Why are mass shootings going up at a significant rate? What is the root cause?

Why are mass shootings going up at a significant rate? What is the root cause?

Mass shootings, as most people know and the president confirmed, are going up at an alarming rate. What we don’t see in the media is a useful discussion as to why. The current most predictable action is for one side to jump on gun controls and the other side to defend guns.

None of this discourse is helpful. Why? The only thing being discussed is the means of mass killings and not the cause.  There are some facts that demonstrate that gun control or lack of gun control is not going to help:

1.    The numbers of mass shootings are going up at a disproportionate rate; especially since 2012.

2.    The rate of gun ownership in many studies is linked to increased gun violence. Namely in the cities where the shootings have occurred.

3.    There are many studies of the shooters demonstrating they were on psychotropic drugs during or just before they committed the crimes.

4.    Virtually all the shooters were described by others as having unusual behavior and social problems – pointing to a likely range of mental illness or issues.

5.    Most shootings take less than five minutes and studies indicate the shooters have conducted studies on how long first responders would take to arrive on scene.

6.    Most of the shooters committed suicide before they were shot or otherwise apprehended.

7.    Lastly according to government officials, especially the ATF, current proposed gun restrictions would not have prevented any of the shootings.

The above information would point to the fact we are not examining the root cause of mass shootings.  We are, as the president claimed was necessary, politicizing the issue. This could never be more wrong.

So the question must be asked, why are we as a nation not examining the root cause of these shootings? Guns per capita have not really changed related to the number of the mass shooting increases. Are our politicians and others fearful of looking deeper? Are they not smarter than to not seek out the root cause? They have demonstrated they do not want to take on the gun issue, so why not seek the root cause which is not likely guns? Guns are a means and enable more casualties; we can all understand that.  However, to kill is an individual decision.

My question to you, our leaders and others is why do we have more people making the decision to kill than ever before? What has happened in our society that is enabling that or not allowing people with serious problems to be found out and helped?

History has proven that not pursuing the root cause of a problem leaves us looking foolish attempting apply solutions to symptoms.