Hot Irony

As always follows an horrific event such as the shootings in Newtown, public figures have got on their hobby horses and denounced whatever it is about our society they say causes such things.  I don't like political rhetoric in general, but I think it's even harder to take when used to exploit such tragedies.  Still, I suppose, it's a feature of democracy that legislation is easier to pass when there's a sense of urgency. Unfortunately, this can often mean we don't get the requisite deliberation.

I could mention a lot of talk, on the right and left, that came out almost automatically yesterday.  Let me concentrate on the statement of Senator Frank Lautenberg, not because it's so different from others, but because I happened to see it first.

Americans are sick and tired of these attacks on our children and neighbors and they are sick and tired of nothing being done in Washington to stop the bloodshed. If we do not take action to address gun violence, shooting tragedies like this will continue. As President Obama said, we must act now 'regardless of the politics.'

"Nothing being done in Washington to stop the bloodshed." As I've pointed out so many times I'm getting tired (and tiresome), crime in the U.S., violent and otherwise, has been on a significant downward trend for about three decades.  In fact, our murder rate is now less than half of what it was in 1980.  I don't know if Washington had anything to do with it, but something is happening somewhere.  While today isn't the day to celebrate the improved statistics, claims about a descent into violence should nevertheless be tempered with this knowledge.

"If we don't take action to address gun violence, shooting tragedies like this will continue." True enough.  Here's another true statement--If we take action to address gun violence, shooting tragedies like this will continue.

Then there's his and the President's line about going forward regardless of the politics.  Do I even need to comment?