This will not go too deeply into the weeds but I wanted to commit to a post a least a surface level analysis of what I have been thinking.

A basic assumption I am working with is that the mass shootings are a sociological phenomena reflecting a deeper and more troubling issues with how come people, primarily young males, are unable to cope with a culture that is changing. Going forward I see four major paths that can be taken.

1) Resolve the root cause, sociologically, that is producing people so hurt, so angry, that they lash out to kill indiscriminately often at the cost of their own lives.

2) Remove the implements by which they commit these acts.

3) Remove access to these implements by those likely to commit these acts.

4) Do nothing.

Route 1

In my opinion this is the best course but may simply be impossible. We may not have enough knowledge and skill to identify and repair the maladjustment. In addition there are an unknown number of persons for whom the damage has already been done and simply have yet to act upon this reasonless hate and anger.

Route 2

There are several problems with this course. The principal ones being that at heart prohibition is about punishing everyone for the misdeeds of a few. What are the criminal penalties for owning the banned items? How aggressively are these prohibitions enforced? If you are enforcing them then the millions that already in circulation remain, illegally, with in the population and undoubtedly some will find their way into the wrong hands. If you push to hunt down all of the banned items, then that requires a massive escalation of policing powers and activity and we already have serious issue with police powers. Some will point to countries like Australia but Americans are not Aussies and our population has already shown a rebellious streak when it comes to enforced prohibition. With million in circulation even discounting the afore mentioned issues more mass murder will occur as some will slip through the system.

Route 3

Again we run into practical application issues. To be as through as possible would require a massive amount of data on every person be at the government’s fingertips. This would probably best be achieved through a strong form of government ID, which would have all sorts of benefits beyond this issue, but used to track people’s purchases within the regulated sphere. This could be cross-referenced with now indicators, such as violence, spousal abuse, and psychological aberrations to deny access to these implements. The system would not work perfectly. There are those who would be false positives, denied access when they are no threat and there will be those who are not identified before their mass murder.

Route 4

This is the one we are following now. We do nothing of substance and the murders continue. There are some who feel ‘optimistic’ that nothing is the best course and that access to firearms will because easier over time. I do not agree. I feel, but cannot prove, that eventually there will come a breaking point and then something will happen.

There are no magic spells that will prevent these terrible murders. We are deep into a sociological sickness but that does not mean there is nothing we can do to lessen the trouble. What is important is that no matter what course you think is best remember that it is a first step not a solution and you must always ask, ‘what happens next?’ If you pass a law you must enforce it that means police must investigate, courts must prosecute, and prisons must be filled. And that’s for those who have not yet committed mass murder. There is no easy cost free solution to the troubles. If you want to ban thing, then you will have to chase down those items, enforce the ban, and punished those who refuse to obey. If you restrict access you have to track people, define the conditions that make them prohibited, and understand this will inflict upon the guilty and the innocent.

In both cases no process will be perfect and these terrible events will continue, but perhaps not as often.