Gun Violence

[richardfinegold]

As BBM is aware, we had an active shooter incident at the Hospital where I work yesterday. Among the dead is a colleague of mine and a Pharmacy Technician. I share an office with other colleagues, one of whom is married to one of the Hospital Pharmacists who was unharmed but easily could have been walking in the area at the time with her slain colleague. My colleague bolted the office to pick up his wife and 5 minutes later his elderly, Hard of hearing mother called frantically, and it was a task to calm her down. My other colleague is from the Philippines and we were both fielding calls and texts from relatives, his from 12 time zones away. We were supposed to have a lunch today for the upcoming Thanksgiving Holiday, and now I imagine it will become a memorial service, and I am finding hard to go
work today.
The National Rifle Association meanwhile reacted to a series of research papers on gun violence from my Internist Society by tweeting that Doctors should “stay in their lane”.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I really don't know how to reply to this terrible and distressing news, rfg. My sincere and deepest good wishes to you and your colleagues.

The stranglehold that the NRA appears to have on policy makers is disgusting.

[Richard Tarleton]

I too was struggling to know what to say and can only echo ferney's sentiments. The NRA tweet, deconstructed, means (among other things) "doctors should stick to patching people up after they've been shot, how they come to be shot is none of their business". It really is impossible for us this side of the pond to grasp the cultural hinterland behind these sentiments.

[Richard Barrett]

It's heartrending, and I mean that without any exaggeration. Some of my best friends and most highly esteemed collaborators are American (as indeed was my first wife), and I always look forward to visiting the USA and have an unforgettable and inspiring time when I'm there. But then I think of the America of random massacres, of immigrant children separated from their parents, of racist police brutality, of the present execrable individual who somehow became president, and have to recognise that this is the same place. I don't know if that's altogether relevant to the terrible thing that's happened in your hospital, but I wish strength to you and your colleagues at such a distressing time.

[french frank]

My deep, deep sympathies too, rfg.

It really is impossible for us this side of the pond to grasp the cultural hinterland behind these sentiments.

This is so true. It's the 21st century and 'the right to bear arms' is still looked on as if it were a basic human right, despite this kind of human suffering.

[LMcD]

I really don't know how to reply to this terrible and distressing news, rfg. My sincere and deepest good wishes to you and your colleagues.

The stranglehold that the NRA appears to have on policy makers is disgusting.

I wholeheartedly share these sentiments. How tragically ironic that rfg and I have very recently been discussing the issues raised by 'Three Billboards....'

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

It really is impossible for us this side of the pond to grasp the cultural hinterland behind these sentiments.

And, it should be said, not just on this side of the pond:

[pastoralguy]

I really don't know how to reply to this terrible and distressing news, rfg. My sincere and deepest good wishes to you and your colleagues.

The stranglehold that the NRA appears to have on policy makers is disgusting.

I can only echo what ferney and others have written.

Stay safe.

[Serial_Apologist]

If we needed reminding the world is a small place, Richard's message is a much-needed reminder.

[Pulcinella]

You and your colleagues are in my thoughts too, Richard.
I know that it should not necessarily be the case, but it always seems more tragic when people whose lives are spent helping others are victims of violence such as this.
But perhaps the knowledge that you are doing good in an often dark world will help you and your colleagues get through this: I sincerely hope so.

[gurnemanz]

Deepest sympathy.

By pure chance this afternoon we were at the cinema watching "Widows". Excellent film set in Chicago and the rampant gun violence portrayed, if true to life, which it seems it might be, is frightening.

[jayne lee wilson]

Oh Richard, that is so, so shocking...what can we do but offer a helpless degree of empathy?

I always follow News & Current affairs closely, so I see how appallingly frequent these events have become.
What can anyone do? So they say: arm the teachers! What now? Arm the doctors!? Madness.
Perhaps the younger generation may, finally, effect some change...

I recall John F. Berky of abruckner.com, when one of these massacres had taken place near his own home, telling me (and other Brucknerians, in a gentle apology for the lack of a newsletter): "Sometimes it can seem impossible to continue; but continue we must."
One offers what words one can in reply...always better than silence.

You probably won't get much help from the present administration, no. But we should all keep fighting for a better world, never, never give up.
The current rise of the radical right, and other extremes of political thought and action, feeding on conflict across the world, can be turned back, however slowly and painfully. We can keep standing up for that post-enlightmenment, liberal-humanist tradition of thought, intellect and compassion across all cultures, and one day we may smile, cautiously, again....

Try to stay strong Richard...even as the tears and the anger and the confusion may flow...

[Dave2002]

Richard

This is terribly sad news. So glad you survived, and were able to help others. Other families you know will have lost loved ones. From this side of the pond, all I can say is that I and others will pass on what little comfort we can, and hope that you will recover from this, and that others may still benefit from your help and kindness to them.

[Joseph K]

Very sorry to hear this.

My thoughts are with you - especially so since I have close family members in the USA.

[Nick Armstrong]

we had an active shooter incident at the Hospital where I work yesterday. Among the dead is a colleague of mine and a Pharmacy Technician.

Brings it shockingly close, Richard - distressing news, many thoughts for all those affected.... Your post came hard on the heels of a conversation with a French guest who's staying at the moment, who knows at least two people directly affected by the Bataclan and related outrages in Paris (one lost a best friend in the theatre shooting, another's girlfriend lost a limb in the bomb blast)

Random terrorist attacks are one thing, but the US / NRA position on gun "rights" beggars belief