To The Editor:

A number of years ago my office was at 345 Park Avenue, New York City. The news of the mass shooting there grabbed me. When I saw the first news images, I thought I recognized the area. Seeing the image of the gunman walking across the plaza with a military assault gun stunned me. I used to walk across that broad plaza from the street to the entrance doors. An area that is always crowded, especially evenings after work. What has happened to America where there was no reaction to someone walking into a Midtown Manhattan office with a military assault weapon? No flurry of 911 calls. No people running to find a nearby police officer on patrol.

Where is our sense of alarm at imminent danger. How has it become “normal” to see someone walking with a military assault weapon during rush hour? What possible good could become of someone carrying an assault rifle in midtown? We know the evil and horror that happened. Lives cut short, sorrow and trauma of spouses, children, parents, aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews, families and friends devastated. The flood of 911 calls only started after shots were fired. Too late.

We moved to Sandy Hook after a military assault rifle was used on children, teachers and staff at Sandy Hook Elementary School. The residual horror of that event was palpable. Workers at 345 Park will never feel the same going through the doors into the building.

Dozens of people on Park Avenue must have seen the man with an assault rifle. Apparently, none took action. My daughter, who works in Manhattan, talked about why there is an ongoing “See something, Say something” campaign. People are afraid and confused. Is open carry legal? Will “saying something” draw attention to me or worse shots?

What if a person with a military assault weapon slung over their shoulder is seen walking into our Community Center? Would there be 911 calls? In 2021 Newtown Legislative Council refused to pass an ordinance that would have made that illegal.

How have we gone down a path where carrying a weapon of devastating capability on a city street does not raise concern? Dare it be called normal? Where is our sense of community? Metaphorically “boiling the frog” needs to stop. We should not accept this normal. It can be changed.

This tragedy is fading fast from the news cycle. Apparently unfazed by the devastation, the media moves on to the next story. July 30, Cobbs Creek, Philadelphia, Pa.; July 30, Scotts Crossing, Atlanta, Ga.; August 1, Prep Week Festivities, Mayagüez PP; August 1, Anaconda, Mont.; August 1, Memphis, Tenn.; August 2, Omaha, Neb.; August 2, Harve, Ill.

We must not let this be normal.

Ned Simpson

Sandy Hook