It seems inconceivable that yet another mass shooting has occurred in a public space filled with innocent people. The frequency and fatality of these events appear to be increasing. And, sadly, the efforts by partisans on both sides to find a political advantage is troubling, but unavoidable.
While the human tragedy is of paramount concern, particularly in the first few hours after the assault is over, there are real issues that have to be addresses in any discussion of the most important subject: How to prevent these tragedies from happening again. In that regard, the only thing that makes sense is to pursue real policies to mitigate the risks and intercept the perpetrators before they can cause harm.
Unfortunately, the political divisions in this country make that nearly impossible, even though there are some solutions that both sides agree on. A majority of Americans favor universal background checks, limiting magazine size, enhancing mental health screening, prohibiting people on the terrorist watch list from purchasing guns, and several other measures that, while not a panacea, are an improvement over what we have now. Even majorities of conservatives and NRA members favor most of these ideas.
Emerging as perhaps the biggest obstacle to progress is, not surprisingly, Fox News. Fox has long been a factor in exacerbating political division in America. And today they made a concerted effort to drive Americans farther apart. Throughout the day they fanned the flames of outrage over a headline from the New York Daily News that said “God Isn’t Fixing This.”
To most rational people that is a fairly obvious truth. After every one of these shootings, politicians and pundits climb all over themselves to offer their “thoughts and prayers.” If praying were going to have any effect on this, ISIS would already be a deranged and distant memory. By focusing on the ludicrous notion that prayer represents a reasonable response to terrorism, Fox is transforming itself into a televangelist operation. Program after program, hour after hour, Fox repeated this story, holding up the Daily News front page to drive home their sanctimonious fury.
What could Fox News possibly hope to gain by making this a staple of the news reporting for the whole day. It does nothing but take time from more practical analyses of the array of potential solutions. And that is, in fact, what Fox News hopes to gain. They are deliberately evading thoughtful dialog on the causes and cures for the rampant gun violence our nation is enduring. It is blatant pandering to the most fringe elements of the right-wing and the NRA nutcases who are opposed to solutions.
Whenever you hear an NRA-theist claim that the best way to deal with mass shootings is make sure more people are armed, remember that the NRA is a manufacturer’s representative whose mission is to promote the sales of more guns. They benefit handsomely from events like these. There are always stories following a mass shooting about how gun sales skyrocketed to record levels in the aftermath. And since there are already more guns in America than people, if the abundance of guns were going to reduce the incidence of gun violence, there would already have been some evidence of it.
Gun advocates argue that if more people were armed they would be engaging in shootouts with criminals. The truth is that, in the country with the most heavily armed populace, there has never been an incident where an armed civilian stopped a mass shooting. The argument doesn’t even make much sense because an armed civilian would be no match for a mass murderer who shows up with body armor and semi-automatic assault weapons. In such a situation, the civilian’s bullets would bounce off of the perpetrator, but would gain his attention, making the civilian shooter the next victim.
How Fox News Deceives and Controls Their Flock:
Fox Nation vs. Reality: The Fox News Cult of Ignorance.
Available now at Amazon.
Police protection is the second best way to avoid being a casualty. The first best is to prevent the mass shooting before it begins. That’s something that can be done if people in positions of authority would get off their asses and work together on practical solutions. It will not get done with prayer, no matter how many times Fox News runs the same story insisting that God will rescue us from this epidemic of gun violence.
I wish God would rescue us from the faux believers that seem to be everywhere in the media. Come on, God, take them away! I’d love being Left Behind without Cruz, Palin, the Graham scams, the Osteens, Huckaliar, Santorum, Ryan, and all the rest. Oh, and please take Ailes and Murdoch, anyone calling themselves libertarian, and anyone still hoping to restart the Civil War.
There is no god – myths can’t answer your prayers.
Got that right. We, humans, are responsible for ourselves and each other. Ain’t no poobah in the sky gonna intercede.
