Mayor Jeri Muoio: How many must die before we learn our lesson?
A LETTER FROM WEST PALM BEACH MAYOR JERI MUOIO
It is impossible to predict or prevent every tragedy.
But when the unthinkable happens, whether natural or man-made, what makes our community great is our ability to learn from our experiences and become better.
The almost apocalyptic South Florida landscapes left behind by Hurricane Andrew went beyond description. But out of that devastation grew improved building codes that now better protect us all.
Moments after the South Tower fell, and twenty-one minutes before the North Tower collapsed, NYPD helicopter pilots circling the remaining tower predicted it too was near failure. They called for all first responders to evacuate. The warning was never heard by firefighters. In 2001, police and fire departments were on different radio systems. It was a costly lesson, but one that has led to improvements in how our first responders handle emergencies.
We learn from our experiences and become better…but not always.
It has been almost two decades since two Colombine High School students opened fire on their classmates with assault-style weapons killing 13 people.
In 2012, a man walked into a Connecticut elementary school with an assault-style rifle and killed 28 people.
That same year, someone opened fire in a Colorado movie theater – also with an assault-style weapon. Seventy people were killed or wounded there.
Six months ago, another shooter with an assault-style weapon killed 14 of his California co-workers.
And now Orlando.
The rapid fire, quick loading ability of the weapons used in all these killings serves one purpose, and one purpose only. To kill as many people as quickly as possible.
These weapons must be banned.
They have no place on our city streets. They have no place being sold at gun shows in our city or any other.
They are mass-killing machines that gun rights groups have perverted our Constitution to protect.
We don’t need more moments of silence. We need to speak out and demand a renewed ban on the assault weapons that are killing our children, our friends and our neighbors.
How many more need to die before we learn this lesson and become better?
