You have the power to reduce gun violence. It's important to keep that in mind as the U.S. undergoes its maddening post-massacre ritual: digesting the news reports of a disturbed man and his unfettered access to military-grade firepower, listening to another round of blame deflection from leaders of the party that repeatedly blocks congressional efforts to curb gun violence, enduring the cynical silence of the gun lobby amid the anguish of devastated families.
The gun lobby and the extreme gun culture it nurtures will not dictate U.S. gun laws forever. Indeed, its agenda is waning in many state legislatures.
Ordinary Americans are raising their voices to demand sensible laws. They're supporting groups such as Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America and Everytown for Gun Safety--both backed by Bloomberg LP founder Michael Bloomberg--along with other groups devoted to breaking the cycle of senseless violence.
All of which is a way of saying: This state of affairs is not permanent. Laws will change when enough Americans demand it and act on that demand, repeatedly and insistently, with their votes.
Editorial on 02/18/2018