I never got (and don't think I ever will get) why the barometer for freedom has to be guns and not any number of other personal, institutional or democratic liberties. This is a country where cars and dogs have to be registered but guns don't. Adjusting the laws to fix a security flaw that's been exposed is hardly a first step to Orwell's 1984. It's only following Australia's trajectory (albeit 20 years behind) and you'll be hard-pressed to find a majority over there who want to go back to pre-Port Arthur massacre days.
It’s an even more crazy response to fixing the loophole when the terrorist literally explained in his manifesto that he picked a gun as his weapon because it would stoke divisions in the US and would help rally the far right
I think it’s pretty telling when your viewpoint in a debate is shared by the person who instigated the tragedy upon which the debate is based in the first place
I still mourn for all those who’ve faced unimaginable loss over the last few days and my only hope is that this tragedy won’t be meaningless and I’m encouraged by the leadership of Jacinda Ardern and the way New Zealand politics has seemed to rally around the issue of gun control but also seems to be engaging in a wider public debate about racism and white supremacy
A conversation that could fizzle out but I hope it doesn’t because it’s important