I am very sadden by the shootings/murder in Boulder, CO. There have been several other mass shootings in recent weeks and of course over the last several decades there have been more mass shootings then one is even able to reasonably recall. We have almost lost our ability to be shocked by abhorrent behavior.
There will be meetings and statements about the need to limit guns and do background checks. Then there will be those who object as if we did those things they feel it would infringe on our "rights", what ever those are.
I do not think trying to limit guns is going to solve the problem. It is estimated there is already 393 million guns in the USA. Limiting guns, well the horse has already left the barn.
No the problem is the culture of the USA. We have a very violent culture. In our culture violence is the final answer to all problems. The nation was founded in violence. It was enlarged violent wars, stealing land from Mexico and from native Americans. It had an extraordinary violent civil war ( ok, all civil wars are really, really violent). The nation entered the world stage building very violent armies which were very violent in two world wars. Indeed our nation is the ONLY nation in the world to have dropped an atomic bomb on another nation. Since the world wars, we have engaged in countless violent small wars and police actions all over the globe.
We live with a mythology that "six guns" settled the west, that cops get to shoot "bad guys" with out question, that owning a gun makes you a "man". This is reinforced in books, magazines, movies, TV shows and gun clubs (ie; the NRA).
We will never end this violence until we first fundamentally change our culture and its mythology.
Actually, I do not think we can do it. I think it is a fatal flaw in our national character, that will end up tearing apart the nation to such an extent, that we will cease to exist as a nation. Exhibit #1 is the January 6, 2021 insurrection. More of the same is coming. It will not solve anything and will in due time be the death knell of the idea of America, a good idea, which was killed by the excesses of its inhabitants.
All empires, all Great nations are Bound to dissapear.... so...
I'd like to compliment you on this post. It is well written, factual, and non-accusatory.
Mass shootings are now as American as apple pie and baseball. Now we will again go thru our hollow ritual of public outrage in the mass media and our politicians while in the end nothing changes.
This is Murica, say it with a gun or ain't nobody listening.
We're "The Gunfighter Nation"!