Stop The Insanity

Nan Gun Control, , ,

 

Social media and blogs have exploded with discussions and arguments about guns and gun control after the most recent school shooting. Individuals for and against guns and/or gun control continue to bicker and attack each other … simply because they can.

But one fact remains clear. When the bullet hits home and one or more of your loved ones dies because of a twisted mind (and an automatic rifle) … trust me. Your perspective will suddenly change.

**********
IMO, the core problem in this country related to gun deaths is the lack of mental health care. Contrary to what scores of Christians contend — SIN has nothing to do with it. There are “Christians” in mental health clinics too.

If we truly want to prevent future gun deaths, each of us needs to vigilantly watch for individuals who demonstrate erratic behavior and twisted thoughts … and then report them to the appropriate authorities.  Unfortunately, most of us are so caught up in our own lives that we either ignore and/or make excuses for such individuals. The latter is even more true when it’s a family member.

Of course, contacting our representatives in Congress about more gun control is a given, although I have serious doubts any of us will see changes. Not only because of the power of the NRA, but also because too many people in this country have convinced themselves that guns are just as important as “God.”

And even if Congress decides to do something, they will bicker and argue for months before taking any action. Moreover, we know the Christian lobbyists (who support a gun in every household) have our mentally challenged “Leader” in their pockets, so any bill that reaches his desk will most likely be trashed. (Consider what he did to the guns and mental health regulation that Obama instituted.)

I truly hate making this prediction … but I fear we will see more mass shootings throughout this coming year. And while I admire and support the Florida students and their determination to shame Congress, it’s truly difficult to envision any changes.

Nevertheless, I urge each person reading this to support their efforts and, as an adult, do what you can to …

Stop The Insanity!

65 thoughts on “Stop The Insanity”

  1. This congress and administration would like to say this is a mental health issue , and to a large degree it is, although this maniac bought his AR15 legally due to lack of regulation. That said, how dare they try to put to assign “mental health” the core problem having cut the budget that would provide help for the mentally ill.

    Liked by 6 people

    Reply

    • There is no doubt certain regulations are lacking. And the fact these mass-killing guns are available to just about anyone is a travesty … but the chances of Congress and the President making changes in this area are pretty much next to nil. This is why I feel the next best option is to insist that more funds be appropriated for mental health facilities with special focus on preventing gun deaths by the mentally unbalanced.

      Liked by 7 people

      Reply

  2. Hello Nan. I have a feeling we disagree slightly on this issue. I do agree we need a massive boost in mental health funding in this country. The mental health facilities have been decimated in the last 30 years. When I worked in the hospital we had many people in our ICUs because of mental illness. They couldn’t be cared for on the floors as the floors are not set up with enough monitoring and personal to keep safe people who are having difficulty with reality, understanding where they are, who they are, or any of the other mental illness reactions. Locally they built a new mental health facility next to our hospital and it was over capacity the very first week. Those who are mentally ill either go to jail or are homeless and get no health care.

    Guns: First while some accommodation needs to be given to the second amendment, it has been reinterpreted in my lifetime. So we won’t ban guns. Lets limit the types of weapons and the accessories that make these mass killings so deadly. Today I listened to Chuck Todd argue with a republican congressman that AR-15’s are not hunting weapons so hunters shouldn’t have to worry if they are restricted or banned. If you need a semi automatic with a thirty round clip to hunt with, give it up, you should not be hunting. The congressman then tried to pivot to say more shootings happen with a pistol. Again pistols are more regulated than mass killing assault weapons and they do not have the range, clip size , and accuracy of the assault weapons like the AR-15. Hunting rifles, pistols, and shotguns have their uses besides as a mass killing tool. But assault weapons are designed for the task of looking like and acting like a military weapon designed for killing human targets. They can be regulated and discussed coherently as we can group them with tanks and missiles, both of which the public is not allowed to have. We do regulate military hardware and so we can regulate assault weapons. The same congressman tried to say shovels could be a weapon of mass killing but Chuck Todd shut him down entirely on that and made him admit it was not the same.

