Every day in America, people die from gun shots. The most recent example is the mass shooting in Isla Vista, California. A young man with psychological problems was able to purchase three handguns and hundreds of rounds of ammunition which he then used to murder other young adults. The interviews with one of the victim's fathers, Richard Martinez, are gut-wrenching.
But, now, let's be honest. How many of us remember the names of the parents of the much younger victims at the Sandy Hook school? The teacher's name? Principal? Or even what state? As a society we have become inured to mass shootings. Almost as rapidly as they happen, they become old news and are lost from the collective consciousness. And we tolerate the NRA telling us that guns don't kill people. We are all right with automobiles being more regulated than guns. We pay homage to the misinterpreted second ammendment. Georgia passes a law that permits guns in airports. Why? Well, you want to have a gun when the next mass shooting happens in your presence. Martinez asks if we learned nothing from previous shootings. He calls them insanity.
Congress is incapable of agreeing on the most mundane legislation. We should not be surprised that our political leaders are incapable of agreeing on gun safety measures. I am not being partisan here - there is enough blame to go around. And Martinez nails it. For his son's death he blames "craven irresponsible politicians and the NRA." For inaction in the face of am epidemic of mass murder in this country he blames the "gutless bastards" we the people elect to do ... nothing.
In the end, this too will move to the fringes of public memory. Our citizenry and our leaders will continue to defend the "God given right" of every man, woman and child to possess multiple military-grade firearms. More mass shootings will happen. More children will die. And Richard Martinez's son's death will pass into history as just one more part of the price Americans are willing to pay for their guns.
The Martinez interviews are documented at the following web sites.
DailyKos May 25
DailyKos May 26
DailyMail
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cl5GpfXrgIo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cl5GpfXrgIo