Close Reading

Whenever I hear Americans or Canadians complain about immigration, I think of the Gangs of New York scene where Daniel Day-Lewis' character spits on the newcomers coming off the boats...

No offence to Tyler, but the number of school shootings I've seen covered in the news from small towns in the US is extensive. I've seen countless small communities in the US rocked by mass killings, usually taking place at schools where children are the main targets. And every time I see one of these stories, there's always at least one distraught parent explaining how this type of thing never happens in their community and how they never thought it would happen to them. I find it interesting that Canadians are generally more informed and aware of the prevalence of gun violence in the US compared to actual Americans. School and mass shootings happen so frequently in the US, that I no longer even look into the stories. I've become completely desensitized to them and unsurprised whenever I hear about the most recent school shooting. My perception is that nowhere is safe if the US, even if you think you live in a small, quiet, safe community.