Fighting Fire

Okay, so let’s talk about movie murders in Colorado.

In my previous life as a magazine editor, I traveled to and wrote about some tragic places: El Salvador during some of its dark days of corruption and revolt; Honduras after Hurricane Mitch; Littleton, Colorado, after the Columbine shootings.  After 9-11, I wrote pieces on some of the people who died there, as well as pieces on churches and individuals that did ministry in those trying days and months. All of these experiences touched my soul and forced me to think. Even before I knew I would be traveling I was reading and researching, because I wanted to connect with what was going on: I wanted to understand, empathize, and find a way to move forward in light of awful circumstances.

But after the shootings in Aurora, I feel nothing. I’ve made no effort to read about the incident or to read people’s stories. I know nothing about the victims or the back story of how a night at the movies can go so horribly wrong. I am indifferent.

There is something wrong when the only response I can muster in the face of such horrible violence is, “Oh, well. What did you expect?”

As a civilization we have begun to evolve to the point where weaponry is less important; sane and reasonable people can come up with solutions that don’t demand firepower, globally and locally. I long for—pray for—a world at peace, and the end of warfare. True peace only comes with justice, and I know we are a long way from that, but I keep imagining that we are evolving into a more adult society that can find solutions without death and mayhem.

But here in the United States, it seems that we have decided that mass shootings are an acceptable part of our lives; the unfettered right to bear arms is far more important than the right to stay safe. We must fight fire with fire, and we should expect a certain amount of collateral damage. As a people, this is the path we’ve chosen.

To be clear: I don’t think the solution is to take guns away from those who know how to use them. Nor do I think the solution is to arm everyone, a suggestion that I’ve actually heard from some people. These are the folks that seem to blame the people in the theater for not wearing Kevlar; how dare the movie goers assume that this might be a safe place!

Yes, there are plenty of other ways to kill people, and wackos and those who want to make a point will find other ways. Gun control is no guarantee to the end of random violence. But if we’re looking to curtail these incidents, to refuse to consider changing the way we buy, sell, and perceive weapons seems ridiculous. Digging in our heels is no way to solve a problem. If we want to change our future, we have to find a new way of doing things, of reforming laws or procedures. We can talk about all kinds of other things, too, but we need to talk about weapons.

In so many other areas the world is changing for the better. Sometimes slowly, slowly, but at least moving—if not globally, then at least heart by heart. While violence and prejudice still rear their ugly heads on a regular basis, in almost every area—racial and gender equality, increased concern for the environment, world peace—someone, somewhere, is always moving forward, pulling the rest of us along. But on the issue of gun violence, it seems we cannot move at all.

There are those who continue to advocate for changes in gun laws. It seems like the most hopeless of causes now, but great things have come from small groups of dedicated people. I pray for them and their cause. The future rests with them.