In the aftermath of the Boston Marathon terror attack, its worth remembering that it could have been worse, a lot worse. Four are dead, and nothing will bring those people back. I cannot imagine the pain their families are going through. Close to 200 people were injured, many seriously, and they face a long road to recovery.
But the people who are responsible have been brought to heel. One is dead, the other in custody. By taking Dzhokhar Tsarnaev alive, we can learn much about the brothers' motivations, mindset, and most importantly, if there are any other conspirators on the loose. Those responsible either have been, or will be punished. Plans will be made and in all likelihood laws passed and regulations promulgated to make sure this never happens again.
In West, Texas, a fertilizer plant situated in the middle of town exploded. Fourteen people were killed. Around 200 people were injured. Buildings were destroyed. And after a few questions about why this happened, nothing will be done, because regulations that could prevent such accidents, or zoning laws that would keep dangerous industrial operations away from residential area are too "economically burdensome." While the company will likely face fines and lawsuits, no one who made the decisions that contributed to the accident will be held responsible and punished for their actions.
When comes to keeping you safe from industrial accidents that have the same, or greater potential of causing death or injury, just remember that a dollar earned trumps your right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.