I've got several firearms as well and conceal carry regularly. I'm ready for America to try to figure this out. No easy answers. I really wish I knew what drives someone to do something like this and figure out how to flip that switch off in a persons mind that wants to do it. But that's probably Minority Report pre-cog stuff.
I agree, we need to identify what's broken and to do that we need data. And there's a lot of roadblocks to prevent collection of relevant data so those need to be taken down. Start from there and move forward. Come to the table with the data and discuss, debate, disagree but we need come to the table and we(generally speaking as a country) just aren't doing that. Our founding fathers didn't all get along. They locked horns, yelled at each other, insulted each other, but they showed up at the table and came to a solution. I just want to see our reps in DC at least get to the table.
Im with you all the way here. Psychology, specifically criminal psychology has always fascinated me. They were always my favorite courses. The bad apple theory is strong and there is still plenty we really dont know about how the human mind works. Studies have been done pre and post mortem on such subjects and often nothing significant is found. Perhaps it suggests nurture over nature. I have always subscribed to the school of thought that both are significant contributors in every espect.
I fully subscribe to the validity of Skinner's operant conditioning research with rats. Rats are neurologically eerily similar to humans, moreso than other primates, which is why they often get the short straw for research. There have been experiments in increasing population density and the resulting changes in aggression, life span and other behaviors. I have lived in places from Seattle to remote rural locations and my own observations of human behavior support Skinner's research findings. In short, city folks are more likely to snap as a result of extreme overcrowding, such as seen in Seattle (?). I could feel my own temperament changing significantly as a result of 15 years in that shithole. Im less adaptable than most, probably because I did not grow up in such poor conditions. I have never seen so many high-strung uptight motherfuckers anywhere else. It changed over the 15 years I was there as the housing boom happened and Californians started fleeing CA and pouring into the Pacific NW. In a few short years it went from bad to intolerable. I saw the change in others and myself. While I would never do anything like the NV shooter did, it became less far fetched to understand why a human may sort of just loose their shit one day. Take the guns and they will use explosives, take explosives and tbey will use poison, take that and they will find another way.
Why do otherwise functional members of society just pop one day, who knows for sure but plenty of data suggests overcrowded living conditions may play a big role. Of course now there is self-radicalization like these idiots that do ISIS' bidding and weaker minds more easily enfluenced by violent media, drug use, Not like a bongrip or a beer with your pepperoni pie, I mean the hard stuff. I read that this NV shooter had an Rx for Valium and used it regularly leading up to his act. There are so many possible factors other than a physiological defect, or even a mental illness. There are a shocking number of people among us with some degree of mental illness. Look what can happen if you relentlessly bully someone. We may never fully understand why the NV shooter did it, but we can usually spot factors in other mass murders or attempts. I dont think we can ever eradicate every bad apple, or even spot them until its to late. This not giving a fuck attitude is strong and widespread, moreso than at any other time in my lifetime. Its discouraging. Its everything from the inconsiderate dickhole that flips a cigarette butt on the ground and walks away to folks that cant be bothered to try to install a moral and ethical compas into their children before unleashing them into society. Politicians, gun control and new laws cant save us, these are useless and even counterproductive. Im not sure what will work but maybe we can stop spinning our wheels with what has never worked before. Few things are more useless than lawmakers and most politicians.
ETOH kills many many more people than guns and mass murders but its less headline worthy. Its heart breaking when something happens like in Vegas but according to CDC.GOV 28 people every day are killed in ETOH related MVAs in the USA. Based on numbers and perspective, idiots with fully automatic long guns take a way distant ackseat to a 6 pack and a Camry.
Sorry its so long but this is fascinating as it is tragic, well beyond the gun arguement.