After Columbine. After Aurora. After Sandy Hook. After whatever the latest mass murder may be, we ask ourselves, what went wrong? How could we have not seen what was coming? Why didn't somebody say or do something?
There is never one simple answer.
And our grief often overwhelms our ability to see things clearly.
But I have good news.
Sometimes, things go right.
Sometimes things work the way they are supposed to work and people do the things we hope they would do. Sometimes people do the things we would like to think we would do ourselves under similar circumstances. Sometimes law enforcement officers at all levels go the extra mile and do all the right things. Sometimes the media tell the story that most needs telling and get it right.
This time, a would have been mass murderer is in a place where he is no longer a danger to himself and to others. (He is charged with a felony, with more possible, and is receiving a court-ordered mental health evaluation.)
And I am very pleased to be able to bring us a story of things working the way they are supposed to work. Thanks to Paul Rosenberg, writing at Salon.com, we have what is probably as good an account as we are going to see anywhere of how another unspeakable tragedy was averted.