Mass Shootings Becoming the Norm

In the past year there has been a bombing at one of America's largest marathons, and also twenty children along with six adults were killed in a shooting in Connecticut. Today, there was another shooting at the Navy Yard in Washington D.C.  As of right now thirteen people have been pronounced dead but for some reason much of this does not seem overly surprising, it seems like shootings and attacks, such as these, are becoming more and more like water to us. Although it is terrible that thirteen or possibly more  innocent people lost their lives because of the actions of a few individuals, it seems like Americans are becoming accustomed to events like these.

Saul Loeb/ Agence France-Presse

Some friends and I were discussing today's course of events in a group text message and when I notified them all that the death toll had risen to twelve one friend replied saying, "It's horrible how it's not even shocking any more." The murder of innocent people, often for reasons unknown, has become so common some Americans  believe that they do not find it "shocking" when events such as this take place. Many people may even try comparing the Navy Yard attack to the Sandy Hook shooting, which took place last December, by saying the casualties were not nearly as high and at least the vast majority of the victims were not children as they had been at Sandy Hook. Why is it that since more tragic events have taken place prior to this shooting the victims do not gain as much sympathy as previous shooting victims have? Why is it that, in America, events like those of today happen so often that some would say that they are no longer "shocking"? What are your views on how to deal with this growing problem?