    As I feel you and I agree on the above, where do we disagree then. On the idea that this situation is not changing and rapidly. This is not just grieving parents trying to get on with life as they mourn. This time it was older kids from freshman to seniors, all who will be voting soon. They are on every platform from social media to every news show. They are on radio, they are local and national. They are motivated, and they have the time, energy, and abilities to drive this issue. The adults are backing them, but the driving force and motivating factors are the young adults, some who are of the age to vote this year. Statements on social media and in the news shows already a shift in political will to change the laws and regulations. A high ranking republican congressman Trey Gowdy even agreed that we need to ban some of the things like bump stocks, and reverse tRump’s rescinding the ban on mentally ill people being allowed to pass background checks for firearms. Gowdy got backed into a corner and basically agreed the leadership needed to move on the issue now. I admit I forget every detail, but he basically went from “Oh no this is just a thing , can’t change it”, to “Yup got to have regulations on guns in the country”. So I feel the issue is moving. I just hope the kids can keep the energy to drive the issue. I hope the adults will back the kids. I hope the country can get back to living instead of dying.

    When parents have to have the talks with their children like Shelldigger did that we both read it is heartbreaking. More it shows a country in a cycle that can not be sustained. We are drifting towards the countries south that are war torn with lawless gun violence. The size of our country hides how serious this issue is but if you look at the days of the current year and then factor the number of mass shootings, we are in a crises as big as any of the poorer southern countries. We have just dressed it up better. We have to reverse it now or it will not be able to be contained at all. Rush Limbaugh is quoted today as saying on his show he is pushing for concealed carry in schools. Yes when I have a fire the best way to deal with it is add more excelerant.

    Thanks for letting me get that off my chest. I thank you for this post as I have been fuming about this issue all day while watching Sunday shows. Much love. Hugs

    Liked by 8 people

    Reply

    • Scottie, in essence, we don’t disagree. I go along with pretty much all you wrote related to getting this mess under control. I guess I’m just not as optimistic as you … or as I could/should be. I’ve been around a lot of years and things seem to get worse instead of better.

      However, I do, most definitely, hope you’re right about the young people. Maybe … just maybe … they will be the turning point. I truly hope so.

      One point I’d like to make about the AR-15’s … you’re absolutely correct that they are NOT designed for hunting. But living in a household with a (safe and sensible) gun-lover, it’s his contention they are “fun to shoot” (at a rifle range). As a result, trying to discuss legislation against them when you’re face-to-face with one who supports their ownership is difficult, if not impossible. Truly, I’m often caught between a rock and a hard spot.

      Liked by 5 people

      Reply

      • I understand. I have always wanted to drive a tank / fire a tank. Sadly in the army I was in fixed station satellite communications and so slight I couldn’t even open the training rocket launcher. So no tank driving or firing for me either. Hugs

        Liked by 2 people

        Reply

    • IMO, anyone who uses a gun to shoot another human being in a civil (as opposed to military) situation — and ESPECIALLY a large number of human beings — has mental health issues. The problem is, as I mentioned in my post, we have so much going on in our own lives that we don’t see the problems … or we dismiss them because they seem insignificant (or the person is “family”).

      On top of this … there is so much stigma associated with mental health issues that people want to overlook the signs.

      Liked by 5 people

      Reply

  4. I’ve had my fill discussing this issue with Trish, Tom, CS etc alles.
    I am now a ”resident troll” and a fascist.
    Because … you know, banning guns is not the answer and Australia is a different country and besides, the facts are misleading, and more legislation is not the answer and neither is at least banning semi-automatic assault rifles is not the answer ( because obviously, an assault rifle is just the thing for protection) and … well, the core is sin and evil or some such and well, you know, you live there.

