In June, a gunman attacked a gay nightclub in Orlando Florida, killing 49 and wounding 50, including one police officer. It was the largest mass shooting in modern American history. It was the worst act of violence perpetrated upon the LGBT community since the UpStairs Lounge arson attack of 1973. And as the shooter proclaimed allegiance to Daesh (a.k.a. ISIS or ISIL) during the attack, the massacre was the deadliest act of terrorism perpetrated on U.S. soil since 9/11. The weapons used in the attack were bought legally even though the shooter himself was on a terrorism watch list. Clearly, whatever system was in place didn’t prevent what it was supposed to prevent.
What followed was a predictable cycle of news, grief, outrage, debate, and stalemate. The Democrats filibustered for 15 hours on the floor of the Senate until the GOP agreed to vote on a gun bill, but one can only wonder what could or should come from it. One side seeks to protect the public. The other side seeks to do the same thing. Neither seem particularly interested in what the other has to say. Meanwhile, during the filibuster itself, 38 shootings across the country claimed another 12 dead and 36 injured.
