On Notes from America, we have conversations with people across the country about how we can truly become the nation that we claim to be.

Each week we talk about race, our politics, education, relationships, usually all of them, because everything's

connected and you, our listeners, are at the center of those conversations.

I'm Ky Wright, join me on Notes from America wherever you get your

podcasts. Pushkin. This is talk easy. I'm San Francisco, so welcome to the show. I want to begin at the only place I think we can begin this week, which is the news out of

Winder, Georgia.

We're a 14-year-old open fire at his high school, killing two students and two teachers. The students at

Appalachian High School were barely a month into the school year when Colt Gray,

who's now being charged with four counts of felony murder

began unloading a quote military style rifle

the rifle was apparently his fathers

who's also been charged with four counts of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of second-degree

murder, and eight counts of cruelty to children.

In the aftermath, many publications have called this the, quote, deadliest episode of school

violence in Georgia history. And yet, this the in the community like ambient noise, the low hum of violence that undergirds American life.

I mean, school shootings are so routine we've grown accustomed to their rhythms, a New York Times push notification, the dread that follows

the pit in the stomach.

Then comes the reporters rushing to Twitter to share the scant details of the carnage.

In the distance, candlelight vigils are held,

attended, of course, by politicians from both the left, right, and center

whose thoughts and prayers are always faithfully extended to the families and communities affected.

They have an abundance of thoughts and prayers and almost zero policy.

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