    Liked by 8 people

    Reply

  6. Nan you know my personal history so yes I can say they are something to worry about and to be concerned if you see it happening in a family. However I never got shot. Hurt yes, but there was not guns in the house I can remember. There was such anger and rage in their house, thank god it didn’t involve guns. Hugs

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

  7. Nan, I’ve just perused Noseybook and there are many people posting about the young people at the school of the last massacre. They are organized, they are passionate, and they are RIGHT. I am so impressed with them! :). I would love it if their efforts result in change.

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply

  8. Well, I almost hate to bring this up but I disagree on the “mental health” aspect of this whole discussion. The diagnoses that would encompass aggression to the point of harming someone are rare…the behaviors that (can but probably won’t) lead up to a diagnosis are what people need to be watching out for.
    Feeling disenfranchised, the feeling of being an outcast, being bullied, feeling helpless. Those are the things that bring people to the point where they go try to destroy everyone that may have made them feel bad about themselves and their life. The one thing that all of the shooters seem to have in common is a complete lack of friends. Their parents have even emotionally disconnected from them. Anger and rage tend to grow until the person feels they have to act out. The ones that you can almost predict they will try to massacre a group are the kids being picked on for being or looking different. I think we want the mass shootings to be a mental health issue because we can not comprehend how a rational person could ever do such a thing. being autistic doesn’t make one a killer..nor does depression or anxiety or bipolar disorder. Being disconnected emotionally from society does.

    Liked by 6 people

    Reply

    • I totally agree with much of what you say, Suze. But I have to ask … do we just “stay the course” and do nothing?

      When I talk about mental issues, I’m not referring to bipolar or autistic or depression or anxiety. I’m talking about the very people you mentioned … the ones who are emotionally disconnected, who have anger and rage issues, who are friendless, who are outcasts, etc.

      I realize none of us are mental health experts, but there ARE recognizable signs each of us can watch for.

      I guess my point is if the whole idea of mental health was more in the forefront of society, perhaps these individuals could be brought to the attention of those who work in the mental health field (or in some cases, even their parents) and receive some help before they act out on their pain and suffering.

      And yes. We definitely need something done on the gun issue. The government must set up standards that are enforced in EVERY state. We also need to get rid of automatic assault rifles.

      BUT … so long as people feel the only way they can solve their problems is by shooting other human beings, we’re going to continue to count dead bodies.

      Liked by 3 people

      Reply

      • stay the course? oh hell no. Unless you are an activist, then by all means do so. I will continue to annoy the crap out of senators and congressmen and neighbors with my voice demanding changes. I have already resigned a lifetime NRA membership and told them why I did so, I worked in a mental health field for over 30 years and still volunteer, I sign people up to vote. I am, in general, an extreme nuisance to the lawmakers and naysayers. I vote. I drive people who are home bound or disabled to the voting polls. I have the time to do all the above. not many do.

        Liked by 3 people

        Reply

  9. I do think mental illness is a problem, but I also feel it would be very hard to predict who’s gonna snap enough to kill in masses. And how are they to be watched in the meantime and by whom. Often I think these kids are from dysfunctional families and even often suffer mental and physical abuse. And some are just mean.

    Having said all that, then since mental illness is a difficult one to predict, then for goodness sakes, have some sane gun laws. Even saving one life is worth it! No rational person could be against strict background checks, prohibiting felons and known mentally ill people from having guns, a 24/72 hour waiting period and no assault weapons. Also stop guns from being sold in a pickup truck at a gun show with no check at all.

    Again having said all this, there are the Timothy McVeighs and others who use bombs and the like as well.

    The problem seems with our society and culture seems to be the far right religious nuts, conspiracy theory nuts and gun nuts and of course love of the allmight dollar. And most of these people are also Trump people.

    I do share Nan’s less hopeful view that anything will change in the near future. I hope I’m wrong.

    Liked by 4 people

    Reply

    • Many gun enthusiasts (the sensible ones) have said time and again that various laws and background checks and waiting periods are NOT going to solve the problem we continue to have with senseless killings. And although, as indicated by my post and various comments, I ardently support more emphasis on mental health, I know this isn’t going to happen either.

