There was a school shooting in America yesterday. Another one, I hear you sigh.
This wasn’t the first school shooting this year. It is highly unlikely that it will be the last.
In fact, these things happen with such agonising regularity that there is now a process in place.
We send thoughts and prayers to the families of those killed and injured.
We vow that this must never happen again.
We promise that we will learn from this; that we will make sweeping changes to ensure that no other families have to endure the same thing.
Until they do.
A construction worker was killed on a site in London yesterday. Another one, I hear you sigh.
This wasn’t the first construction fatality this year. It is highly unlikely that it will be the last.
In fact, these things happen with such agonising regularity that there is now a process in place.
We send thoughts and prayers to the families of those killed and injured.
We vow that this must never happen again.
We promise that we will learn from this; that we will make sweeping changes to ensure that no other families have to endure the same thing.
Until they do.
From the relative safety of the UK, we can look at this latest school shooting as entirely predictable. The US has more guns than it has people; access to those guns is far too easy. Only a significant shift in gun control can prevent this from happening again.
But, even while those conversations are taking place, there will be those with a vested interest that will point to the Second Amendment and the part that says “the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed”. And nothing changes.
From the relative safety of my office, I can look at this latest construction fatality as equally predictable. The UK demolition and construction industry is now predicated on completing work as quickly and as cheaply as is humanly possible. Only a significant shift in that mindset can prevent this from happening again.
But, even while those conversations are taking place, there will be those with a vested interest that will point to the next project deadline, the next contract negotiation, the next shareholder meeting. And nothing changes.
We are beyond thoughts and prayers; we are beyond learning lessons; and we are beyond assurances that this will never happen again.
And yet, it will. There will be another school shooting. There will be another fatal construction accident. It’s not a matter of if, but of when.
The proliferation of guns in the US is killing children. The haste associated with modern demolition and construction is killing men and women.
And unless we make some significant changes, both will continue to do so.
