As I See It - #2

Again, this country is in mourning after the senseless slaughter of little kids and their teachers yesterday.

Again, there are cries of outrage from gun control advocates, parents of children who have died in past shootings and from average citizens who see this pattern of violence repeat itself one more time.  Victims in Buffalo from the last slaughter aren't even buried yet.

Taking steps to control the availability of guns would be good.  But with 300 million guns already in the hands of Americans do we really think we'll be able to put a stop to the carnage?  Not gonna happen.  If laws feared the most by Second Amendment advocates were put in place, or even the repeal of the Second Amendment, wouldn't change what is ingrained in American culture - violent behavior.

I just finished reading a book on the history of the American West.  From start to finish violence is the recurring theme.  Between Americans and the British, the French, the Mexicans.  Between Americans and Indians.  Between Americans with different religious beliefs.  Between Americans North and South.  It never ends.

So if violence is in our DNA, is there any hope that the future will be different than the past?  Not much.  Which is not to say that actions to mitigate the damage shouldn't be taken.  That would be a good thing.  But we shouldn't kid ourselves.  This is who we are.  Not part of our culture to be proud of.