Thoughts of childhood took me back. I walked to school; about five blocks. It was called Bailey Elementary School. Mom and Dad said goodbye as I started out without fearing it would be the last time. My greatest fear: I wouldn’t measure up as we played soccer during recess.
Marty and I, as parents, had similar experiences as did our daughters, I think. While it is impossible to measure an absence of fear on a quantitative scale; well, it was blissful.
So, what has changed? Just about everything. Society is coarser. Measuring up, in a world of “social media” is, for some, terrorizing. And it just takes a few turning an interior terror into an exterior one to change everything.
Guns? I remember my Dad deputizing me, after a gift of a Red Ryder B-B gun. His charge; keep the squirrels out of our pecan tree. Talk about an existential challenge.
So here we are a century turn later enjoying medical miracles but fearing life. So, we ask after each mass shooting what are we (after all we live in a democracy) going to do. We then go through a nauseous week or so depending on the severity of the slaughter and fall back into our rhetorical stand offs. Pathetic.
I was at the birth of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). I worked in New York City and could see smoke rising from the World Trade Center towers. The attack occurred on September 11, 2001. The TSA was established by the Aviation and Transportation Security Act, which was passed by Congress and signed into law by President George W. Bush on November 19, 2001.
I suspect Bush and his Congressional collaborators don’t list TSA among their proudest moments. They should; after all our government absorbed the horror, vowed to never let it happen again and almost a generation later it hasn’t. Along the way plane hijackings went from 67 incidents in the 1970s to 9 incidents in the 2010s and none involved United States airlines.
I can sense the bile gathering in our collective throats. None of us want to stand in line at airports or be electronically disrobed as we clear the security area. Or, spend billions of tax dollars just to make sure we don’t die flying to see our family hundreds or thousands of miles away. But then 9/11 demanded action and we intuitively knew that we could not effect a cultural change that would erase the threat.
We have once again been reminded of children who will not see tomorrow and parents who unknowingly said their final goodbye. And, if we have taken a few minutes to reflect we have been reminded of freedom of speech converted into stories that seize on anger, guns and revenge. It used to be we just watched these storylines unfold; now video games allow us to get in the middle of the action. And among us are troubled minds.
Okay, I am running out of words—columns have limits. And, our patience has limits. The shooting at the Uvalde school takes third place behind Virginia Tech and then Sandy Hook in lives lost and exists in a long line of school horrors (367 in the 2000s). We should be at an inflection point. And we know that the only constructive actions in our divided nation is for the two political parties to find acceptable common ground.
On one level, prediction is easy. We won’t ban guns. Maybe the age of acquisition will be extended. We should, but are unlikely to, restrict the sale of high-capacity magazines. And on and on.
What about “tactical carrier” vests—I cannot imagine a successful law that does not severely restrict their ownership. The vests are what we think of as bullet proof and have pockets for other guns and ammunition. The Constitution does not protect them. When Salvador Ramos, the shooter, at age 18, bought such a vest, a screaming siren should have sounded.
Finally, nothing happens without leadership and President Biden is in the leadership chair. And, I should add citizen leadership will be important; not political, citizen.
The immediate reactions from elected officials were not encouraging. They never are. They have their talking points; there was no need to rehearse them. But, ever the optimist, I know there are patriots in both parties. President Biden, you know who they are, call them up and lead us to a better tomorrow. Don’t seek perfection, seek something you can sign. We won’t return to the blissful moments I recalled, but we can make schools and public places safer.
Afterword: News now suggests that serious discussions have been started in the US Senate to craft legislation to reduce the threat of gun violence in schools. A seed crystal? We can hope.
Al Sikes is the former Chair of the Federal Communications Commission under George H.W. Bush. Al writes on themes from his book, Culture Leads Leaders Follow published by Koehler Books.
DEIRDRE LAMOTTE says
“Nothing happens without leadership and President Biden is in the leadership chair”
Where is the blame and responsibility on the entire Republican Party? This is where the obstruction is and always has been. Biden should sign an Executive Order banning automatic weapons. Let it go to the Supreme Court. Let them
stand in plan sight and admit they approve the widespread killings of Americans. Those forced births are just target practice for the “pro-dead Party”.
This entire issue lies at the feet of the Republican Party, bought and sold to the NRA. The lives lost are only fodder
in the transaction.
Let these Republicans go on TV with a split screen of unredacted photos of murdered 4th Graders. Then maybe the gas lighting by the GOP will end and change will come.
Quote from the NRA Annual Meeting home page:
“Our deepest sympathies are with the families and victims involved in this horrific and evil crime. On behalf of our members, we salute the courage of school officials, first responders and others who offered their support and services.
Although an investigation is underway and facts are still emerging, we recognize this was the act of a lone, deranged criminal. As we gather in Houston, we will reflect on these events, pray for the victims, recognize our patriotic members, and pledge to redouble our commitment to making our schools secure.”
Don’t know whether to laugh or cry … or vomit.
Stephen Schaare says
Automatic weapons were outlawed in the 1930’s. Not a person in this country can purchase or own such firearms. You actually do not know this? All the fault of the Republicans. You must be delighted with the leadership, and intellect of one Joseph Robinette Biden Jr.
Deirdre LaMotte says
AR-15 is a semiautomatic weapon and the carnage it produces is a fact. You go down whatever rabbit hole you’d like though, ok?
Stephen Schaare says
You never said semi automatic. Do not understand your comment. Full auto whole different ball game. Please do not be obtuse.
Stephen Schaare says
So broken, so many pieces.
Don E. Itall says
So much of what you write is incorrect. You’re already been corrected on the assumption of Americans owning automatic weapons, but then you mock those who believe in prayer. You rightfully lament the loss of these innocent children’s lives, but ignore the hundreds of lives lost annually in cities throughout the US and tens of thousands of innocent babies destroyed because of “my body, my choice”. So hateful and selective in concern and caring. So confused.
Deirdre LaMotte says
You need to study Biology 101. There are no “babies destroyed” when a woman has an abortion.
A baby is born and the umbilical cord is cut. Then the child is an American citizen, according to the
Constitution.
85% of abortions are at under 10 weeks gestation. Abortion after 25 weeks the mother must be actively dying. But it is none of your business, anyway.
Paula Reeder says
90% of the American population supports stricter gun laws and bans on automatic weapons like those used in recent recent mass shooting – and which were banned in this country until the ban was allowed by a GOP administration to expire. The majority of American voters who want change are being held hostage by Congress people and 50 Senators who kow-tow to the NRA and gun manufacturers to hold on to generous campaign contributions for doing so. This is the ultimate example of selling ones soul ( not to mention the safety and well being of our children) for the proverbial 30 pieces of silver. It is beyond time for American of voting age to vote those politicians out of office!
Stephen Schaare says
Paula, No automatic weapons have been used in these shootings. They are illegal and unavailable since the 1930’s.
Paula Reeder says
P.S. Let’s start here in Kent County by uniting to remove Andy Harris – our very own NAR toadie – from office. It’s time for a change!
Don E. Itall says
NAR toadie…is that like a band roadie? Asking for a friend.