For many of us, this is the time of year when we start pulling out swimsuits and planning vacations.
For the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, however, the arrival of spring this year means time to start planning its response to mass shootings.
Why now? Because tragically, warm weather brings an uptick in gun violence.
So in mid-April, the Office of Gun Violence Prevention staff held a kickoff meeting for a new multi-agency team that is designed to provide a “FEMA-like” coordinated response to mass shootings. The idea is to have multiple teams on the ground within 24 hours of a mass shooting: Justice Department staff to set up family assistance centers, Education Department staff to help schools reopen, and so on.
This is very sobering news. On the one hand, it’s good that such a strong response is in the works. On the other hand, of course, it’s heartbreaking that it’s come to this — because a civilized society should be able to prevent mass slaughter, not just respond to it.
Shooting after shooting, death after death, and the right continues to signal that it will not stand for limits on gun sales or........