The Dichotomy of Gun Violence

There, yes. Here, no!

Is it surprising that the U.S. has increased issues with gun violence, 15 years after 9-11?  Everyone voting records of Senators (click to view) who wanted to attack Iraq, despite the questionability as to Iraq's culpability.  Colin Powell referred to it as "war fever" and reinforced the sweeping zeitgeist of violence in his book "American Power and Intervention from Vietnam to Iraq."  We have now had 15 years of indoctrination that violence is an acceptable form of problem solving; or at least a perceived acceptable form of solving problems.
lept to arms.  Even people one wouldn't think would be pro-violent, wanted to use violence in reaction to the actions of 19 people. This is evidenced by looking at the

We're teaching our young well

Someone who was 15 years old in 2001, would be 30 years old now.  That would put them in their impressionable years subjected to a saturation of pro-war (pro-violence) messages that play viscerally on fear.  Consider the age ranges who have grown up in an era where using violence to procure U.S. foreign policy desires, often framed in noble terms (e.g. fighting for freedom):

1. A one year old would be fifteen (pre-impressionable)
2. A five year old would be twenty now (impressionable)
3. A twenty year old would be thirty-five (impressionable)
4. a twenty-five year old would be forty (post impressionable)

Compare current (2014), especially items two and three, with the FBI statistics for ages of gun offenders which increases dramatically (by 68%) from the next highest age group of offenders.  Most gun homicides are perpetrated by people ages seventeen to thirty-four. Whereas, other ages on either side of that age band, show murders by guns in the hundreds, in this age band, murders are in the thousands.   This is the age band that lived their impressionable years through media saturation that violence is okay, at least in certain circumstances

Good Violence vs Bad Violence

Most gun violence doesn't take place in the sanitized environments of a classroom, social media, or a blog. It takes place in highly emotionally charged situations of fear and anger.  Murder has always been considered a crime of passion.  Is it reasonable to expect that someone, anyone can tell themselves this is not the time to be violent.   Is it unreasonable to believe that even before the moment of pulling the trigger -- way before -- that a large number of people, are inoculated with the idea that at some point gun violence is not only okay; that there are mitigating circumstances where

gun violence, performed by the right person for the right reason is justified.

Given the most popular visual narratives, and video games, justified violence is a constant message to the impressionable:

• Grand Theft Auto
• Game of Thrones
• Hunger Games
• Mortal Kombat

Plus we need to examine what we expect from people we have designated as being privileged to have guns and to serve our needs. We want those people to be protective of us. Is it reasonable to expect that in every incident, that every person empowered to use force will make the correct decision.

Culture Change vs Control

Gun control seems to be a loosing battle as gun ownership and violence is clearly rising. Gun control advocates, such as myself, can only hope that we have reached a point of urgency that something might break. However, that may be hoping against hope. Clearly though, this country needs a new over arching view of guns and gun violence. A new zeitgeist needs to start and start now. It took fifteen years to reach this state of crisis, it is going to take time to reverse the momentum of this crisis.

It takes a village...

...to teach the impressionable the ideal of non-violence; in how to react to challenging situations with peace. This means daily engagement with each other; non combative, non argumentative engagement. We need to stem the fuel that feeds the fire. We need to get over our love of guns!

In the mean time:

Realistic Gun Control

Become an Actionist! More effective than an Activist!  Yes arguing on social media and yelling in the streets has an emotionally rewarding aspect. I know, I grew up demonstrating against US involvement in Vietnam.  However activism is self indulgent, preaching to the choir.   It's a big world. No one cares what you have to say.

Take Effective Action! Become an Actionist!

It's no secret to anyone reading this that the world is run by money. Become a money person. Make a difference! We still have the pro-gun lobby outnumbered, which we each have to ante up less to become more effective than the pro-gunners.  This link is to the most effective gun control lobby in the country: Every Town For Gun Safety

Would You Give Up Tupperware To Save The Planet?

If you could do some small thing, that might help ensure that your children had a habitable planet, would you do it?

Let's say that a small thing was as simple as not buying plastic resealable containers is an effective strategy toward reducing your carbon footprint which is an effective way of reducing global warming that is threatening the quality of life for your children.

How can this be?

Well, it's simple. For every ounce of plastic manufactured to create a container, 0.6 ounces of carbon is released into the atmosphere. Each container weighs about 2 ounces, so if you go count your resealable containers, you can calculate your carbon footprint. Let's say you have 12 resealable storage containers, your carbon footprint is 14.4 ounces (12 x 2 x 0.6). Given that there are 114.5 million households in the U.S. each of which likely has resealable plastic containors, that makes for over 4.6 trillion ounces of carbon released into the air. That's over 304 million pounds or the equivalent of over 50,700 Hummers (the heaviest consumer vehicle). For us folks who are not Hummer types, that the same as 89,000 Toyota Camrys. Now the idea of cabon emissions floating in the air, over your head is obscure and hard to relate to, but think in terms of 50,000 Hummers floating over your head.

Does that mean you can't send lunch to school?

Not at all. Just use what you already have for containers. You have plenty of containers to send food in to work or school. Ever notice how a cottage cheese container looks a lot Tupperware? We acquire so many reusable containers as packaging. You probably throw the stuff out. How about those containers you get a restaurants to send home leftovers?

Speaking of packaging....
Now that you know that over half the equivalent weight of plastic packaging is floating over your heads like so many Hummers and Camrys, any way you think you can reduce your footprint by reducing the emissions creating packaging you bring home? I know you are conscious of your footprint and bring your reusable bag, but that's only half the issue. Ever think of reducing the amount of packaged goods you purchase? I don't mean go with less, just purchase things not requiring packaging (e.g. fresh veggies instead of canned or fozen); or, fresh meats for that matter. Here's something that can not only reduce your packaging, but spare you consuming MSG, Benzoate and a plethora of other chemicals. Ever buy salad dressing or oil? Well, try this. Buy olive oil and vinegar as well as fresh basil, garlic and rosemary. Mix it all together in one of the containers you have saved, such as an empty honey-bear. Shake it up and dispense it from the saved packaging.

Not as convenient as purchasing pre-made, but look up. You can't see them, but all those Hummers and Camrys are up there waiting to crash down on your head