Editorial: We need action as well as words to combat mass violence

Can we agree that we owe them more than words?

There is, of course, plenty to say - and that all too familiar. The agony of having to confront yet another horrific slaughter of innocents. The grief for a community of our fellow citizens made a target of hate simply for being who they are. The stupefied outrage that a mentally disturbed individual whose threatening nature was known to the FBI could get a job in security, acquire a rapid-fire weapon and find an opportunity to use it. The frustration that after so much death, so many tragedies, we still can't seem to find the resolve to confront them more effectively.

We know that in a free society, it is impossible to eliminate every threat. To identify every person motivated to make a political or social statement with the blood of the guiltless and the capacity to see it through. So we accept that we have to be cautious and aware in public places. We acknowledge that the businesses and events that attract us - the "soft targets" in the chilling vernacular of our time - have a responsibility to help look out for us, to provide a reasonable expectation of safety.

But does all this mean we have to accept as a hazard of free association that from time to time, the unstable or the fanatical will spray our gatherings with bullets? Surely, we must have a better recourse than to expect that every citizen arm himself or herself in preparation for a shootout at every party, movie, nightclub, sporting event, dinner or religious meeting.

In the aftermath of Sunday's massacre in Orlando, our political leaders were quick to offer words of promise if not of comfort. They, like Highland Park Republican U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk, called for "swift action to protect Americans from future attacks here at home." Like Hoffman Estates Democratic U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth, they urged us to "stand united as Americans, love one another and never turn against each other in the face of fear." Like U.S. Rep. Bob Dold, a Kenilworth Republican, they insisted, "We cannot allow the tired, partisan bickering to distract us from the difficult but necessary work" of fighting violence and bigotry. And like our senior U.S. senator, Democrat Dick Durbin, they bemoaned the "increasingly tragic script" of outrage, recovery and debate, and declared that Congress must "stand against hate, terrorism and this horrific gun violence."

Wonderful and appropriate words, all. But words only. Let us add to them the comfort of prayer. In all this, we can at least strengthen the bonds of family and citizenship that sustain us. Yet even so, shouldn't we recognize that this is not enough? That we also need action - not just on our own lookouts, not just from the places where we congregate for entertainment, celebration or worship, but also from the political leaders responsible for the climate and the rules that provide our protection?

We appreciate the words and the prayers, and we are compelled to add ours to them. We hope they provide some succor in a time of great heartache. But we have one observation to add: We know they are not enough. If we are truly to honor the victims of Orlando and the scores who came before them, we will act as well.