The mass shooting in Orlando, Florida, shocked the US and the rest of the world. A young gunman who possibly embraced extremist religious thoughts took 49 American lives and wounded at least 53, marking the deadliest mass shooting in US history. Frustratingly, the government seems to be prevaricating over how to deal with these mass shootings. Apart from condemnation and sorrow, people can do little else but wait for the next shooting to happen. And it is terrifying that a new shooting is very likely to happen, but where it happens and who commits it are unknown.

The December shooting in California killed 14 people and hurt 17, grabbing headlines at the time. But the latest attack shows the potential for a higher death toll from a lone wolf gunman. Massive media reports may spur more potential killers that hold grudges or want to make terrorist actions. Shootings are likely to grow unless the US makes fundamental reforms to gun control.

But can such reform be carried out in a country where 250 million guns are held by people and a huge interest chain in gun production and consumption has been formed? The answer is negative. Then should Americans continue to live with the reality that shootings happen frequently like the common cold? In the Orlando shooting, the perpetrator Omar Mateen legally purchased his guns. It is an impossible mission to identify from millions of licenses the people that are dangerous to society, nor can large-scale investigations be legitimate.

This is where US society is stuck. Due to pro-gun organizations like the National Rifle Association, those against guns only call for control for moral reasons and are afraid of being involved in major conflicts that cost votes.

Meanwhile, most ordinary Americans do not insistently uphold gun control. Hence the huge demands for gun control in the wake of incidents often falter later. 

It is a national US characteristic that it is difficult to promote reforms. The nation finds it hard to force certain groups to make changes to their way of life for the benefits of the majority.

The US is apparently not so capable of correcting its mistakes as has been considered. Otherwise, why hasn't it done something after so many deaths lay bare the problem of having no limits to gun ownership?

US society may eventually wake up on the gun control issue, though no sign can be seen so far. Whether the country can reach a key consensus on eradicating these shooting sprees and take decisive actions will be a touchstone of whether the US will retain its vibrancy.

It will become a nightmare for the US if mass shootings connect more with terrorism. Even if Donald Trump takes unprecedentedly tough measures against Islamic extremism or Hillary Clinton pursues a moderate strategy after one of them wins the presidential race, the national strategy will be affected unavoidably if terrorist shootings increase.