We Do Need Reason      
        
   Columnist Peggy Noonan, heads and shoulders and tall buildings smarter than us, writes this about America's mass-shootings:


   "We argue about which solutions are right, but all the 
solutions are part of the solution. We are in a mental health crisis; it's not a right-wing talking point. We need more hospitalizations and more hospitals.

   "We do need red-flag laws so that those who are potentially harmful to themselves or others have their guns taken. We do need deep national background checks, and let judges adjudicate disputes. 
We do have to help the single mother who knows her son is a ticking time bomb - she needs a better response than, 'There's nothing we can do until he hurts someone.'

   "We should try banning assault weapons. I don't care if we don't have statistics proving it will help - do it anyway, as a crisis measure; do it for 10 years and see if it helps.

   "If the National Rifle Association were wise, it would be supple [compliant] now, in crisis. If the president were wise, he'd look to the country and put distance between the NRA and himself. If Democrats were wise they wouldn't turn this into a game." 

   "I want so badly to tie this back to the old songs and their confidently asserted values. I can't. There's no nice song about people scared for their kids and afraid for their country."