Mass shootings in the U.S.
When I was growing up, I remember hearing stories about bombings in Israel. I heard about them often enough at one point that I couldn't imagine how anyone could actually live there or how they would dare ever leave their homes. Today I listen to a number of different podcasts, some hosted by Brits. The British gals often bring up how in the U.S., everyone shoots each other.
So I was thinking about how others see this country. They must think that we're all so afraid to leave our homes for fear we'll be shot. I must admit that after the Orlando Nightclub shooting, every time my husband and I give each other a good-bye kiss, we say (in jest, or at least we hope), "in case there's a shooting!"
But each time we in the U.S. (or at least, I) hear about another mass shooting like the one that happened last night in Las Vegas, we distance ourselves from it. For instance, I'm nowhere near Las Vegas. It won't happen to me! For the Orlando one, I could think, "I'm not gay, not in Florida, and don't tend to go to nightclubs." I DO think about shootings a lot, though. I don't tend to find myself at any really crowded events (perhaps I should thank my crazy non-shooting anxieties from keeping me from places like that). But sometimes I think, Why NOT me?
Years and years ago, there was a mass shooting at a McDonald's. I don't even know what state it was in, but that's when I started wondering, "Why not me?" Everyone in these locations where mass shootings happen thought that they were safe that night, as safe as I would feel at, say, the grocery store.
I heard a great interview this morning of a guy who knows a lot about special opps. He said that they're always thinking about both the perps and the first responders. As we all learn something during each of these events, WHAT will each group learn that will cause a change for the next time. The shooters are learning along with the first responders. This latest shooter may have learned that he can't get IN to one of these large venues, but he CAN get in to a hotel with weapons with no problem. He broke the windows with a hammer and started shooting. Perhaps this will mean that luggage will have to be scanned before being allowed up into rooms. Talk about a privacy issue. But it's also a safety issue.
I wonder who was staying in the rooms on either side of the shooter. What were they doing during the shooting? Did they stay in their room? Did they have any idea that the shooting was happening in the room next door? Were they AT the festival and not in their room anyway?
But the point of this post is to say that yes, we know that this country has some crazy mass shootings. I'd personally like for all guns to be outlawed in this country, but that will never happen. I could always move somewhere where guns aren't allowed (Australia? Britian?) But for now, we have to live our lives here in the U.S. That means going out every day and just hoping, I guess, that we're not in the wrong place at the wrong time. We go to work every day. We just move on and hope for the best.
So I was thinking about how others see this country. They must think that we're all so afraid to leave our homes for fear we'll be shot. I must admit that after the Orlando Nightclub shooting, every time my husband and I give each other a good-bye kiss, we say (in jest, or at least we hope), "in case there's a shooting!"
But each time we in the U.S. (or at least, I) hear about another mass shooting like the one that happened last night in Las Vegas, we distance ourselves from it. For instance, I'm nowhere near Las Vegas. It won't happen to me! For the Orlando one, I could think, "I'm not gay, not in Florida, and don't tend to go to nightclubs." I DO think about shootings a lot, though. I don't tend to find myself at any really crowded events (perhaps I should thank my crazy non-shooting anxieties from keeping me from places like that). But sometimes I think, Why NOT me?
Years and years ago, there was a mass shooting at a McDonald's. I don't even know what state it was in, but that's when I started wondering, "Why not me?" Everyone in these locations where mass shootings happen thought that they were safe that night, as safe as I would feel at, say, the grocery store.
I heard a great interview this morning of a guy who knows a lot about special opps. He said that they're always thinking about both the perps and the first responders. As we all learn something during each of these events, WHAT will each group learn that will cause a change for the next time. The shooters are learning along with the first responders. This latest shooter may have learned that he can't get IN to one of these large venues, but he CAN get in to a hotel with weapons with no problem. He broke the windows with a hammer and started shooting. Perhaps this will mean that luggage will have to be scanned before being allowed up into rooms. Talk about a privacy issue. But it's also a safety issue.
I wonder who was staying in the rooms on either side of the shooter. What were they doing during the shooting? Did they stay in their room? Did they have any idea that the shooting was happening in the room next door? Were they AT the festival and not in their room anyway?
But the point of this post is to say that yes, we know that this country has some crazy mass shootings. I'd personally like for all guns to be outlawed in this country, but that will never happen. I could always move somewhere where guns aren't allowed (Australia? Britian?) But for now, we have to live our lives here in the U.S. That means going out every day and just hoping, I guess, that we're not in the wrong place at the wrong time. We go to work every day. We just move on and hope for the best.
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