West Newsmagazine 10-11-17

FACEBOOK.COM/WESTNEWSMAGAZINE
WESTNEWSMAGAZINE.COM
Scott Rasmussen
That helpless,
hopeless feeling
Horrific, sickening and tragic are just
a few of the words I’ve heard used to
describe the news from Las Vegas. But
none of them really capture the reality
that such acts are utterly beyond
comprehension. As I write this, official
sources still are looking for a motive,
but no rational motive can possibly
exist. Whatever made the killer take
59 lives made sense only in some delusional
world most humans can’t come
close to understanding.
After the words and the images sink
in, it still doesn’t seem real. But we
want to know why – who or what can
we blame? What can we do to prevent
this sort of thing from ever happening
again?
That’s when the hopelessness sets in.
We want an easy answer, but there isn’t
one. In fact, while it’s hard to admit,
there probably aren’t any answers at all.
It’s happened before and will happen
again. Humans have done terrible and
sickening and horrific things to others
throughout recorded history.
This journey was partially described
by statistician Leah Libresco in a
Washington Post column. Previously,
the gun control advocate had been
involved with a project documenting
the reality of gun deaths in the United
States.
Her team found that 63 percent of
gun deaths involved suicides. Most of
these deaths involved older men. The
biggest group of homicides involved
young men, generally those who were
involved with gang or criminal activity.
On top of that, roughly 1,700 women
were murdered, generally as a result of
domestic abuse.
As she explored the data looking for
answers, Libresco admitted “the policies
I’d lobbied for crumbled when I
examined the evidence.” The more
complex reality showed that passing
new laws might make some people
feel good, but it would not reduce gun
violence. In the end, Libresco “found
the most hope in more narrowly tailored
interventions.” These solutions
focused on the underlying causes,
rather than the guns.
Unfortunately, in the aftermath of an
event like the Las Vegas shooting, few
people engage in the sort of careful
analysis that Libresco offered. Instead,
most of us respond in a visceral way.
We can’t make sense of what happened
and we hate the fact that there’s nothing
we can do to help. We want to get
rid of that sickening feeling by believing
that there is a silver lining to be
found. Maybe, just maybe, we think,
this is the time we will learn how to
prevent this from ever happening again.
Like everyone else, I desperately
want to find that silver lining. I never
again want to wake up to hear of
another Las Vegas. But, like Libresco,
I know that there are no magical cures
or silver linings. It breaks my heart to
tell people that the data shows their pet
solution won’t solve anything, but that
is the reality we must face.
© 2017 Creators.com
westnewsmagazine
October 11, 2017
WEST NEWSMAGAZINE
I OPINION I 3
Almost everyone offers cremation.
Offering on-site cremation
puts us in a class of our own.
Nowadays, it’s very common
for a funeral home to offer
cremation services. You might
not know that cremation and
on-site cremation are two very
different options. Having an
on-site crematory is just another
way we guarantee that your
loved one’s care is always in
reach and near to our hearts.
Ballwin Funeral Home
14960 Manchester Rd. at Holloway
Ballwin, MO 63011
Schrader Funeral Home - Eureka
108 North Central Ave.
Eureka, MO 63025
(636) 227-5511
(636) 938-3000
www.schrader.com
New Kolbe windows and doors beautify
your home and increase energy efficiency
© adfinity
Along with the rest of the nation,
West Newsmagazine remembers
those who lost their lives in Las Vegas,
and their families, in our prayers.
Add a pop of color to your windows. Craft a
one-of-a-kind entrance door. Every Kolbe product
is built-to-order, with a multitude of customization
options to match your unique style.
Contact the experts at Kirkwood Home Gallery!
We’ll handle your entire project from start to finish,
from an in-home consultation to installation.
744 Hanley Industrial Court Brentwood, MO 63144
314.272.3638 | kstair.com/doors-windows