As a homeland-security expert, I often get unexpected calls telling me of some horrible mayhem. Typically these come from television producers or magazine editors who want to know how long I'll need to get ready and respond. But last night was different. The first call I received didn't come from a producer or editor but from my daughter, an alum of Brown University, where yesterday a shooter walked into a final-exam-review session, killed two students, and injured nine more. My daughter had heard from friends sheltering in place. A TV booker called two minutes later. Instead of saying hello, I responded, 'I can be ready in 20.' An editor at this magazine emailed me soon after. I am used to this drill, but not one so personal. People in my field cover what we sometimes call the 'dead people' beat. That kind of humor may seem heartless, but sarcasm is how we deal with the horror of mass shootings, violence, and terrorism. My role is to provide, to the extent I can, some objective way...
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