After my initial post I read the earlier posts about gun control. short of repeal of the second amendment, it's unlikely things will change. There are two things we could work on. The US per capital ownership is basically double any other country. Canada is seventh with less than a third of our poor capital rate. I think a bigger idea would be to follow the model of some European countries and require 1-2 years of military service. Learning better gun handling and safety measures as well as demonstrations of the true destructive power could offset the romantic attraction some kids have before ever picking up a gun. Baby steps but at least better than hand wringing.
One thought would be to enforce the gun laws we do have. In most major metropolitan areas, by policy illegally owning or purchasing a gun is downgraded in terms of enforcement, unless there is another crime involved. Lying on the form, purchasing while a felon, "straw-buying" (buying for someone else who is not eligible)...all basically ignored.
Prosecutors feel like they are persecuting poorer folk, or they don't have the resources, but by policy we don't pursue simple gun crimes, and those that come up are routinely not charged. Of course, these are often the same guns used in most crimes (though not to my understanding in most mass shooting incidents).
I could be interested in new gun control legislation, depending on what it is, but absolutely not if we don't enforce the current laws.
Just curious, was there something specific you all know of that caused Joe to repost? Beautiful essay.
Joe, I feel you, and I’m so frustrated that nothing ever changes. It’s clear that not enough people in this country are willing to fight for common sense limitations on guns. Of all the developed nations, we have by far the worst record. I pray that we can somehow find a way to move away from this violence.
One of my brothers and his family live in Rhode Island, and one of his sons (my nephew) played hockey on the same team as one of the victims when they were younger. In addition, the shooter coached that same nephew in hockey when my nephew was 10, some 13 years ago. My brother and my nephew both referee juvenile hockey today, often in that very rink. This is the closest any of the countless mass shootings in the United States has come to touching me and mine; too damn close. This is the 41st mass shooting in the US in the first 47 days of 2026. Madness.
I couldn't halp but wonder if there had been a recent school shooting, (I have a tendency to stick my head in the sand and ignore the news sometimes, so I miss stuff) to see if something recent happened, so I looked it up.
Shocked when I found there had been one in Rhode Island just today, at a Hockey game, and one in Canada just last week. Between the two it was 10 deceased victims, 27 injured and both killers committed suicide.
Wonderful article! And from one theater dad to another, congrats to Allison. Her future looks bright.
FYI Come From Away is touring again. My family first saw it at the La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego in its pre-Broadway work the rough edges off and then some of us - but not me unfortunately - saw it in New York. I'm looking forward to seeing it again 25 years after the events to see how time has changed its impact.
Come From Away- I got a free 3 month subscription to Apple TV. One of the things I watched was come from away. I had no idea what it was. It was basically a filming of the show on Broadway, the first show after Broadway opened up after the pandemic I think. What a fantastic experience that was. What a feel good and also crying experience. I tell anybody I know that if you’re gonna watch anything on TV watch come from away. I’ve seen it three times and I’m gonna watch it again soon just because it makes me feel good to be a human.
My son was in first grade when Sandy Hook happened. I vividly remember hearing about the massacre on the radio, pulling my car into the first parking lot I found, and just sobbing. That day should have changed everything about our national addiction to guns. I still do not and cannot understand how, instead, absolutely nothing changed.
Like many, I thought that Sandy Hook was a turning point. It's one of our country's greatest shames that our government lacks the will to act on gun violence, even in the wake of dozens of 6 and 7 year olds massacred.
The government *is* the people. If the majority of people wanted to fix this problem (or had the balls to do what is necessary to fix it, I should say), there would be an uprising and a revolution. We don't. We've got Netflix, Door Dash, and gummies. These deaths are the cost of doing business in America and we have decided that the cost isn't too high. Send a few "thoughts & prayers" and move on to the next mass shooting.
The "people" overwhelmingly support most common sense gun laws. Things like universal background checks. The Gun lobby however is very powerful and donates untold millions to politicians and threatens to primary anyone(on the right) who dares speak in favor of restricting gun access in any way. Unfortunately, as you say for most on the restrict guns side of the debate it is often the 3rd or 4th or 10th most important issue and for those who hope to be able to one day own their own tank it is THE issue. So we go nowhere.
Joe, you are so much more than a sportswriter. You are exquisitely tuned into the human condition, and when you explore the heart you shine so very much. Thank you for sharing this with us.
After my initial post I read the earlier posts about gun control. short of repeal of the second amendment, it's unlikely things will change. There are two things we could work on. The US per capital ownership is basically double any other country. Canada is seventh with less than a third of our poor capital rate. I think a bigger idea would be to follow the model of some European countries and require 1-2 years of military service. Learning better gun handling and safety measures as well as demonstrations of the true destructive power could offset the romantic attraction some kids have before ever picking up a gun. Baby steps but at least better than hand wringing.
