Last week a mass shooting broke out at the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl parade celebration. In the violent aftermath, one person was killed and over twenty injured, with many of the injured being young children. Immediately the emotional reactions poured out over social media. Government officials and special interest groups began posting about the need for “common-sense” gun reform. Quickly those posts began to become fewer as details of the shooting started to show that gun reform would have done little to prevent what happened at the parade.

The guns used were likely covered by laws, and those who chose to open fire after a heated exchange were criminals that were never going to abide by the restrictions a political ideology would like to impose on Americans. Reflecting on the media response provides vital information we should reflect on. Why is it Kyle Rittenhouse is named immediately by the media, but the juveniles arrested remain anonymous? What emotional biases are clouding judgment of those wishing to enact restrictions on second amendment rights? Where are these same people when gang members violently extinguish teenage lives throughout the country each week?

The headlines often require careful reflection on what is not being said to better understand what is stated. Our society is quick to label critical thinking as conspiracy theory. This cognitive bias clouds the ability to see common sense as the practical and sound judgement it is meant to be against authority and tradition.

And in a jaw dropping moment, the WHO confirmed that after 99 million cases were studied and over 13 billion doses, that yes, the covid vaccine likely caused millions to die and millions more to be injured. While many were parroting the “safe and effective” tag line, others tried to sound the alarms at the risk of losing all. Common sense prevailed once again.