Nothing amplifies discouragement like watching a social problem politicians chronically fail to solve repeatedly. That makes weeks like this so heartbreaking and anger-inducing. 

Here in Florida, we witness a debate about a tragedy afar that feels close to home. I noted recently the Sarasota impact of the Pulse shooting, which claimed the life of loca business leaderl Eddie Sotomayor and 48 other clubgoers. There’s members of this community who felt close as well to the Parkland shooting in 2018 where a gunman killed 17 on a Florida high school campus. No one needed a local news hook to weep at news of slain children in 2012 in Newtown, Connecticut. Tears surely flowed from many eyes upon learning of more murdered grade schoolers in Uvalde, Texas.

This state also knows challenging conversations can be addressed by policymakers, even if Congress leaves us with doubt. The Parkland bill in 2018 may have boasted dissenters on the left and the right. But it met the call to just “do something” from a public weary with infuriation.

Florida did something many conservatives in Florida said they would never consider. Lawmakers raised the purchasing age to buy assault rifles to 21, which could have created a barrier to the student shooter in Texas if such a law stood there. It also included a red flag provision allowing police to temporarilly take away guns from someone who presents a danger to themselves or others.

But then it contained elements liberals don’t like either, allowing for a greater number of guns on campus when in the hands of properly trained adults. At first, this applied to non-classroom personnel but that would expand in coming years. Many worried this would lead to more accidental and reckless gun injuries, or worse, prospective student gunmen stealing these weapons. But thankfully, these worst fears haven’t manifested.

The final product was deemed unacceptable by many Democrats and Republicans within the Legislature. Then-state Rep. Joe Gruters, a Republican, joked for a while his National Rifle Association score was worse than Democratic then-state Rep. Margaret Good’s because he voted for the legislation against the gun lobby’s wishes but Good voted against it because it didn’t go far enough in restricting gun access. 

Regardless, there were enough votes in the middle, thanks in part to wrangling by Bradenton Republican and then-state Sen. Bill Galvano, to get something across the finish line. Sometimes the way forward leaves everyone a little unhappy. But make no mistake, forward is forward.

Now red flag laws have a chance to pass at the federal level, but tragedies create short windows of opportunity. There’s also a push for background checks. Legislation already passed by the U.S. House with few Republican votes, one from U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Sarasota.

It’s unlikely any solution will make all parties happy. It’s safe to say U.S. Rep. Greg Steube, R-Sarasota, won’t move far on these issues — the staunch gun rights supporter voted against the Parkland bill in the Legislature. But what Parkland proved is if lawmakers honestly engage the difficult conversations, steps forward can be taken, even if they require cobbling together a bipartisan coalition.

Today, the right in Washington scoffs at gun regulations as the left mocks solutions like hardening schools. Is it crazy to think both conversations move forward together? Why not broach when an individual’s instability justifies the temporary compromise of a right to wield weaponry capable of wiping out classrooms? Why not consider if single-entry schools, a system good enough to keep hotels secure from guests hoping to skip booking fees, could also protect students from killers?

Call your representatives and remind them, even if end solutions challenge political values, conversations still must take place. Only if Congress negotiates in good faith can even the smallest step forward occur.

Jacob Ogles is contributing senior editor for SRQ MEDIA.