      The ONLY way we will ever gain any control in the gun issue is to do as they did in Australia. BUT … and I think most of us know this, it will NEVER happen here. Too many, as Mary said, “far right religious nuts, conspiracy theory nuts and gun nuts” And too much love for the almighty dollar.

      *VERY frustrated sigh*

      Liked by 5 people

      Reply

  10. Judging by the comments so far, it appears three general causes are present: 1) mental health issues, 2) societal stresses, and 3) the availability of powerful firearms. There also seems to be a consensus that: a) causes #1 and #2 are intrinsically difficult to address, and b) that cause #3 is politically difficult to address.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Robert last night Matt Dillahunty addressed this issue on the the atheist experience show. I admit I don’t remember the figures so I will watch the show again, but he used other countries rates of gun deaths compared to ours and compared their mental illness statistics. I remember he kept saying we did not have more than 40 times the mentally ill than the UK. As I said I need to rewatch it as while it was playing I had to do other tasks. But for anyone who is interested it is in the first part of the show where they talk about stuff before taking calls. Here is the link. https://www.youtube.com/user/TheAtheistExperience/videos Hugs

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

        • Robert, Nan, everyone. I must offer an apology as I was wrong about what Matt said about the recent school shooting. He did address it but after watching it again I did not hear him address the issue of mental health or comparing other countries. I am not sure now what news show I was watching that did that, maybe it was TYT. So again sorry about the misleading information. Hugs

          Liked by 1 person

        • No worries. I’m not sure how meaningful it is to compare mental health statistics between different countries anyway. Although the psychiatry profession does provide standards, each nation is free to do whatever they want. Furthermore, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) published by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) in the U.S. is continually being revised, and it is by no means an uncontroversial definition of mental illnesses and disorders. The study of mental health isn’t at all like true empirical sciences (e.g. physics, astronomy, etc.) in which observations can be accurately measured and verified. Psychiatry and psychology, at this point, are more like art than science.

          Liked by 1 person

  11. While I usually agree with Nan’s viewpoint completely, I am actually optimistic that we will see change this time. Even driving around this weekend, I have seen neighborhoods and homes with signs posted, demanding change. Many people I know were involved in some aspect of advocating for change this weekend. More importantly, perhaps, it starts with me and the few small steps I have taken, steps each of us can take with little sacrifice. I think the sentiment that “nothing will change” can actually be detrimental. It can fill us with a nonchalance and a reluctance to do even one little thing to make our voices heard.

    Yes, we are in a big mess. But this mess is not bigger than the institution of slavery, and our nation brought that down. It’s not bigger than the horrible race riots and segregation of the 60s, during which time tremendous leaders rose and gathered the public into their fold, and spread their message to the public and to our government. I participated in marches, in the 90s to raise money to fight AIDS, marches that demanded equal pay for women and marriage rights for all. And while we are still making progress on these items, voices were heard, hearts and minds were changed. Steps were taken towards solving the problems. That heroic America is still here, if we reclaim it.

    Conversely, if none of us speak out, join a group, call our legislators, march, keep the word circulating until action is taken…if we don’t do it because we prematurely assume that nothing will change, then we, too, have become the perpetrators of injustice.

    Liked by 6 people

    Reply

    • Danica … I truly appreciate your optimism. And I truly hope you are right. We’ve had enough of these senseless and brutal massacres.

      And your examples of past changes do help to increase optimism.

      But …

      I guess all we can do is help in our little corner of the world and trust others will do the same.

      Liked by 4 people

      Reply

  13. The problem is multi faceted.

    We have little to no restrictions on buying/selling of mass killing machines such as AR’s.

    We have a population like never before. With the numbers being what they are and growing every day, the odds (whatever that is, there is a number) that a serial killer coming up on a roll rises steadily with the population. So in essence more people, higher odds of a little Jimmy being a potential killer.

    We have bullying and outcasts in schools, either scenario pushing all of the buttons for little Jimmy.

    We have the parents of little Jimmy who no doubt contribute in all of the ways neglectful and/or abusive parents will. Pushing more buttons. Raising the levels of consternation.

