We’ve talked a lot about how to solve gun violence recently, especially after the Las Vegas shooting. But it’s been a long-simmering controversy that temporarily erupts periodically after shootings like Columbine or Newtown. That’s why I was so stunned when Arrow chose to devote an episode to the issue in season five (which I just watched).
In episode 13, a man who lost his family to a shooting surprises the city by shooting and killing some of Oliver Queen’s mayoral staff. It later emerges that he’s planning to attack a hospital. His motive? To punish Starling for not adopting more gun control measures. In what was an interesting twist, the show writers had Oliver deal with the issue as Mayor Queen instead of the Green Arrow, which I appreciated.
While the Green Arrow’s team attempts to find the shooter, they engage in a debate about the wisdom of gun control. Rene opposes gun control measures, as he feels citizens have a right to defend themselves. The show cut to a heartbreaking flashback where a criminal broke into his house and Rene used a gun to defend himself. Curtis, by contrast, believes in gun control measures, and Oliver wants a middle course as mayor.
What I appreciated was how Arrow allowed this disagreement to play out among friends who hold each other in high regard. That element seems to be what’s missing in a lot of debates over contemporary issues. It might be easy for Rene to dismiss a gun control proponent as someone who looks down on people who own guns and doesn’t care that people are worried about being able to defend themselves. But he couldn’t do that with Curtis, who obviously cares about the pain he carries from losing his wife. And Curtis could have assumed that gun control opponents were nuts bent on stockpiling guns regardless of the consequences for everyone else. But he couldn’t do that when presented with Rene’s story.
It’s easier to compromise with someone you respect and someone whom you know respects you. Without grasping this basic truth, I fear we will have trouble finding consensus on difficult issues. Perhaps a good start would be to have everyone watch Arrow.