There can never be a "right time" to debate gun control

The terrible shootings in Connecticut on Friday where 26 people were killed, 20 of whom were young children have inevitably reopened the debate about gun control in the US.

Jay Carney, the President's spokesperson was quick to claim that it was not the right time to be debating gun control and that there would be "another day" for that. I can understand the wish to tread carefully when the news is still coming in and not to appear to be making political points over such a tragedy. But the "other day" that Mr Carney is so keen on never seems to come. Each time there is a shooting, once those who have been murdered are buried and the news media moves on nothing more is said. Until the next time. When someone then claims it is the "wrong time" to be talking about this subject.

There is another, practical barrier to there ever being a right time either. There have been 16 mass shootings in the US this year. That's more than one per month on average. So we are almost always in the recent aftermath of another shooting incident and we never know when the next one is coming. The "wrong time" claim can pretty much be made at any time.

Under these circumstances and by that definition there can never be a right time. So that excuse needs to be retired. The subject needs to be debated urgently.

The right time is now.