    We have larger clips making reloading a less frequent necessity. Bump stocks which essentially convert a semi auto rifle into a fully auto rifle, legally.

    We have a constitution that keeps us from violating the rights of little Jimmy’s parents, by making unannounced house calls, looking for illegal activity/drug use/abuse.

    We have (for the most part in school shootings) young males getting OD’d on testosterone.

    We have a reality where even if we have a little Jimmy who checks a lot of the boxes, and daddy has an easily accessible AR in the bedroom, they may grow up and never ever think about becoming a mass killer. On the other hand we might have someone that doesn’t check any boxes and that one take off on a murder spree tomorrow.

    We have a government essentially bought and paid for by the NRA.

    We have a R House & Senate/ and a fucking moron in the White House.

    We have literally MILLIONS of guns in America, many of which are owned by responsible citizens. And many owned by those who aren’t. While there may be room for arguing that punishing the good people by making it more difficult for the bad ones… I for one have been screwed by that exact scenario more time than I can count in life… So, if they did make a move that threatened my gun ownership (yes I own a few, mostly guns suitable for hunting, no AR’s) I don’t think I would like it, but I can see myself moving more towards being able to live with it, IF it would wind up actually making a difference.

    The problem is a huge one covering many situations that has no simple answer I fear. But our government needs to do SOMETHING! This shit has gone on long enough.

    Liked by 6 people

    Reply

    • To me this article points out an important fact and reinforces my personal perspective on the gun issue.

      It’s not the number of people who own guns, it’s the ones who get ahold of a gun (legally or illegally) that shouldn’t have one! In other words … the individuals who have mental and psychological problems that might very possibly be detected if more emphasis was put on mental health.

      Undoubtedly, there are thousands and thousands of people who own guns (generally pistols) that would never use them for anything except self-protection. And there are thousands more who have several guns (generally rifles and shotguns) simply because they enjoy hunting and/or target shooting.

      BUT … as has been evidenced more times that we care to admit, it only takes ONE unbalanced individual with a gun to destroy the life/lives of innocent people.

      Liked by 3 people

      Reply

  17. Scottie, Nan, and Robert —

    I finally have a bit of time to catch-up on the many blogs I follow. Sorry for my delay on this very important growing U.S. epidemic. I’m going to try and keep my comment short and to MY #1 point… public and family mental-illness/health awareness and higher education.

    Most of the comments here point out the valid complexities involved with organizing and reducing and hopefully stopping mass shootings. And though making it harder and near impossible for mentally-emotionally unstable youths/persons to legally obtain weapons of mass killing — which typically already possess an educational and legal record of such anyway — the problem will still exist with those individuals in the months or years leading up to violent, lethal outbursts toward intended and unintended targets. Yes, much tighter gun-controls are a no-brainer. Who and what thwarts such needed measures is also a no-brainer. These fights must continue, now with more passion and determination like those students (e.g. Emma Gonzalez) have shown!

    That said, it is indeed the mental-emotional dysfunctioning signs and early manifestations of say for example, acute social behavior not excluding Dissociative Disorder, Acute Stress Disorder, or Reactive Detachment Disorder. See this link for details:

    Click to access slides.pdf

    I would also include for good measure Not Excluding Intermittent Explosive Disorder.

    These signs and manifestations, even if understood in a basic fashion by parents/guardians and educators and campus staff, can be detected or at the very least probed further with licensed professionals months or years prior to inappropriate behavioral manifestations or worse, lethal outbursts.

    If such awareness-education is easily accessible and raised, as well as socially destigmatized as several here have mentioned, this approach will absolutely increase the chances/odds of reducing and stopping such violent rampagers as Nikolas Cruz’s, Adam Lanza’s, and Harris’/Klebold’s. It starts in the homes of these potential youth killers, in the schools, in social relationships/friendships(?), and at work. The adult killers should already have several/many signs and legal records indicative of these above possible disorders.

    If the political gun-control problem is properly functioning and enforced, then whatever those laws and legislation miss… mental-health/illness will likely (hopefully) catch.

