At the end of Week 6 of our COVID-19 restrictions, we went from bad to the worst. For those of you outside Canada who don’t follow World news, the worst mass shooting in modern Canadian history occurred in Nova Scotia April 18-19th. There were 22 victims.
At a time when everyone wanted to get together to mourn, we could not because of the current restrictions limiting gatherings to 5 (socially distanced) people. Family and friends could not join wakes and funerals, the community could not rally together in person to show support or grieve with friends.
Last week, I didn’t give a shit about keeping up with COVID-19 news. If I read a headline about how the pandemic is shining a light on all that is broken in North America (Duh!), it probably annoyed me. I scanned local, national, and world media looking for updates as details on the victims trickled in.
I started out heart-broken but, through the week, anger grew as I read things like RANDOM, SENSELESS, “we’ll never know WHY,” “how could it happen HERE?” Oh, and lots and lots of THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS to Nova Scotians from politicians and celebrities. Five days after the massacre, the RCMP finally confirmed what many of us assumed but which was not yet touched by mainstream media—the shootings had started with domestic assault (the victim survived). I felt a release. Finally it could be talked about.
In the midst of pandemic reporting, the “story” is fading from World news. How long before it is considered unupdateable and unactionable and fades from Canadian and then Nova Scotian media and minds?
Thoughts and Prayers are for hurricanes and pandemics. Mass shootings, domestic violence, and misogyny demand righteous anger, inquiry, and activism.
David Kimelman says
Hi Sheri,
I was struck by the shooting as it came just after your post that Atlantic Canadians are the nicest of the nice. I am sure you are right that is generally true, but the timing seemed deeply ironic. Maybe it will lead to gun control; here, in the US, after every mass shooting there is a lot of press but then nothing really ever changes, and in fact, gun regulation seems to get weaker by the year.
back is the new forward says
You caught that, eh? It wasn’t lost on me either. Sooo … within two weeks of the massacre, the federal gov’t enacted a ban on 1500 military/assault weapons. Let’s see.
Thanks for still following along on my posts!