There is no simple cause, or cure, for mass killings
On Sunday, the world watched the story of one of the largest mass shootings in U.S. history unfold: 49 shot dead, and 53 injured at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla.
This is one of those rare moments when together we pause and wonder why things like this continue to happen.
When terror strikes, we cling to our devices in search for answers from social media and news outlets. We find solace in our shared disbelief and pain, yet no clear answers. This is because there are none. Gun violence and mass killings are complex social issues with no simple cause or cure.
Is Orlando about homophobia? Yes. Terrorism? Yes. Gun laws? Yes. Access to assault weapons? Yes. Cultures of hate and violence (be they American or of radical Islam)? Yes.
Yet, are mass shootings also about mental health and poor social support? Yes. Race, ethnicity and gender? Yes. Economic inequality, education and class? Yes. Politics and the power of the gun lobby? Yes.
Is our response about media sensationalism and ratings? Yes. Islamophobia and racism? Yes. Domestic and international politics? Yes. Nationalism and moral panics? Yes. Immigration and refugees? Yes. Fear, horror and control? Yes. Love, empathy and hope? Thankfully, also, yes.
Our desire to find a single thing to blame — and a single thing to fix — is an emotional one. Life is blissfully (and irritatingly) complex. Gun violence and mass killings are multi-faceted issues. There is no button to press or pill to buy that will make this go away. There is no news bite that will make this all make sense. This reality is at odds with the on-demand approach that pervades our daily lives.
This does not mean change is impossible. Meaningful social change takes time, care and deliberate action. Racial, gender and LGBTQ equality are the result of decades of strife and social progress — incremental cultural evolutions that have taken the energy, voices and, sometimes, lives of countless activists. It has taken impassioned legal intervention, decisive (and, occasionally, reluctant) political action, while also the sharing of our stories through popular culture. And, despite all this, we still have a ways to go.
Contending with gun violence is no different. Mass shootings stem from a confluence of social, structural and political forces. This can be frustrating as, for change to be effective, it needs to happen on multiple levels. Gun laws need to change. American culture needs to change. Politics and the power of lobbyist groups need to change. Homophobia and Islamophobia need to change.
Such social progress will require a more robust understanding of inequality, mental health and education. It will take passion, empathy and a deeper understanding of difference. It will take patience.
In the aftermath, we face other dangers — partisan bickering, media sensationalism and community division — impassioned debate over which flavour of hate provided the ultimate motivation. In our desire to understand, we risk the glazing over of victims, the glorification of monsters and the funneling of our disbelief and pain into deliberate political agendas. Yet worst of all, we risk inaction.
So, when watching the ensuing media spectacle, reflect critically and thoughtfully upon the opinions the media and politicians present. And remember that long after the world’s eye has moved on, you’ve shared in the smallest fragment of the worst day of hundreds of people’s lives.
As hard as it is to find meaning in this, let Orlando motivate you. Don’t tolerate hate, fear and violence. Combat homophobia and Islamophobia when they appear in your life.
Be kind and understanding with others and not so quick to jump to prepackaged conclusions when life inevitably tests you. Remember to hope.
Our desire to find a single thing to blame and a single thing to fix is an emotional one . . . Gun violence and mass killings are multi-faceted issues.