Watch.

In the wake of the tragic gun massacre in Tucson, AZ last weekend, I have been watching The Rachel Maddow Show and reflecting on the situation. I have deeply appreciated the way that she has addressed the situation -- never in a reductionist manner, never in a way that dehumanizes figures from either side of the political spectrum, or even paying an undue amount of attention to the details of this particular gun massacre. Last night, she said it brilliantly:

Each new American gun massacre is both singularly horrific in its own way and its insane not to to acknowledge that it is part of a very clear, very frequently repeating pattern.

She opened up last night's segment with the Cliff Note's version of twenty or so other gun massacres that have occurred in the United States within my lifetime, and it does beg a question that goes far beyond the current political climate. What's going on here?

Tonight, Rachel discussed the immediate headlines proclaiming despair over any change to US gun laws. These headlines are hard to miss. After a short conversation with my roommate on the best argument I'd heard for gun control, I passed on this delightful argument that Chris Rock supports (also featured on Rachel's show tonight).

Unfortunately, it's explicit, so if you're under 18, I never recommended you watch this.