When it coms to gun violence, religion really IS the last refuge of a scoundrel

This is not about religion (more specifically, Christianity). I’ve plowed that field enough. This is about Right-wing politicians (or, as they should more accurately be know, cowards) who give lip service to mourning yet another tragic mass murder even as they refuse to consider actually DOING something that might help to prevent future iterations of this sad story.

As is de riguer among politicians on the Right, they’re quick to offer words of condolence and thoughts and prayers for those who lost their lives and their loved ones. This allows them to feel as if they’re satisfying the minimum required social convention in the aftermath of a mass shooting. It also (at least in their minds) frees them from the responsibility of having to address the uniquely American gun violence epidemic. It means they can avoid having to wade into a highly emotionally and politically charged atmosphere in which the vast majority of Americans recognize the need for change. They understand that common sense gun control is one of the things that might help reduce the likelihood of the Grim Reaper making yet another splashy unannounced appearance at a mall/church/government agency/movie theater/university near them.

Unfortunately, those who have the power and ability to do something to address this very serious public health crisis have been purchased lock, stock, and barrel by groups like the National Rifle Association (NRA) and the gun industry that by law cannot be held accountable for anything.

And so what happens is exactly…nothing, which means the Grim Reaper gets to keep spinning his wheel. Where will the next massacre occur? We cannot know the unlucky “winner,” but we can be certain it will be soon.

I am but one American, but I find it difficult to believe there aren’t millions more who feel as I do, that the time for thoughts, condolences, moments of silence, and prayers are over. The time of rote, self-serving, cynical expressions of sadness and sorrow have long since come and gone. It’s time to seriously examine our gun violence epidemic with an eye toward how we might reduce the likelihood of a recurrence of what happened in San Bernardino (or Aurora, or Clackamas Town Center, or Sandy Hook, Or Colorado Springs, ad infinitum, ad nauseum).

Can we eliminate mass shootings? Will we be able to stop the characteristically American plague of gun violence? That seems a laudable goal, albeit a horribly naive expectation. One thing IS certain, though: thoughts, condolences, moments of silence, and prayers will solve NOTHING. It’s time we demand that those we’ve elected to represent us actually DO something to help, if not prevent, then certainly to reduce the likelihood that yet more innocent people will die needlessly.

The time for meaningless gestures has long since passed; it’s time for action.