Guns and Stress

It's no surprise that we are beginning to see a rise in gun violence in America.  People are stressed.  Homes foreclosed, creditors calling, employers expecting more for less, health insurance non-existent.  One more thing reaches a tipping point whether it is spousal issues, kids, landlord, employer.  And the gun gets pulled out, safety off, trigger pulled.

And since this is America, we will get the usual responses from the advocacy groups.  Gun control advocates will point fingers and say: "see I told you so," while the NRA will emphasize that only people kill people, not guns.  

These shooting sprees are generally not a result of a bank robbery, but systemic stress in our culture that is increasing.  These are not horrific incidents that will be cured by gun control or liberalized gun laws.  Rather, we must find ways of dealing with this increasing stress that leads to such horrible violence and death.

The unfortunate thing is that the policy makers don't seem in any hurry to help the average person.  Today, White House officials acknowledge that they will not be able to accomplish President Obama's ambitious agenda in the first year.  What concerns me is that I am not sure the Administration or Congress is going to do much to help main street (to use their term) in the next few months.  

It's important to continue linking this violence to the current economic disaster.  To keep the pressure on policy makers, whether local, state or federal to understand that people are in a world of hurt.  Remember, 5 million Americans are without employment.  That's 5 million (actually more, since many are unable to find work past unemployment compensation much less those who lost their jobs and don't qualify) people worrying about bills, their children, their partner, and wondering where the ammo is kept.