So I saw an NPR story about the KC mass shooting
In wake of mass shootings, some parents hesitate bringing their kids to big events
A line that stuck out to me was this one:
Elaine Corbin, a Kansas City mother of two daughters ages 6 and 9, was about to attend the parade with her children when the shots rang out.
"It's a really unfortunate situation because we're all born and raised here. So we love our Kansas City sports teams, especially the Chiefs. And so being able to celebrate with millions of fans is something that's really important to us," she said in an interview with NPR.
The message was that not just in KC, but across the nation, there seems to be a hesitancy for parents to bring kids to large public gatherings. The reason is obvious — gun violence.
For myself, I’ve been hesitant since a retired cop shot a movie goer over some texting during the previews of a showing. Apparently e-cops can carry in FL — back then there were some restrictions on carrying a gun here. I think it’s become a lot easier. A co-worker of mine has a CCL and if he is as assiduous in his gun care as his programming we’re dealing with a menace thinking he’s a Sheriff.
My eyes saw another interesting headline:
The Kansas City Chiefs parade shooting is as American as football itself
The final thoughts rang the bell. DING, DING.
We’ll be forced to remember that everything in this country can be sacrificed.
Except guns.
I’ve been saying for a long time that Americans love their guns more than their kids. Is that perhaps changing?
I’ve also heard a bit about lax gun control laws in Missouri. I saw this article from the Seattle Post, which has this money quote:
Kansas City has been enduring a lot of that bloodshed. The city has one of the highest murder rates in the nation, and last year 182 people were killed, surpassing a high mark set in 2020. City officials say many of the killings were attributed to arguments, the same cause that investigators cited in the shooting at the Super Bowl parade.
Which led me here for so real data (unsure how current...). The “big story” here is known to most readers on this site:
A common misconception is that the cities with larger populations have the highest murder rates. New York City, for example, has a population of 8.39 million people but with 300 murders and a murder rate of 3.4 in 2017, it doesn’t even make it into the top 50 cities.
St Louis is the worst US city for murder rate, about 20 times the rate in New York City. KC is 7th worst — about half St. Louis’ rate. What was that about arguments in KC making up most of the murders?
Which led me to this : Some Kansas Citians look for gun control after the Super Bowl parade, but state law limits get in the way
And the update at the top of this story tells us all we need to know about law makers in Missouri are going to react
Update (Feb. 16, 2024): In response to Wednesday’s shooting, Missouri House Republican Majority Leader Jon Patterson told The Kansas City Star, House Republicans abandoned two gun-related bills. One would allow guns to be carried inside churches and on buses and another would eliminate sales taxes on firearms and ammunition.
“While I do think both proposals are worthy of debate, they have no path to becoming law at this point,” Patterson said in a statement. “Now is not the appropriate time to be taking up those bills and therefore they will not be brought up this session.”
So, back to Elaine Corbin, with 2 kids, 6 & 9. She has to be old enough to vote. Does she realize that SHE can help by NOT VOTING FOR ASSHOLES LIKE JON PATTERSON ANYMORE?
Of course, this is directed rhetorically, but the story is old now.
The ironic thing is I would be that Jon Patterson is upset about declining church attendance. But he thinks allowing gun in churches is “worthy of debate” at a time when parents with young kids appear to show worry about gun violence.
Own goal much? Too bad too many more people will die before we adjust as a society.
