Let’s talk about school shootings. Actually, why should we be so narrow. Let’s talk about mass shootings. What’s one thing that every mass shooting has in common? A gun. This gun usually lies in the hands of an angry, confused or mentally ill person. I see three major issues in how our society reacts to mass shootings.

The Shooter's Name Appears as the Headline

Obsessing over and glorifying the shooter encourages copycats. Law enforcement in the most recent shooting at Umpqua Community College has not mentioned the shooter's name in any press conferences. The focus of this tragedy is on the victims, not on the person who committed this crime. Unfortunately, that is not the case for all media outlets. The shooter's name is publically released, and a media frenzy ensues, as everyone tries to piece together what brought this troubled individual to get a gun, walk into a public arena, and start shooting. The emphasis needs to be placed on the victims. The shooter should be a footnote.

The American People Sigh and Move On

Somehow as a culture, we have gotten to a point where we expect mass shootings. When the Umpqua shooting occurred a few days ago, I was watching news coverage in the student commons. I overheard a kid next to me say to his friend, "it's been a while since one of these. I feel like that movie shooting was such a long time ago." He's referring to the shooting that happened in a Louisiana movie theater that left 3 dead. The date of that shooting was July 23, 2015, a little more than 2 months ago. We live in a society where we expect mass shootings. 2 months passing by without a mass shooting feels like an unusually long time. This is an American problem. We treat mass shootings as if they are an inevitable part of life. They're not. We allow them to be.

Anyone Can Get a Gun... Legally

This one is the most frustrating of all. The NRA provides a united front of power and and wealth, that supports gun ownership for all reasons. Unfortunately, the NRA has a large impact in American politics. After the Newtown shooting, that left 26 dead, including 20 children, President Obama was unable to get a bill passed through Congress about gun control. I cannot wrap my head around why anyone is opposed to required background checks before the purchase of a firearm. If you would pass a background check, how would this affect you? If you can't pass a background check, what do you need a gun for? As a college student I recently got my driver's license. It was quite a process. I had to do 40 hours of driving. I had to pass a test. I had to pay for my license. I also have to get it renewed in a few years. My point is, at age 18 when I got my license, it would have been significantly easier for me to go get a gun. Think about that for a second. It's easier to legally obtain a gun and use it, than it is to aquire a license to legally operate a motor vehicle.

I am at fault for the first two things. I know the names of more shooters than I do victims of mass shootings. I feel guilty about that, but the only names that were broadcasted to me as I watched the news, were those of the shooters. Those are the ones that I remember. Every time there is a mass shooting, I read the news, watch it on tv, and get sad. The sadness lasts a couple days, but in order to get on with my own life, I have to move on and not think about it. This is what everyone in America does. We move on. We're thankful it didn't happen to anyone we know. We hold our breath. We cross our fingers. We pray that the next time we turn on the television and see that inevitable headline, it still hasn't happened to anyone we know.