notion of being a "good guy with a gun." A veteran and a gun owner, Weinstein describes himself as "one of those wannabe heroes"—but also details his growing doubts.
Three people died in the attack on the Boston Marathon. That same day, 11 Americans were murdered by guns.
After the Senate refused to take up several gun-control proposals Wednesday, I checked in with faith-based activists on the legislative process. (See my earlier Century article.) Many expressed frustration but also tentative hope for future prospects. "I'm deeply disappointed and very angry at the vise grip the NRA has on this issue," says Katherine Willis Pershey of the #ItIsEnough campaign. Many activists weren't thrilled with the legislation to begin with.
Sometimes when a vote doesn't go the way you want, you just have to sigh and remind yourself that this is how democracy works. Other times you have to wish that it actually did work. The overwhelming majority of Americans support background checks for gun buyers. No matter.
Alexander Hamilton’s 1804 death in a duel galvanized popular opposition. We need a similar campaign around gun violence.
A couple of brief follow-ups to both my post on eucharistic witness on gun control and my article in the latest issue of the magazine.