We Have Become Immune to School Shootings Already. How is this Possible?

Today’s news of yet another school shooting – this time just outside Houston – and the loss, yet again, of the lives of countless youngsters has my friends and colleagues outside the US calling and writing messages on Facebook. Yes, it is extraordinary. Yes, these kids are presumably innocent of the NRA’s lobby and conservatives’ policies. Yes, yes and yes.

But, we here in the US have become immune to tragedies of this kind. We are resigned – except for the inspirational kids who march – to this reality. We know we cannot do anything.

We can’t do anything because the National Rifle Association owns a majority of those in Congress, on both sides. And, when I say “owns,” I mean just that. The NRA is a major supporter of many in Congress who have given up serving the public in favor of fattening their own pockets.

And, we can’t do anything also because too many every day Americans stupidly believe that owning guns makes them safer. The reality couldn’t be more the case.

But, this country seems unable to break the hold of the NRA (in fact with Trump, their hold is greater than ever) nor to convince enough people that guns kill too many innocent people, including their own family members.

And so, our only hope remains to believe that the youngest among us – high school students who have watched their peers be cut down by others – can muster the energy and build the platforms to change all this. We will wait, and support where possible, these kids as they rise up and lead us on this path.

You may share your outrage with us, but you also must understand that this is all we can do right now.