Friday, March 29, 2024 -
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Nothing new to say, but it all bears repeating

Another mass shooting. The senseless murder of innocent people. Hate-fueled killings of people who may be “other.” As Coloradans, we tend to mark Columbine as the beginning of the gun violence epidemic that, well over 20 years later, shows no signs of abating and is even worsening.

What is there left to say? Nothing new, but it all bears repeating. Other than stricter gun regulations, on which there should be no disagreement, not every item to follow is necessarily relevant to the Colorado Springs shooting in particular, but surely is relevant to the despicable phenomenon of mass shootings countrywide: An attempt to diagnose and treat a culture of violence that has become pervasive.

Prosecution and bankruptcy of bad actors like Alex Jones. A more robust mental health component to our healthcare system. Education about forbearance and humanity and freedom and privacy. Somehow getting the message through that despite any disagreement with any person or any type of person, violence is never acceptable.

Particularly germane is an open discussion about the value or anti-value of maintaining the Second Amendment, even as we call for reminding ourselves of the founding belief of this country that “all men are created equal,” along with the corollary belief that it remains our task to create a “more perfect union.”

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