Orlando mass shooting an ‘act of terror, act of hate’

The mass shooting in Orlando early Sunday, the worst in U.S. history, seemed designed to press as many hot buttons as possible in a nation already on edge from an ugly election campaign. Islamist-fueled terrorism, homophobia, the easy availability of weapons of war — all were possible factors as the horrific facts trickled out. In such a situation, there is a temptation to draw too many lessons, or draw them too soon. But it would be just as wrong to shy away from lessons staring us in the face.

First, attention must go to the families of the many, many dead, and to the injured, whose lives will be forever altered. Respect must be paid to the law enforcement officers who rushed to the nightclub, and to the nurses, doctors and other health workers who repaired to emergency rooms turned suddenly into war zones. “No one could have predicted this, no one could have prepared for it,” a local faith leader said at one of the morning news briefings. “It’s like lightning.”

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