Our nation's leaders have determined that 17 deaths at a Florida High School on Ash Wednesday is an acceptable level of loss for the preservation of the status quo.
Just as they determined inaction was the preferred course in the wake of the murder of 20 6- and 7-year-old children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary.
What’s the point?
The nation’s leaders must find a way to lead in the search for answers on school shootings.
And just as they've accepted a lack of action on even a relatively minor but effective change prohibiting so-called "bump stocks" that allowed such speedy carnage in the Las Vegas concert shooting that left 58 dead.
Oh, we get it: Shootings like the one Wednesday at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., drive people to their political corners. It's all about the availability of guns, one side says. It's not about the gun but the shooter, the other side says.
And ... nothing ... happens. Well, more deaths happen, but that's not the kind of activity that carries political capital these days, apparently.
And, of course, tweets happen, like the ones above from some of our federal and state officials. Sen. Tom Cotton and U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman didn't tweet about Wednesday's awful shooting. Maybe they know tweets aren't enough, or maybe they just don't want to even fake an emotional investment when they know our nation's leaders will, again, do nothing.
We always appreciate people's thoughts and, especially, prayers.
We appreciate people speaking out in unity with a community rocked by this violence.
We will never complain when a leader wants to shower praise on first responders, who deserve far more credit than ever gets heaped on them.
But, Mr. President, congressmen, senators, Mr. Governor, Ms. Attorney General, Mr. Lieutenant Governor, these responses are not enough. Not nearly enough.
We won't waste time today with the statistical data or the political arguments for action. All anyone needs to think about are teenage kids laying on the floor of the school where they went for another routine day of classes. Young people with so much to look forward to, until one guy with murderous intent opened fire with a weapon capable of massive destruction.
Yes, our nation's leaders have failed to make treatment for the mentally ill a funding priority, but if mental illness was the sole problem, wouldn't we see these attacks all over the world?
Yes, our country established a constitutional right to bear arms, but does anyone believe those men of action who founded this country would just send out a tweet and move on if faced with a threat to their families? Does anyone doubt they would recognize the Second Amendment in need of preserving is the one that creates public safety rather than destroys it?
Even recognizing the intensity of the debate over constitutional rights for gun owners and for the mentally ill, can there be anyone let who believes this shouldn't be a top priority for the leaders of our nation, state and local governments?
Thursday morning, the U.S. Senate observed a moment of silence for the victims of the Florida shooting, but when it comes to leadership on this matter, that's pretty much what Americans have heard for years.
"Ideas are great, ideas are wonderful and they help you get re-elected and everything, but what's more important is actual action," said David Hogg, one of the school's students, during an appearance on CNN on Thursday.
"We're children," Hogg said. "You guys are the adults."
Young Americans are pleading for rescue. They're placing hope in grown-up leaders. They don't expect perfection, but they aren't unreasonable to expect effort.
"The violence has to stop. We cannot lose another child in this country to violence in a school," said Florida Gov. Rick Scott.
Surely, this nation can figure out a way that people can be both pro-gun and pro-solution. That's probably sacrilege to some, namely the NRA. But it should be abundantly clear the NRA does not have the best interests of the nation's children at heart.
Some of our leaders get a little frustrated that people keep wanting answers. Get over it. The questions will end when the shootings do. Those who can't handle the responsibility should get out of the way.
Let's not let our leaders run to the predictable political corners anymore. If this nation is as great as we all want to believe, our leaders must find the reasonable middle where the solutions exist.
Commentary on 02/16/2018