What should we learn from the Uvalde shooting?

Irma and Joe Garcia
Image: GoFundMe

Pictured above is Irma Garcia with her husband, Joe. Neither one of them is with us any longer. She died trying to shield her students at the Robb Elementary School on 24 May 2022 as a crzed killer was trying to shoot the children she was tasked with teaching and carrying for. She died a hero, making an ultimate sacrifice. Joe died two days later, according to the family, from a broken heart.

While Irma Garcia, her fellow teacher Eva Mireles and nineteen children were living out the last minutes of their lives a number of law enforcement officers gathered in front of the school they did not go in for about 40 minutes, though. The reason for that - the claimed reason - was that they were waiting for a SWAT team. But as they waited they did beyond just passively waiting, they prevented parents who had also gathered at the school from rushing into the school from entering it and trying to disable the shooter themselves.

Naturally, we all have our opinions and biases and we draw different conclusions from the news we learn about. Some people believe gun control is the answer. Personally, I guess at least in theory it may decrease the frequency of gun violence - but guns are far from the only tools available for perpetrating violence, even mass violence. Other focus on the mental health of tragedies like this one. This certainly makes sense - but this can not be universally expected to stop all crazy murderers from following through on their murderous ideation. Some think improvement to government services is the answer. But here we have a very poignant illustration of how inefficient the government can be, including being effectively an impedance in the way of citizens seeking to do the right thing.

In my humble opinion, there is no reason to believe government is anything but a group of people. As such, it should be given neither any more credit, nor any special privileges in comparison to any other group. Nor should any government agency get to keep its license when its activities become detrimental to the well being of citizens it is tasked with serving.

References

Irma Garcia was killed protecting her students. Her husband died two days later: "Joe died of a broken heart."
Li Cohen, CBS News, 26 May 2022

Witnesses, Video Suggest Stunning Inaction From Uvalde Cops During School Shooting
Elizabeth Nolan Brown, Reason, 26 May 2022

Robb Elementary School shooting (wiki)

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