How can we not pay attention?

On Tuesday, there was a gun massacre in North Carolina at a long-term care facility. On Friday, an unrelated massacre at a community center in New York. I've said this before, our nation is awash in a sea of guns and the tide of these cursed things is now making things even worse in Mexico, where arms shipped from the United States are allowing the narcotrafficantes to outgun the Mexican authorities. The death toll is appalling.

Consider this from the head of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence: "In the space of four months, up to nine Americans died as a result of bacteria-laden peanut butter crackers, and the government quickly took action." To which I add this question for the people who argue that guns make our society safer: Today, while a lunatic shot a dozen innocent souls, how many lives did your precious weapons save? What about Tuesday? How many lives must we lose to this curse? Do you really think that killing sprees would be easier without firearms?

CDs listened to today:

• William Bolcom: Songs of Innocence and Experience, disks 2-3
  
• Sydney Hodkinson: The Edge Of The Olde One
  
• Nirvana: Nevermind