Another mass shooting and a whole shitload of "thoughts and prayers" without any action. And as long as so much of government is beholden to the NRA, there will be no action. But I think there is something that can be done.
Let me be clear. This is not a substitute for sensible gun laws. It will not make the problem go away. But maybe, just maybe, we could be talking about this a little less often.
If news outlets stopped publishing the names and pictures of the perpetrators, telling us all about their family and upbringing, then I think at least a few people will find some other way to express their hatred and anger.
I am not saying that newspapers and television should ignore mass shooting. On the contrary, I think that we need to keep these in the public consciousness, to keep the pressure on our legislators. All I am suggesting is, don't show their pictures, don't name them. The victims deserve to have their stories told, the killer does not. And you know that part of the reason that they do these things is an "I'll show them" attitude. If you don't get your name and picture splattered all over, then you haven't really "showed" anyone.
When they go to trial, their names will probably come out. And if the victims are mostly black or brown then the alt right Nazi blogs will probably report it and praise the murderer's valiant defense of the white race. But that isn't the same thing as having your picture on the nightly news, and your pathetic story told over and over. It doesn't have the same payoff.
By not giving them that satisfaction, at least some people considering this may be dissuaded, because it won't have the same rush. Will they do something else horrible? Well, maybe. But I think it is worth a shot.
