It is fashionable now in some circles to loudly decry gun violence, especially in the Wake of the Florida school shooting. Unquestionably it was a tragedy of the worst kind.
Unfortunately, many people, especially the young, leftists, and other poorly informed individuals loudly beat the drum for more, tighter gun control.
They mean well but are looking through the wrong end of the telescope. Guns and loose gun control are decidedly not the problem. If it were, tighter gun laws might be a solution.
Chicago’s and Mexico’s gun laws are extremely restrictive, but each has out of control gun violence. The root problem is something else.
Since the 1960’s American society has undergone dramatic changes, many positive; many, with very negative results, e.g., the devaluation of human life after Roe vs Wade legalized abortion, the lethal proliferation/legalization of drugs, the rise of single-parent families, the mind-numbing explosion of violent TV, movies, and video games that glorify killing, the erosion of teaching respect for authority at home and in the schools, etc.
The result of these accumulated ills is an increasingly marginalized subset of young people who become social misfits and resort to rampages like the recent one in Florida. Our culture is fractured that we produce these individuals. This is the root problem.
If there is an easy or even a difficult cure, I don’t know what it is. But I do know that it isn’t more gun control. Further restricting my access to guns is like my choosing to have a vasectomy because my friend in Houston has too many kids.
Far more people are killed every year in America by cars than by guns; it’s not the cars. It’s the reckless, careless, and drunken driving that causes the deaths.
It is impractical and unworkable to ban automobiles or reduce highway speed limits to 30 mph. One solution to the highway death toll would be enhanced driver training and teaching young drivers the consequences of dangerous motoring.
A similar approach with guns might improve the situation, but just as there is no defense against a drowsy or drunk driver running into you, there is no defense today against a deranged, disturbed shooter.
Anyone reading this who has a possible solution is welcome to reply in kind.
God bless America.
El Sellers
Fairfield, Texas
