Distract from discussing availability of weapons? Quite the opposite my friend!
The entire conversation in the media-sphere revolves around firearms. I predict that the bill of sale offered by the media-sphere will do very little to curtail mass shootings in an acceptable way.
If the average number of people whom die from mass shootings was 20, and laws are passed, which reduced that number to 10; would that be acceptable to you?
If 250 people per year are killed in mass shootings, and laws are passed, which reduced that number to 200; would that be acceptable to you?
Phrasing, bud. When they are reduced to one per decade it would still not ever, ever, be 'acceptable'. At some point, we may have to accept that nothing more can reasonably be done and that a determined sociopath will find a way. But there will Never. Be. An. Acceptable. Number. Of. Shot. Schoolchildren.
And this can't be tap-danced around: mass shootings cannot be pulled off without easy access to high powered weaponry. Cruz was no Lex Luthor who was going to build his own weapons. He bought them off the shelf. The easy availability is a huge part of the problem, though agreed not the entire problem.
What effect do you predict your suggestions to reduce mass shootings will result in? What evidence do you have that your predictions are accurate? (If you mention xyz country as justification for any proposed solutions they will be taken with a grain of salt. There are way too many variables when comparing other countries to the US. Socialization, law enforcement, healthcare, etc to make any reliable comparisons. If we exactly mirrored every aspect of the other countries than I admit our results would be almost exact, but that is not what anybody is advocating).
These are serious questions.
I believe that rhetoric such as saying weapons of war, assault weapons, etc, is an indication of narrow-mindedness. It's an unhealthy fixation on one aspect of many.
No, it's readily identifying a simple to remedy part of the equation. Cruz was no Olympic shooting hopeful. Not even a 4-H plinker. He amassed military style weapons intending mass murder. So the question becomes 'well, did he abuse existing sporting arms, like using a baseball bat to attack someone? A lot of us think he didn't. He used those guns to do exactly what they were designed to do.
It doesn't even address the root-cause of these tragedies. Calling people 'wack jobs' isn't helpful. These are individuals that are suffering from an illness. An illness that is treatable. We're trying to reduce stigmas. Taking action before these individuals get to place of deciding to kill others should be a goal too. Calling them 'wack jobs' isn't going to solve anything.
That's fair. Mental illness is the root cause here. It is also profoundly difficult to identify and effectively treat it's victims. It is not difficult to make the tools they choose out of their reach. We keep sharp knives out of the reach of toddlers, so why not keep high powered weapons out of the hands of the mentally ill and criminals? Licensing, baby. Easy-peasy.
Discussing preventative and mitigating solutions seem appropriate. It's called wedge approach. I am not personally opposed to moving semi-auto guns to title II firearms. If that were to occur I believe that the tax on firearms should be reduced from $200. That is a preventative measure. Discussing possible mitigating solutions (barriers, bulletproof glass, points of access, etc) when these incidents occur can provide benefit as well.
Making semis title 2 might be a workable solution. Require some serious demonstration of proficiency to buy, and they are effectively in the hands of responsible sportsmen and out of reach of the Cruz types.
Bulletproof glass couldn't hurt, as safety measures are always a good thing. The massive cost would be prohibitive, though, and it should be an at best tertiary measure after the first two are addressed (availability and mental illness). But really, mass shooters entering a building by shooting through glass has not been a big factor in the equation, I think. Cruz attended this school and may have been familiar with alternate ways in, as many students are.
I acknowledge that societies operate on finite resources. How schools choose to allocate their monetary resources should be left to the localities and states. The local government and elected representatives are in a better position to make these decisions. I believe that the continued nationalization of mass shootings is contributing to some of the inaction. Of which the natural progress is outrage, anger and hopelessness.
I think the progression is outrage, frustration and commitment to solution. We are in the first two now. The rest of the world made it to the third. Batter up.