When it comes to discussing gun control, if not now, when?
Victor Joecks’ column regarding the recent gun massacre in our city was beyond the pale (“Non-Nevadan gun control cheerleaders, give it a rest,” Wednesday Review-Journal). He was indeed correct to point out the many heroic and humanitarian actions that were taken by residents and visitors alike in what was surely Las Vegas’s darkest hour. Our community’s best angels were out in full force and everyone should be proud of our reaction in the face of such horrible adversity.
But Mr. Joecks’ attempt to shame gun control proponents into political silence and his suggestion they had no decency was made even more appalling when he immediately attacked Hillary Clinton and others for pointing out that perhaps we should be strengthening gun laws rather than eliminating them. Mr. Joecks said that this just isn’t the time; that it’s too soon. With our country experiencing almost 100 gun fatalities each day — and with 521 mass shootings in the last 477 days, according to The New York Times — I have to ask when will it finally be appropriate, decent and unshameful to address the scourge of gun violence. Maybe after the next incident?
