Violence is part of the American psyche

After San Bernardino, there is a lot talk about gun control. Certainly legislative action is needed. Laws are only one small part of the solution. Violence is ingrained in the American psyche. Violence in one form or another is shown on a daily basis, on westerns, war movies, police shows, reality shows, even comedy.

We believe that violence will win the war on terrorism. We believe there will be no terrorism if we just kill all the terrorists. We have been taught since the day we’re born that violence is acceptable to solve society’s problems.

There is a power felt by anyone who has ever handled a firearm. The almost daily reports of mass public killings with guns is a symptom of the general sense of powerlessness people have over current events, politics or their own lives. This society has got to get a grip and figure out how to constructively feel better about itself without killing someone else.

If that doesn’t happen, no amount of gun control legislation will do anything.

This story was originally published January 13, 2016 at 5:31 AM with the headline "Violence is part of the American psyche."