Two Thoughts as the San Bernadino Shootings Increase the Debate

   Two thoughts, as the nation picks up the pace of the guns debate after the San Bernadino mass shootings. I heard a commentator tonight note that so many of the shootings have two things in common: Mentally-disturbed assailants and gun-free zones. I have a thought that ties to each.
   Is there anything we can do to deal with mentally-disturbed people going off and shooting folks? Yes. If every time we learned of a person who was mentally off balance, if we showered them with love, it would make a difference. Aye, I know you might have doubts. I only say, we know enough about love to know that it does make a difference. Some of those mentally ill are at least in part that way because they feel a shortage of love. (That may not be an established and accepted belief, but I submit it is true.) It would make a difference if every time we ran into someone with mental disabilities, we rushed to give them warm, enthusiastic, loving friendship. If we as a society rushed to the comfort of those with mental problems, it would make a difference. How big a difference, I don't know, but it would make some.
   Second, gun-free zones? The thought behind this is the old, If-we-get-rid-of-guns-only-criminals-will-have-them argument. I don't believe this argument is all together correct. There would also be fewer people who gravitate towards crime having guns. I am not in favor of outlawing guns, but I do see that the fact that so many have guns in the U.S. does factor in to people committing these kind of crimes. President Obama keeps hammering at us, noting that the propensity of these shootings is unique to the U.S. Well, we do have more guns than most countries, and that is a factor. Yes, if they were not so easily available, if they were hard to come by, there would be fewer people committing these shootings. The gangs might still find ways to get guns, but many would not. It does not go unnoticed on me that a fair share of the shootings are committed by those without criminal histories. Yes, I do believe if our society didn't value having guns so much, some of these shooters never would have had them. Our love of guns does play into the number of mass shootings. If a good share of us go out and buys guns, that share is going to include a lot of people who might bend towards the criminal. Indeed, a person with such tendencies is going to be among those who gravitate toward buying a gun. And, once the gun is in hand, they start considering reasons for using it. The average Joe might be thinking the gun is only for self defense, but these others turn to mass shootings.
   Yes, having so many guns in America is not a good thing. Our love of guns does have a down side. And, we are seeing the effects of that.