    But we must have BOTH in their FULL capacities!!!

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

      • Another component that is rarely addressed in these heated talks/debates on mass shootings/killings are the kids, people, family surrounding the daily activities and words/conversations with the shooter/killer. What did these individuals/groups do (then ignored?) to the disturbed person and how did they manage it or improve it?

        As is always the case in any human interactions, it never strictly involves one person’s misunderstanding or reaction. Human interactions and engagements are and always will be a 2-way or multiple-way engagement. Every human has some sort of Fight-or-Flight mechanism.

        Liked by 2 people

        Reply

        • Fight – Flight – Freeze

          Just throwing that in there for consideration. I think of someone like myself given my PTSD-like symptoms. I’m thinking in terms of those who freeze in fear and it can/may stop them from interaction. Times when they can not fight or flee. I don’t know if I can do justice to the topic.

          I think of for instance a time when one should take action and warn others that harm is possible but they themselves are frozen in their own fear (for various psychological/physical reasons) and can’t move. Or of the ones who constantly warned and after awhile no one believed them and they simply slip into a state of inactive presence.

          I guess what I’m saying is, there’s more to it then just fight or flight.

          Liked by 3 people

        • That is an EXCELLENT point Zoe! Thank you. And it absolutely deserves more exploration, dialogue, and hopefully some sort of effective rehab directive. Every single patient/person has a highly unique neurological, physiological, hormonal, and cognitive makeup; the spectrum is sometimes general & very broad, but there are always variances. Great comment Zoe!

          Liked by 1 person

    • Professor, can you address the societal factors which contribute to and/or exacerbate this problem? Specifically, what role do social stresses play (e.g. family instability, domestic abuse, financial hardship, cultural polarization and fragmentation, etc.)? Also, the incidence of mass shootings at least appears to be increasing in the U.S. over the last two decades, particularly in comparison with other countries. Besides America’s insane love of firearms, are there any other negative social trends which make the U.S. example somewhat unique?

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

      • Robert, those are great questions certainly relevant to the entire profile of each mass shooter of the past and present. Anyone here who wants to jump-in and share their thoughts/knowledge I welcome. I will have to come back to this sometime tomorrow or Weds. My current schedules and obligations have my freer-time after 10-11pm CST for great questions like this. 😉 Answers to your questions Robert deserve some forethought and research to be worthy of correct social-legal-psychological change and action.

        Anybody here want to give it a go? Robert, do have any answers/ideas to your questions?

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply

        • Thanks Professor, I look forward to your thoughts.

          Yes, I believe there is a correlation between social stress and mental health; and, there is some evidence which supports that hypothesis. From: https://psychcentral.com/blog/how-stress-affects-mental-health

          “Chronic stress increases the risk of developing health problems including obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and a weakened immune system. Chronic stress also affects a person’s mental health. Many studies show a correlation between stress and the development of mood disorders such as anxiety disorders and depression.

          According to the American Psychological Association’s latest stress survey, 66 percent of people regularly experience physical symptoms of stress, and 63 percent experience psychological symptoms.”

          Liked by 1 person

        • Robert, that’s great info/stats. It is similar to what I would’ve stated too. 😉

          The other component I would formulate in there somehow is the general public’s stigmitization of mental-health/illness — it HAS TO CHANGE!!! Part of that struggle and snail’s pace to advancing the field and treatments is directly propogandized and thwarted by 1) the anti-science segment of the population in America, and 2) the money behind it all, in the political arena, in the corporate insurance arena, and the staff-wages arena.

          Another aspect of these obstacles that definitely play into these struggles is the abuses by big pharmaceutical companies which HAS NOT instilled much confidence in the American public… except for addicts. :/

          Liked by 1 person

        • Recently on my blog, I posted the same perspective as yours on the cultural stigma of mental illness from the psychiatry profession. And, you are absolutely correct about the negative impact of Big Pharma on mental health.

