The latest school massacre in Texas differs from the others mainly by the “simpler” guns used by the killer: a sawed-off shotgun and a semi-automatic pistol apparently stolen from his father. I’ve written a fistful of Notebooks about America’s gun problem, and Jeanne’s becoming an expert at drawing weapons of mass murder. We’re tired of it; it’s repetitive, sickening and obviously ineffective.

Although our responses seem to do no good, it also seems both weak and morally wrong to just ignore these human tragedies. So once again we settled down at our tables: this time Jeanne’s drawn a sawed-off shotgun and I’ve written a rondeau, which at least helps to keep us more or less sane. Good luck to you all.

The Gun Lobby Makes Its Sales Pitch

‘What d’you say?’ the NRA

chief panjandrum began to bray

‘What d’you say when a drug-crazed crook

hammers your door and breaks the lock

and shoots your loved ones while they pray?

We need good guys with guns or they

will damn well shoot you first Each day

it’s them or us so write your check!

What d’you say?’

. . . Tucson . . . Aurora . . . Mandalay

Fort Hood . . . Binghamton . . . Pulse . . . LA