The willingness to say anything — no matter how ludicrous — would be laughable if not for the fact that 10 people are dead and that refusing to acknowledge the role played by this country’s lax gun laws only paves the way for the next tragedy. Most of those killed as classes were getting underway at Santa Fe High School were students looking forward to the start of summer. Opponents of gun control have seized on these factors as evidence of the futility of expanded background checks or an assault weapons ban. Companies increasingly are concluding that guns make for bad business, and states long loath to control guns, Vermont and Florida, have enacted modest reforms. Greg Abbott (R) conceded that thoughts and prayers — the traditional official nonresponse to mass shootings — are no longer enough.

Source: Washington Post May 21, 2018 23:26 UTC