          Regarding the effects of social stresses on mental health, I’m quite worried because very few people are taking this problem seriously. Even if we banned assault weapons, more strongly enforced existing guns laws, and provided better care for people suffering from psychological issues, we’d still be faced with the ramifications of worsening social stresses – the root cause of this growing crisis, in my opinion.

          Liked by 1 person

        • Agreed Robert.

          To put another spin on all of this… I have a dear friend (girlfriend actually) who is a 23+ year practicing, licensed psychologist who has helped refine and challenge my positions on mental-illness/health and she has made a very profound point to me on the further complexities and intrusions of liberty/privacy on individuals that would rise if this nation TRIES too hard to put people into psych programs, clinics, or hospitals prematurely. And THAT is not the bigger problem.

          As the majority of our state laws stand right now, no one but the “patient” can admit themselves into those programs/hospitals UNLESS they are clearly seen to be homicidal or suicidal. Unfortunately, too many of these disturbed people/shooters are intelligent enough to keep themselves OUT of those admissions. 😦 And how much of a time-window do the disturbed shooters need to finish their premeditated spree?

          Liked by 1 person

        • That is an excellent point, and it is foreseeable that such a policy might be pursued in response to the crisis we’re now facing. This is why I say we should focus on the underlying causes instead of putting band-aids on our wounds.

          Liked by 1 person

  19. I skimmed the whole thing and yes he makes a lot of good points. Seems to me the root of a lot of mental illness is the horrible dysfunctional families some of these people endure that has a lasting effect. But then again did Ted Bundy have a terrible upbringing? I can’t remember and I know it’s not a gun related crime but mental illness nevertheless. So for me it’s both mental illness help and gun control….serious gun control.

    Then all the other related problems…poverty, lack of education, religious extremism, drugs, peer pressure, bullying and on and on…just such a hard problem to fix because you really have to try to fix society first and that is monumental.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Hello Mary. Not everyone who had a horrible upbring turns out so unable to function in society they resort to a mass killing. I think it depends on the person, their temperament, so many factors. Yes a bad childhood causes deep life long problems, but it alone doesn’t make you a killer. Hugs

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

        • You are correct it does have an effect on the the person. Everything from self control to emotional problems to being able to properly socialize. You were not wrong that it is a factor and I would say it is something that needs to be watched for by any childcare worker or teacher, so that the child can be saved from that environment. Hugs

          Like

    • Your comment about fixing society first made me smile. There’s a conversation on another blog (maybe you’ve seen it?) that killing is “E.V.I.L.” — and that when we overcome that (by becoming Christian, of course), then all these killings will cease because we’ll all be full of love and concern for humankind.

      Anyway, you’re totally correct. There are innumerable facets to the problem and we can’t possibly solve them all. But I feel we MUST make an effort to do something! Continuing to just “talk about it” is NOT acceptable.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    • I also live in Florida and share your disgust. However I think the lawmakers are going to pay a price. These young people and their parents are going to not only make waves but they are now or will be voters. And they will continue to keep the issue alive. So the Hannity’s and Carlson’s can demean and belittle these young people, but they won’t go away I am betting and they will remember when they vote. Hugs

      Like

      Reply

  21. Good thoughts. It’s important to remind people that when it hits home, they’ll be on board. How many have to die until enough are on board? And what is “critical mass” to create real change politically? We’d like to think if 51% of us vote for more gun safety measures, we’d get them – but politics doesn’t work that way, especially with lobbying. Money talks, regrettably. Good news is with every shooting, more people wake up to the need for serious change. Bad news is every shooting is a preventable, irreversible disaster for countless individuals, families, and communities.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Jared, solid comments! And you nailed it with this: “especially with lobbying … money talks.”

      I appreciate so much you stopping by and sharing your thoughts. I hope you’ll visit again … and often.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

Don't Be Shy -- Tell Us What You Think!

Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in:

Gravatar
WordPress.com Logo

You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. ( Log Out /  Change )

Facebook photo

You are commenting using your Facebook account. ( Log Out /  Change )

Cancel

Connecting to %s

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.