This pattern of thinking is consistently seen in America’s media, especially when looking at how a culture of selective outrage has resulted in and distorted our understanding of violence in our country. His death received national attention because he was famous, politically polarizing and part of a conservative movement. Without seeing the full scope of what is occurring, the public is led to believe that gun violence is isolated rather than systemic. Meanwhile, tragedies like Evergreen fade because they lack that same culture-war fuel, even though their victims represent the everyday reality of gun violence in America. If America wants to take gun violence seriously, we need a shift in how stories are told.