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Deutschmeister's avatar

"Greg Abbott says gun violence is due to a mental health crisis, not guns. So, America is exceptionally crazy?"

First, in answer to the question, yes. If America allows mass shootings to go on unchecked and actually tries to make it easier for people to get assault weapons, especially the young (see: Texas), whose critical thinking skills, maturity, and reasoning capabilities are far from fully developed ... it is collectively crazy. Other progressive, forward-thinking nations -- as close to our own border as Canada -- seem to figure it out, such that their people do not empower dangerous leaders whose actions of self-preservation, and agenda of maximum freedom with a minimum of responsibility to others, are placed ahead of the people whom they are elected and compensated to serve, and for the worst of reasons: hyperpartisan gain and eradication of opposition.

Second, I'm exhausted with opportunists like Abbott and by their strawman argument that the gun violence issue is inherently an either-or proposition: either you have gun control or you have more and better mental health measures. Fact: you can have both. Another fact: not everyone who performs a mass shooting would be flagged by mental health testing. There are various reasons for active shooter situations, not just "clinically crazy" as they might put it. Momentary anger and a lack of control. Misguided revenge motives. Lack of maturity. Peer pressure (e.g. gangs). And so on. All need to be addressed without resorting to a one-size fits-all approach.

The mental health argument falls flat when we factor in that all these shootings have one thing in common: those crazy people are sane enough to recognize that the weapon that can do the most lethal damage, in the shortest amount of time, and with the most defensive potential for the shooter, is a firearm. It is the common denominator in every event, so it is the one to address first and foremost. Wake me when we see a surge in mass attacks on a public place by crazy people wielding a knife or baseball bat instead of a firearm. No, it's about the guns. Always has been. Always will be. Unless we get over our own crazy long enough to seek change instead of more of the same, wishing that the problem would resolve itself as if free beer, pizza, and fairy tales for all.

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Denis M.'s avatar

This is fantastic and I look forward to reading the whole thing. Will brings a thoughtful curiosity to every topic he discusses.

There was a time when people routinely said "I disagree with <insert politician name here> on things, but he's a good man (or she's a good woman). We'll be ok." Lindsey Graham used to be one of those politicians for me. Perhaps it was his association with McCain, but he was a (somewhat misguided) maverick who cared more about country than party. His utter humiliation to Donald Trump has been something to behold. It is not really hyperbolic to wonder if Trump has some sort of blackmail on him because his mortification has been so public and blatant.

Thanks for this piece. I see it is getting some twitter dot com traction.

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