I don’t think Henry cares about an expanded interpretation of the Second Amendment. I don’t think comments about “thoughts and prayers” or mental illness are much comfort. Like his parents, family, friends, and entire community, he is shocked at what happened and wants to know why. Henry doesn’t understand that someone with mental health problems can easily purchase a weapon of war to settle his grievances. He doesn’t understand that our elected representatives might have prevented this and other tragedies had they instituted background checks and banned assault weapons. He doesn’t understand the influence of political contributions from the NRA and the gun lobby. He only knows that his basketball coach is gone, and his good friend is “not going to have a dad.”

My old roommate has a question for Kentucky Senators Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul. I have the same question for all our legislators. When someone like 7-year-old Henry asks why, what do you say?