Sandy Hook

[sleigh]

Predictably, those on one side proclaim that the problem is that too many people have access to guns. Predictably, those on the other side are saying that if the teachers or principal had been armed, the shooter would never have killed so many children. Predictably, religious fanatics are saying that this was caused because God has been banished from schools. Predictably, politicians and others are saying this is an example of "evil" walking among us. Perhaps predictably, I don't think any of those positions are the real answer.

Before I go further, here are the caveats. I currently do not own a gun -- well, I do have a German double-barreled percussion cap pistol from the 1700s on the wall of my office, but as far as I know, it's not in working order. I have taken a gun safety course, and a concealed carry course, and frankly, I enjoyed the target shooting we did as part of the courses. I'm considering purchasing a gun mostly for that reason. I do have several swords here in my office, so it's obviously not that I believe no one should possess weapons. But… I'd also be perfectly comfortable if it were illegal or extremely difficult for a private citizen to own a military grade weapon, even the "stripped down" versions that don't allow full auto fire, or if high-capacity magazines were banned.

There is definitely a problem with violence in this country. When one graphs out the number of violent assaults in the industrialized countries, the USA is the clear outlier -- we're way at the top of the chart. But are guns to blame? If they were, then other countries with similar numbers of guns-per-household should also have similarly high number of mass murders… and they don't. According to this site, " In Israel and Switzerland, for example, a license to possess guns is available on demand to every law-abiding adult, and guns are easily obtainable in both nations. Both countries also allow widespread carrying of concealed firearms, and yet, admits Dr. Arthur Kellerman, one of the foremost medical advocates of gun control, Switzerland and Israel "have rates of homicide that are low despite rates of home firearm ownership that are at least as high as those in the United States." A comparison of crime rates within Europe reveals no correlation between access to guns and crime."

Adam Lanza wasn't evil, but I doubt he was sane. No one who possesses a shred of empathy would be capable of massacring children as he did, and lack of empathy is a symptom of psychopathy. That's not evil; that's a mental health issue. And those who like Mike Huckabee are saying that "we have systematically removed God from our schools. Should we be so surprised that schools would become a place of carnage?" -- well, I don't personally believe in God in any case, but a deity who is so petty that he'd allow children to be killed because he's ticked off at not being mentioned isn't a deity deserving of worship. Not mine, anyway.

So it's not access to guns or lack of gun controls that caused the problem. It's not Capital-E Evil; it's not a ticked-off Great White Man In The Sky. It's something else: something broken in our society and our culture. Something in us.

There's a quality (or qualities) in our society that permits or encourages or allows this kind of thing to happen far too often. I don't know what that shadow is. Maybe it's because effectively treating mental illnesses is something only those with sufficient money have easy access to. Perhaps it's because as a culture we worship and glorify violence: just look at our television shows and our movies. Maybe it's because we'll allow our kids to watch a show where people are routinely murdered, but we won't let them watch two people making love. Maybe it's because when we see someone who is obviously troubled, we too often remain silent. Maybe it's all of those things or none of them.

I don't claim to know. But I do think it's a conversation we as a society need to have: without anger, without rancor, without demonizing those who don't think the same way we do. Because if we don't… well, this will just be another in an endless series of tragedies.

(And if you comment, know that I will be deleting comments that I find too contentious or fanatical. If you want to rant, you're welcome to do that on your own blog. Not here. On the other hand, I am interested in what you think -- if you can discuss that in a reasonable, polite manner.)

Comments

[peachtales.livejournal.com]

Regarding Switzerland: I grew up there and feel I can shed some light. Generally speaking, long guns are available, handguns are not. In addition, since the actual swiss army mostly runs on the militia system (a reasonable beginning reference http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_of_Switzerland ), there are assault rifles *everywhere*. I remember it sitting on its tripod in the attic, next to the ready backpack and uniform hanging from the rafters.
However, the culture is completely different. Violence is not glorified, and people care about each other. It feels like a completely different place (which it is). I have never felt at risk there.

[sleigh.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the input -- in doing a little more research, I noted that handguns aren't generally available in Switzerland, though military weapons are due to the responsibility of serving in the militia.

A different culture, yes -- and another indication that the US's proclivity toward violence is embedded in our own culture (and will thus probably be difficult and slow to change...)

[peachtales.livejournal.com]

What I forgot to mention is that you can trade your assault rifle for a pistol at a certain age/occupation in the army, and then you end up keeping that weapon as opposed to the rifle. My dad was (as a professional chef) in the kitchen, and traded in his rifle when he was about 40, if I remember correctly, for what I think was then a SIG p220. Instead of in the attic, he kept it at the very back of the closet, underneath stacks of things and a large drawer full of socks. That type of treatment is normal.

What I also wanted to say is that yes, it is a cultural problem, which makes it difficult to change, but not impossible. What we need to do first is actually start making that change.

For a cute little bit or trivia, the woodland camo still is use there is referred to as "Vierfruchtpijama", or "Four Fruit Pijama", referring to the popular four fruit jam typically made of plums and berries.