Friday, June 28, 2019

Remembering the Capital Gazette shooting one year later; moment of silence at 2:33 p.m. EDT

The victims, L-R: Rob Hiaasen, Wendi Winters, John McNamara, Rebecca Smith, and Gerald Fischman. (CG  montage)
One year ago today, five newspaper staffers died when a gunman opened fire in the newsroom of the Capital Gazette in Annapolis, Md., population 40,000. The paper has published an impressive news package marking the occasion, including an update on how survivors are faring in the aftermath, a moving photo portrait project, and an editorial calling for stronger gun control laws.

The Gazette published the day after the shooting, but left its opinion page blank except for the words, "Today, we are speechless." The best-remembered line of the day was probably a tweet from reporter Chase Cook: "I can tell you this: We are putting out a damn paper tomorrow."

One year later, an editorial titled "We have something to say" lists dozens of names of people killed in mass shootings since the Capital Gazette shooting and says, "Until we take steps to cure the sickness of our American soul — with stronger regulation of firearms, improved mental health services and law enforcement that fairly identifies individuals likely to commit mass violence — none of us is safe. The list will grow. Today, we urge you to join us in a moment of silence at 2:33 p.m. to remember our friends. Remember these names, as well. Because none of us can truly be free until, together, we stop this madness."

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