by vtsnowedin » Sat 07 Oct 2017, 21:07:46
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('onlooker', 'I') think in fairness, we focus too much on guns. It would be helpful for all concerned in this country to try and focus more on the mental health issue. Illicit Drugs and the whole dysfunction of the policies associated with it, is obviously a big area of concern. So, is over prescription of pychotic drugs and overabuse of the same. But the problem is a holistic problem stemming from frankly a toxic environment within most US large cities and even smaller ones. Too many addictive agents, too much stress, alienation, depression, violence both physical and of a psychological kind. So, this is all part of this toxic brew that I personally believe spawns these extremely mal adjusted individuals who are like ticking time bombs. They reach a tipping point via detachment from reality and a pathological train of thinking. Some with the help of drugs or alcohol and others probably without it. So, my point is when a person is so unstable , they can commit violence in different ways , as we have witnessed with the ramming of people with cars. So, they can always find some weapon or weapons to commit attacks. The bottom line is somehow the policies of local, state and Federal decision makers should focus on this.
I agree whit much of what you are saying here. The most restrictive gun laws you can imagine would only drive a person this demented to the next most effective means be it bombs or poison gas or errant vehicles.
We need to concentrate on the mental health issues but must acknowledge that with a population of 330 plus million there will occasionally be a nut job that slips through the net and does serious damage and even though that loss is not significant from a statistical standpoint it changes public opinion and perceptions.