As NRA supporter op-ed columnist Mark A. Thiessen argues [Do we really want to disarm American heroes?--Washington Post March 1, 2018], yet another nightmare, the shooting at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, TX, was undoubtedly diluted by the quick intervention of neighbor/NRA member/"good guy with a gun," Stephen Willeford. Still, before the act of heroism, 26 parishioners were shot dead. Twenty six. Therein lies the problem with the "good guy with a gun" theory: in the best case scenario, much blood will almost inevitably shed at the outset, because the bad guy inevitably enjoys an element of surprise. He (seldom if ever she) has some sort of a plan, knows what his next move is going to be, something the greatest sharpshooter in the world can not be aware of, and thus respond. Remember Chris Kyle, the author of best-selling "American Sniper," and friend Chad Littlefield? And some are expecting the average teacher to morph into supercop Dirty Harry? Now, if the initial Texan court-martialled shooter (why dignify him by naming him) had been unable to buy an AR-556, an assault/military-style rifle, had he been checked, those 26 would still be alive today. An ounce of prevention. Heroism is best seen in the movies, via fiction. If I may quote one of Tina Turner's greatest hits (penned by Terry Britten and Graham Lyle):

Out of the ruins
Out from the wreckage
Can't make the same mistake this time
We are the children
The last generation
We are the ones they left behind
And I wonder when we are ever gonna change
Living under the fear, till nothing else remains

We don't need another hero