Time for mourning, not advancing agenda

The wake of the tragedy in Aurora, Colo., has churned up the topic of gun control on both sides of the political spectrum. Is now the right time and place for this issue? Have we had enough time to mourn the tragic loss of life brought about via the business end of a so-called “assault rifle”? These questions overshadow the greater magnitude of the events in Colorado. Where is our compassion? Why the impulsive reaction to exploit the tragic incident for our own political ends?

Our irreverent, dislocated response to such tragedies is understandable. We distance ourselves from the pain of the tragedy by finding someone or something to blame. But the families of the 12 dead, the loved ones of the injured, and the psychologically scarred theater patrons will not be healed.

Yes, in time they will learn to live with the horror of that night. Forever changed. And we will continue to bicker about whether stronger gun laws could have prevented a psychotic mass killer from doing his grim bidding. Limits on clip sizes or access to semi-automatic rifles may have reduced the damage done that night; or, they may have driven the killer to use other, more destructive and devastating means. We can only speculate.

Two things, however, are certain. It is time to mourn and heal. It is not time to argue gun control.

Jesse Monk

Marion