EXACTLY – but it does allow some people to not take responsibility when they say something radical as stated by Sally above. Pretty helpful isn’t it – ask some mythical father figure to smite thy enemies so they don’t need to get their hands dirty or hide their own hatred. It’s a nice trick if you believe it and the world is full of these people.
Wow. You didn’t get Sally’s sarcasm. Figures.
You’re giving her the benefit of the doubt, that’s all. You’re blind to reality – people hate and libs are not immune. Just accept it.
We finally agree on something.
It was only a matter of time.
You know I was agreeing on the no god thing only , right?
I know – I’m not applying it to anything else.
You know Sally – you are sounding a bit radicalized. Wishing opposition to disappear via supernatural methods is certainly a nice way to request opposition to your views to be eliminated – it’s always good to hear true left rhetoric of intolerance toward opposing views. It’s more honest and I respect honesty. What I most hope is you continue to pray for that since I know it won’t ever come to pass and it will do no good.
Again: sarcasm. Look it up.
see above..
You really do have your head up your ass, don’t you?
You actually try to live by different rules don’t you. She was being honest – you’re just trying to justify or soften the hate. I’m not afraid of hatred – it’s normal and libs are just as susceptible to it no matter how much you try to deny it.
WE ALL KNOW THAT THEY DO NOT REALLY BELIEVE IN GOD AT ALL!!!! THEY TELL THEIR TRUE FOLLOWING EVERYDAY!!! THEIR REAL GODS ARE MONEY, GREED AND POWER!!!! IF THEY EVER DID OR DO BELIEVE IN GOD THEN HOW CAN THEY KEEP DOING ALL THE THINGS THEY DO TO HURT THE HUMAN RACE AND THE PLANET!?!?! #HILLARY CLINTON FOR THE RICH BY THE RICH PERIOD ***PASS IT ON***
All CAPS indicate mental instability!
SORRY BUT I AM DISABLED ASSHOLE!! ONLY ONE WORKING ARM SO IT MAKES IT EASIER ON A SMALL TABLET!!! SO IN CLOSING MAY YOU AND ALL YOUR LOVED ONES LIVE LONG AND HAPPY LIVES!!!!!
Sorry your asshole is disabled.
If you ever wonder why people still vote republican – even being the disaster it is – one just needs to read this article. As dangerous as the republican party could be perceived – it’s nothing compared to the leftist approach pushed here. You use the tragedies of sick and mentally ill people doing horrible things to justify the federal government violating civil rights – at least when it comes to the 2nd amendment. James Madison actually predicted the future when pushing for a bill of rights – progressives didn’t exist but somehow he saw your love of government power coming all those years ago – amazing. This isn’t a gun issue – and the ultimate goal of gun confiscation needs these first steps you propose. And the argument posed by the NRA about armed people…blah blah blah is not good becasuse it diverts from the correct view that the peoples right to bear arms shall not be infringed – period. No one is does a better job pushing voters to a shitty GOP than leftists like you and the people who comment here. Our heavily armed population is the ONLY thing between the 0.1% and you.
Many people vote Republican because for the last 7 years they have been told, and somehow believe, that Obama and the Liberals are coming for their guns! Reality shows otherwise and yet the belief continues. stronger than ever. This is delusion to the highest degree and everything you post shows that you are right there inside the delusion bubble.
Reality was forced upon you – without a compliant congress, gun control liberal style won’t be happening.
No, I don’t wonder why people still vote Republican. See: Bell curve.
Is that how you explain it to yourself? I guess it’s better than the alternative – the voting public isn’t on your side of things or is desperate to not have a country as you want. Here is some polling data to help you out:
http://www.gallup.com/poll/5392/trust-government.aspx
The progressive love of government isn’t spreading.
In addition to the body armor and weaponry, Mark, the aspiring mass murderer is advantaged by the element of surprise.
Guns don’t kill people, old white men kill people… with guns.
Yup
Hey Mark, I see you are attracting the top minds in left land.