Thoughts on The Mass Shooting at a LGBTQ Nightclub in Colorado Springs

I awoke to the news this morning that there had been a mass shooting at a LGBTQ nightclub in Colorado Springs called Club Q which claimed the lives of 5 people with 18 others injured. 

The only silver lining in this tragedy is that the gunman was bravely subdued by several patrons thereby preventing any further injury and loss of life.

Naturally, one cannot help but think of the mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida in June 2016 which claimed the lives of 49 people. The perpetrator carried out this attack in the name of ISIS. 

We have now come to the point in this country where there have been so many mass shootings that they invoke memories of other mass shootings. The mass shooting at Parkland High invoked memories of Columbine. The mass shooting at the elementary school in Uvalde invoked memories of Sandy Hook. Mass shootings have occurred in nearly every possible setting you can imagine - schools, the workplace, grocery stores, houses of worship, parades, movie theaters, concert venues and nightclubs. It is hard to feel a sense of safety when one leaves home with the thought you might never return as if one were leave to go to war.

Of course, the paradox here is that violent crime in this country is not nearly what it was in the early 1990's. But with the nature of these crimes being so spectacular and claiming so many victims at once it is hard to see it that way. Whatever the statistics those facts are of cold comfort to those who have lost loved ones in these heinous acts.

As for the perpetrator of this crime while a precise motive has not been established we cannot safely conclude he had violent animosity towards the LGBTQ community. The question remains is if right-wing political discourse had any role in stimulating this violent animosity. It appears that the suspect had previously threatened to kill his mother and had a cache of weapons and bombs. In which case, there's a good chance this man has a history of mental health problems. But mental health or not, if a man is prepared to kill his own mother then he is prepared to kill anyone for any reason. Nevertheless, he did see fit to set his sights on the LGBTQ community and this is a cruel reminder that this sort of hatred exists in our country.