Reaction to this morning’s shootings at the Washington Navy Yard are running pretty much as you expect them to: most people are concerned and frightened and interested to know more details, and the cable television news is falling all over itself to bring you the very latest on this BREAKING STORY but generally not helping clear up the confusion that’s only to be expected immediately after an event of this sort. (Wolf Blitzer, I’m talking to you.) The pro-gun/anti-gun rhetoric that’s followed all the recent major shootings is no doubt on its way; this morning from his Twitter account David Frum gave us all a head start:
Another mass casualty shooting, this time at Washington Navy Yard. (1)—
(@davidfrum) September 16, 2013
In wake of this most recent mass-casualty shooting, it is important that we all respect the feelings of America's gun enthusiasts. (2)—
(@davidfrum) September 16, 2013
Observing a few simple rules of etiquette will help the post-shooting conversation to proceed in appropriate ways. (3)—
(@davidfrum) September 16, 2013
Rule 1: It is "ghoulish" to suggest in any way that the easy availability of guns might in any way enable gun slaughter.—
(@davidfrum) September 16, 2013
Rule 2: Gun crime in the president's hometown proves that guns anywhere else are no fit topic of conversation.—
(@davidfrum) September 16, 2013
Rule 3: All gun owners are to be complimented as responsible and law-abiding until they personally have hurt themselves or somebody else—
(@davidfrum) September 16, 2013
Rule 4: Any attempt to stop mass casualty shootings is "political." Allowing them to continue is"non-political."—
(@davidfrum) September 16, 2013
Rule 5: Gun ownership is essential to freedom, as in Serbia & Guatemala. Gun restrictions lead to tyranny, as in Australia & Canada.—
(@davidfrum) September 16, 2013
Let’s just wait and see: I bet Frum’s suggestions are pretty close to what we’ll see and hear in the next few days. It’s sad to think that we’re not capable of any more constructive civic discussion than this…or are we?
Oh, there’s one more thing:
I feel like you might want to ease up on the mass shootings.—
God (@TheTweetOfGod) September 16, 2013
