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There are so many societal issues that play a part in driving these things, I don't even know where we would start.

My kids never knew a world without smart phones, youtube, social media and the associated overwhelming amount of information being thrown at us. We have no idea how this is affecting us, let alone the kids we're trying to parent.

Not to mention the fact that we have created a culture of "freedom" while removing most of the inherent responsibilities and consequences of our actions. The dissolution of the 2 parent household is just one example of this.

But really, the fact is that the peace and health and security which we currently enjoy, are a very recent phenomenon. War, slavery, tyranny, famine, rape and all manner of atrocities have been the norm for all of our history. This past couple hundred years is a blip on the radar.

Unfortunately, the fact is that there will always be shitty people that do shitty things. Sometimes it's the leader of a nation and sometimes its some trailer trash scumbag.

The real question is; why do we give mass shootings, and "gun violence" so much more attention than any of the other tragic things that happen every single day? I believe that the reason for the increase in these events (if there really is an increase) has more to do with the answer to that question than anything else. The "mass shooting" has become the ultimate "fuck you" to society for scumbags who decide to snap for whatever reason. If cars running through crowds of people got that much attention, it would probably have the same result.

What we need as a society is a fundamental change in our way of thinking. People need to realize that we choose to live in a country with a certain freedoms. The trade off is we have violence portrayed in movies, music and video games, the ability to treat each other like crap, and a shit ton of guns that aren't going anywhere. And most importantly, that there will always be a motherfucker looking to get it on. No one is responsible for our safety except ourselves. If our government and media elites really wanted to decrease these things, they would be encouraging, guiding and teaching us to take personal responsibility in all areas including personal defense.

All of the neverending arguing about guns vs medications vs video games is just pissing into the wind.

"But we have to do SOMETHING!"

OK. Start reporting mass shootings with the same attention as a typical Chicago weekend, and remove the fear of guns by teaching the general population how to safely handle and carry them. That's "something".

"Whoa! That's not what we meant!"

Then fuck off.

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The reason the fuckers are on the shit to begin with is because they are fucked up.  Nobody ever says “I’m surprised Bob did this!  He was such a well adjusted individual!”

I’m not even sure what a good solution is to the problem is.  Parents can see the warning signs that their kids are crazy shits but often ignore it like the Newtown shooters mom did.

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Well...

If you need antidepressants, antipsychotics, etc, I'm sorry, but you're mentally compromised.

Should mentally ill people have access to firearms? It's funny how the needle moves when it effects yourself.

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If a drug can alter the mind of someone to the point that they devalue their own life and are willing to take it (so much so that the Pharma companies have to list suicide as a side effect), why wouldn't that same medicine cause someone to devalue the lives of others and be willing to take those too?