I'm sort of disappointed with myself that I haven't figured it out on my own before but I think I've understood why it happens.
There are several reasons, each with their own subset.
Reason #1 — Not my kid
To put it plainly from any parent's perspective – each pupil, student, and future alumni is a competition to one's own children success in life and overall access. No parent, poor or wealthy, good or bad, happy or sad, wants to see their own fail.
So, when a tragedy of epic proportions happens (on an individual level & depersonalized at the same time), while “hugs & prayers & kisses” are thrown all around declaratively, in the innermost private thoughts of anyone is “Glad it's not mine.” or “Glad it's not me.”
The reason why it hasn't stopped after Sandy Hook or Columbine is because of a twisted mix of “survivorship bias” and having the competition thrown away.
So, the American public weighted its lottery probability with others' lives (and others onto yours), vis-a-vis school shootings, mass shootings: is it better to not have public shootings at all & finish in the last places or have the chance to become a survivor & win at the end of the line (graduation, job selection, promotion etc.) because my former colleagues were gunned down to their deaths.
The United States promotes what's called the “Type-A personality” people: highly competitive, ruthless by any means necessary.
If school shootings or public mass shootings occur – “better your kid than mine; better you than me”, correct?
BYKTM/BYCTM and BYTM.
The invisible hand trigger finger. That, or the ulcer-inducing competitive lifestyle.
Reason #2 — Nobody really cares
Somewhat as an extension to the first, yet separate enough to be a standalone: you/me/us, we don't really care either. We don't.
We don't care when enforcement law & the judicial system fails us, because we're scared of rap sheets attached to our names, or prison sentences. Correct?
Every time something fails, always, always like clockwork, the lukewarm solutions appear: “trust the process”, “don't worry”, “we should try better/harder next time” (subtle self-guilt btw), “we shouldn't have done this or that”.
Because then, we'd have to face the reality that, because of some intrinsic fear of a bigger power (the police baton, the judge's gavel, the keys of the prison warden...), we too wouldn't have done anything against concentration camps in WWII. (bet'cha you didn't expected this twist)
The fact of the matter is, everyone is scared of the authorities, even when we think & believe we're correct or when we know for certain what needs to be done.
It seems that... better them, than us; better you, than me. Even though I know you'd light a candle for me, and vice-versa, and not do anything more impactful against people who have positions of authority, elected or un-elected.
This is where we're at.
“Protests”, you might say? Yeah, I still remember Occupy WallStreet, what good?
Reason #3 — Money, Interests > Will, Resolve
Remember something and get it through your head: any public official, elected or un-elected, just like yourself, just like myself, are tied to their money & retirement plan. Hands down, down to your knees, that's all there is to it. Nothing more.
Don't expect some magical power from enforcement agencies, the military, the justice system, to risk their own livelihood over yours.
Don't expect those wielding the power to relent their own vices, their spouses, their kids (hey-hey #1), their concubines, their friends/colleagues/lodge brothers or sisters and their own offsprings/etc. over you, and me, and others.
This is the dilemma of the 21st and 22nd centuries: the corrupt humanity of those in power, with self-perpetuating consolidated authority, against the less willing afraid of consequences (eg. fines, prison sentences, black listings...) the former holds over the latter's heads.
They know the majority of us won't do anything meaningful, and we know that they know that.
Quick, they just found out about a new UFO, change the channel! Wooo~!!!!
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