One thought would be to enforce the gun laws we do have. In most major metropolitan areas, by policy illegally owning or purchasing a gun is downgraded in terms of enforcement, unless there is another crime involved. Lying on the form, purchasing while a felon, "straw-buying" (buying for someone else who is not eligible)...all basically ignored.
Prosecutors feel like they are persecuting poorer folk, or they don't have the resources, but by policy we don't pursue simple gun crimes, and those that come up are routinely not charged. Of course, these are often the same guns used in most crimes (though not to my understanding in most mass shooting incidents).
I could be interested in new gun control legislation, depending on what it is, but absolutely not if we don't enforce the current laws.
Just curious, was there something specific you all know of that caused Joe to repost? Beautiful essay.
So beautifully written. Thank you for the gift.
Joe, I feel you, and I’m so frustrated that nothing ever changes. It’s clear that not enough people in this country are willing to fight for common sense limitations on guns. Of all the developed nations, we have by far the worst record. I pray that we can somehow find a way to move away from this violence.
One of my brothers and his family live in Rhode Island, and one of his sons (my nephew) played hockey on the same team as one of the victims when they were younger. In addition, the shooter coached that same nephew in hockey when my nephew was 10, some 13 years ago. My brother and my nephew both referee juvenile hockey today, often in that very rink. This is the closest any of the countless mass shootings in the United States has come to touching me and mine; too damn close. This is the 41st mass shooting in the US in the first 47 days of 2026. Madness.
I couldn't halp but wonder if there had been a recent school shooting, (I have a tendency to stick my head in the sand and ignore the news sometimes, so I miss stuff) to see if something recent happened, so I looked it up.
Shocked when I found there had been one in Rhode Island just today, at a Hockey game, and one in Canada just last week. Between the two it was 10 deceased victims, 27 injured and both killers committed suicide.
It never seems to end.
Superb, Joe. Simply superb.
Really wonderful, Joe. And I am with you. I feel like I was feeling something similar writing this today, thinking of my daughter and "Hamilton" and "Come From Away:" https://alexpodlogar.substack.com/p/experiences-matter-no-matter-what
Wonderful article! And from one theater dad to another, congrats to Allison. Her future looks bright.
FYI Come From Away is touring again. My family first saw it at the La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego in its pre-Broadway work the rough edges off and then some of us - but not me unfortunately - saw it in New York. I'm looking forward to seeing it again 25 years after the events to see how time has changed its impact.
Very much appreciate this. Thank you.
Come From Away- I got a free 3 month subscription to Apple TV. One of the things I watched was come from away. I had no idea what it was. It was basically a filming of the show on Broadway, the first show after Broadway opened up after the pandemic I think. What a fantastic experience that was. What a feel good and also crying experience. I tell anybody I know that if you’re gonna watch anything on TV watch come from away. I’ve seen it three times and I’m gonna watch it again soon just because it makes me feel good to be a human.
Really, really good stuff.
Thank you joe
Brilliant, Joe. Thank you.
My son was in first grade when Sandy Hook happened. I vividly remember hearing about the massacre on the radio, pulling my car into the first parking lot I found, and just sobbing. That day should have changed everything about our national addiction to guns. I still do not and cannot understand how, instead, absolutely nothing changed.
Thank you, Joe.
Thank you.
That was so well written, thinking of my daughter when she was 9-10-11 (34 now) while reading. Then i started to cry…
Thank you, Joe.
Thanks for this Joe.
Beautifully written Joe.
Like many, I thought that Sandy Hook was a turning point. It's one of our country's greatest shames that our government lacks the will to act on gun violence, even in the wake of dozens of 6 and 7 year olds massacred.
The government *is* the people. If the majority of people wanted to fix this problem (or had the balls to do what is necessary to fix it, I should say), there would be an uprising and a revolution. We don't. We've got Netflix, Door Dash, and gummies. These deaths are the cost of doing business in America and we have decided that the cost isn't too high. Send a few "thoughts & prayers" and move on to the next mass shooting.
The "people" overwhelmingly support most common sense gun laws. Things like universal background checks. The Gun lobby however is very powerful and donates untold millions to politicians and threatens to primary anyone(on the right) who dares speak in favor of restricting gun access in any way. Unfortunately, as you say for most on the restrict guns side of the debate it is often the 3rd or 4th or 10th most important issue and for those who hope to be able to one day own their own tank it is THE issue. So we go nowhere.
Joe, you are so much more than a sportswriter. You are exquisitely tuned into the human condition, and when you explore the heart you shine so very much. Thank you for sharing this with us.