Focus on real triggers of mass violence

Nick Selby’s July 17 commentary was very much on point on reducing violence. I am a retired law enforcement officer. For 25 years, I dealt with various kinds of violence. During those years I can remember only one incident where a legally owned firearm was used. All the rest were stolen, or acquired through other illegal means.

The Connecticut killing of the children was done by a young man who had murdered his own mother, then stole her firearms. The San Bernardino killings were done by a man and wife who had no criminal history, and they had a friend buy the guns they used. The man who killed the five officers in Dallas, legally bought the firearms he used. He had no criminal history. No new gun law would have stopped any of these horrible incidents.

We must address the causes of violence, not the tools used, be they a truck, knife, baseball bat, or firearm. The culture of using violence to solve any and all perceived offenses is the problem. Educate young, at risk, people on how to get jobs, train them for jobs, and teach them how to solve problems without violence. Only then will we reduce violence.

This story was originally published July 23, 2016 at 1:29 PM with the headline "Focus on real triggers of mass violence."