The deadliest mass shooting again . . .

What can I say to you who have just suffered such a tragic loss?  I can say "my thoughts are with you."  Or I can add my voice to the those who have sent their "thoughts and prayers."  I could join with those who are saying "enough is enough."  So what?  What good will that do?  "Thoughts and prayers" after Columbine did not prevent the shootings at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, an outdoor concert venue in Las Vegas, Nevada, Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, a movie theater in Colorado, Virginia Tech University, Sandy Hook Elementary School, Mother Emmanuel AME Church,  Umpqua Community College, a movie theater in Louisiana, or a parking lot where United States Representative Gabrielle Giffords met with her constituents.

So here we are, once again, mourning a tragic shooting.  Once again, we are told that now is not the time to talk about enacting reasonable gun control laws.  Once again, we hear that the problem is not too many guns, but not enough guns.  "If only there had been armed security guards . . . "  "If only some of the people inside had guns . . ."  Why is the response that we need to turn public and private places into armed fortresses?  Why is it that we are told we must return to the "wild, wild, West" mentality of everyone carrying a gun and engaging in shootouts? How is encouraging us to go backwards instead of forward either helpful or reasonable?  How does that resolve the problem?  How does that help all who have lost loved ones?

How many times will we hear the the words "the deadliest mass shooting . . ." before we decide that we can respect and honor the Second Amendment right to bear arms and still create reasonable gun control laws?  When will we stop adding to the pain of all who have been touched by such tragedies because once again we failed to act and they relive their own pain while others experience such indescribable pain for the first time?  When will we finally honor those who have died and not continue to let their deaths be in vain?

So what do you care about?

In the 2016 elections,you did not vote is because you did not like either presidential candidate.  You might not vote in the midterm elections this.  Why not?
 
Do you care about the environment?  Does it matter to you that scientists, yes actual scientists, have stated that we will cause irreversible harm to our planet within thirty years if we do not take active measures now to save our planet?  No?  Why not?  You might not be here in thirty years?  You do not care about those who will be here?  You do not care about the planet?
 
Women's rights, particularly the right to choose, are in danger of being eradicated.  Does that matter to you?  No? Why not?  You are not a woman?  You are a woman but you do not care about what happens to other women because it does not affect you?
 
The United States which has long tried to be the defender of democracy throughout the world, albeit imperfectly, now turns its back on its allies as its president embraces dictators and jokes about serving more than two terms and that one day our country may have a president for life.  Do you care about our Constitution?  Our democracy?  The very foundations of our government?  No?  Why not?  Do you think authoritarian all powerful rulers are better?
 
Free speech is under attack daily.  Do you care about that?  No?  Why not?  You really want to end free speech?  You really believe that having a press controlled by the government is what is best?

Social Security and Medicare are in danger, as they have been off and on, for many years.  Do you care?  No?  Why not?  You will never need Social Security and Medicare?  You believe that somehow, someway, your Social Security and Medicare will be okay.  It will just be taken away from "those people", you know, the ones who abuse the system.  Sorry to be the one to break the news to you, but when the cuts happen, they will happen to everyone, not the select few you think do not deserve it.

Social service programs will be cut.  Do you care?  No? Why not?  You do not need them?  You do not care about those who do?  So it is okay for people to starve?  That is not your problem?

Immigration is not your problem either, right?  Your ancestors came here, but others should be prevented, right?  Should we extinguish the light in Statue of Liberty's torch?  Or just remove her from the harbor?  Do you understand that people walking two thousand miles are not looking for a handout?  Do you understand that they are willing to risk their lives on a difficult journey because life in their own countries is too dangerous and too deadly?  I guess you do not care about that either.

So what do you care about?