Yes.
There was also that one attack at a congressional baseball game?
I think that having actual politicians be targeted isn’t effective because assassination of political figures is as old as politics itself. It’s kind of expected risk, and also, I think they feel they can solve it with more security, the way they “solve health care” for themselves by personally having good health care.
Nesrie
6521
Well they won’t say it out loud, but she doesn’t count because she’s a Democrat.
They need to start showing the bodies on the evening news, including little kids. That’s the only way to bring it home. One of the Sandy Hook mothers demanded an open casket funeral for her poor kid who had his face blown off because she wanted everyone to see the horror of gun violence.
Menzo
6523
Nothing will change. The NRA and Republicans have the script down pat for this. Call anyone who says anything political about it in the first 24-36 hours an opportunist, then roll out messaging pushing for more guns and FUD to ensure the prevailing opinion continues to be that nothing can possibly be done.
Simple and effective. Since gun violence is not enough peoples’ single issue for voting, it will continue to be passed over for other priorities.
I think this is right. I don’t know why we have developed this journalism ‘norm’ which says we can’t show people the real consequences of these incidents, but without showing them, people are not being forced to confront the real horror.
I’m disappointed to see so many people challenging Republicans to pass a back-ground check bill. While it has some symbolic utility, as a practical matter it has no chance to stop attacks like the ones that just happened; and it would be relatively easy for Republicans do decide to ‘compromise’ and sign on to it. Then what? You’ve blown your shot on a useless piece of legislation.
rowe33
6526
It will probably never matter because the answer for them is always MORE GUNS and MORE GOOD GUYS WITH GUNS. That’s the only way to stop these mass shootings. We know it won’t work, and hasn’t worked in the past, but that’s their answer. Got to keep that NRA and gun lobby money flowing.
LockerK
6527
On the one hand, yes, make people confront reality. But on the other, you’re encouraging these sick people to rack up a “high score” and get famous from their “work”. I’d still prefer a total media blackout - report the casualties but no personal information about or pictures of the shooter.
All this would do is persuade one person, Mike Turner. His lifetime associates and colleagues in the party would turn on him in a second.
And even then, could just as easily lead to “If only my kid had a gun / everyone else there was carrying”.
RichVR
6530
They need to do it the way they did during Vietnam. Show the bodies on TV during dinner time.
Nesrie
6531
Those parents of the kids that were murdered; they’ve been through enough. They’re still dealing with the conspiracy theorist. I can’t even imagine asking more from them.
rowe33
6532
One at a time, right? Though I guess any that change would just be replaced by another up and coming GOP PoS, so no real progress in the end.
Ironically the one thing guaranteed to ban privately owned firearms is when the American far right take over the GOP completely. Fascists have never been to keen on easy access to firearms by the Resistance.
Banzai
6535
It’s the same as not being able to see pictures of body bags, or meat processing factories or farms. If people don’t know what’s happening, they won’t care.
rowe33
6536
As soon as the media starts showing all the gun victim bodies, the GOP will enact a law requiring every abortion clinic to broadcast footage of their disposals, calling them ‘bodies’ as well.
Menzo
6537
This will never happen. There is a reason the media don’t show bodies: it’s gross. People turn the channel or don’t buy the newspaper if they see them. We can’t force media to cover certain things and not others in America.
I think you’re right that it’d be meaningful, but the press don’t have any obligation to make the world a better place (unfortunately).
You can show enough to make your point without showing blood or dead faces. I think pushing the envelope on this would be worth trying.
I agree with others who’ve said that the press should withhold the names of the shooters. People would still find out this info because there’s a huge appetite for that but just because people want it doesn’t mean they need to give it to them. Except dollars follow that desire so they do have to do it because the amoral pursuit of profits above all else ruins everything.
It’s my impression that the media have no qualms about showing the destruction and bodies of e.g. civil war, famine, etc. The squeamishness seems to be only about bodies of Americans.
Examples here. Fair warning, some of them are bad.
Personally, I don’t think you can build a consensus against horror if you censor the horror.
