The Gun Gavotte

It's that time again.  It's become something of a routine, though it may be more accurate to describe it as a dance.  I refer, of course, to what takes place in our Great Republic when several people are shot at more or less the same time by the same person or persons.  This is what is referred to as a "mass shooting."  I leave it to others--probably to right-wing pundits--to ponder what a "mass shooting" is and when a shooting may properly be called one.  I won't argue that particular point, which seems an insignificant one.

I ponder instead the reaction to the shooter's work.  I think we may call it a dance, as it seems to be a series of similar, if not identical, movements performed after the deaths take place which have no real effect beyond exercising and perhaps in some way pleasing those who perform them.  Shock.  Thoughts and prayers.  Calls for gun reform.  Calls for gun rights.  Posturing by politicians (one might call that part a Promenade).  Dance ends.  Dance begins again after next shooting.

I think we must resign ourselves to the recurrence of these events (the shootings and the danse macabre that follows).  There's no reasonable basis for the belief that what has taken and is taking place, and the reaction to it, will cease.  There are many, many guns here, and many people have them, and many more guns are being made and sold and otherwise are transferred from person to person.  People get or can get guns, and people for one reason or another use them, sometimes on other people.  Some guns are particularly effective in shooting more than one person at one time, and those who purport to represent us in government are not inclined to discontinue their sale or limit their availability.  As we become more densely populated, and treatment for mental illness becomes less available; as stress rises and misinformation increases and the means by which to transmit it grow; as people become less well-off and more contentious, guns will be used.

There may be ways of limiting gun violence.  If so, however, they won't be explored, not in this country.  Our nation lives by the gun.  It may die by the gun.  It will in any case, however, have the gun. 

So, my brothers and sisters, I think we must do our best to dodge the bullets.  We may still watch the dance, if we like such things, but I suspect that even the dancers will grow tired eventually.  If not, perhaps they'll be shot during some future event.