Volume 10, Issue 21
Uvalde, Texas, was a typical small rural American town. Peace among the citizens of assimilated coexistence was as normal as the sunrise. It is not the inner cities that are currently subject to inhumane violence. It is the unsuspecting communities, tolerant of diversity, and at parity economically, where the sacred innocence is breached. In such a place of acceptance, what can possibly be the solution to such violence?
In any city, large or small, the answer is: believing in common sacrifice for common purpose.
The three answers most often given as solutions for action that must be taken are: more money for mental health programs, reinforcement of school security, and stricter gun control laws. These are, of course, salient priorities to the current endemic crises. There is, however, a fourth answer that, for whatever reason, continues to escape recognition and discussion: nuclear family support.
The 18-year-old shooter in question lived with his grandparents. There has been little mention of his natural parents. What were the circumstances of his family environment? Studies are replete with evidence that a natural two-parent household provides a foundation for a child which minimizes depression, drug abuse, poor performance in school, and criminal activity. It has been noted that virtually all mass shootings are committed by angry young males. Often this is caused by lack of a male authority figure in the young male’s home environment.
Nature confirms this biological finding. National Geographic published a report on a national park in Africa where a herd of elephants were being managed without a bull present. When the male calves reached juvenile age, they became unruly. They were knocking down trees, decimating the park for no apparent reason. The matriarchs appeared to attempt disciplining the juveniles’ behavior without success. Two bull elephants were introduced into the herd. Within 48 hours, the juvenile males began to act in an orderly manner.
When a young human male feels abandoned by his family, and in particular his mother, there is a possibility of the child developing a mental illness that psychologists call “Attachment Disorder.” The juvenile male becomes unable to accept and express love in a meaningful way. His lack of feelings or self-worth may turn into rage. To date, it has not been disclosed what the Uvalde assassin’s psychological condition may have been. We may never know. Yet, shooting his grandmother, his primary caretaker, at the beginning of the ordeal would appear to a layman as having lost any touch with reality or one’s position in it.
In the movie Tombstone, Kurt Russell plays Wyatt Earp, Val Kilmer plays Doc Holladay, and Michael Biehn plays Johnny Ringo. Ringo was a vicious murderer without feeling. Wyatt asks Doc why Ringo hates people so much. Doc’s reply is that he wants revenge. Wyatt then asks, for what? Doc replies again, “for being born.” In such a state, an individual feeling unloved acts with the opposite of common sense and manifests his need for help in an act of consummate evil. A trained psychologist is required to make any diagnosis. But the overwhelming evidence of a loving nuclear family with a male present for a character example is foundationally critical. This element of family support is as much a part of the solution for a strong society in that it provides preventative measures for healthy attributes, minimizing mental health issues. Learning personal responsibility eliminates the need for gun control.
There are government policy initiatives that can be implemented. Raising the legal age limit to buy an AR-15 from 18 to 21 years of age is one. Former President Trump, while President, advocated this change in the law. The state of Florida has adopted it as law. Members of the National Rifle Association (NRA) recently endorsed its passage. It is important that we, as Americans, take at least incremental steps to address this malady of gun violence by balancing the security of society with individual desires for personal Constitutional rights. The Constitution of the United States was designed, structured, and penned for this very reason.
Colonies under the law of the Articles of Confederation were in armed conflict with each other demanding certain rights and privileges of absolutes without consideration for their neighbors’ needs. This was particularly true in matters of trade and commerce.
The Preamble of the Constitution is a rendition and summation of the doctrine of peaceful coexistence:
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
We balance our rights with the need to insure domestic tranquility.
We tolerate onerous protocol to clear security at an airport. Prior to terrorist attacks, many searches that are routine today would have been unconstitutional as unreasonable. We yield certain rights as a matter of course to ensure a safe flight even though the presence of a criminal terrorist is unlikely. This balancing may also be the case for stricter school security in the future.
The Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms is not violated beyond its integrity by simply regulating responsibility for the public safety. Of course, government should never be put into the authoritarian position of being able to solely make capricious judgement determinations about who can own a gun and who cannot.
Preliminary investigation has revealed serious protocol mistakes in the local authorities’ response. The shooter fired several rounds outside before he entered the school. One could infer that he was crying out for help and wanted to be stopped. Investigation conclusions on the matter will render recommendations for better training of managing a crisis situation with an active shooter.
What is not as clear is the process in place for the coordination between federal, state, and local authorities. At times, local enforcement needs immediate backup. In addition, implementing the solutions of addressing mental health, school security, and gun control requires full coordination with every local community.
Addressing the issue of nuclear family support requires reflection on our individual commitment to moral family values. We cannot solve the national dilemma of repeated gun violence without recognizing our need of common sacrifice for common purpose.
This begins with realizing and recognizing that it is not just about oneself…
It is about a caring community sharing Constitutional rights for the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity.
My name is Marc Nuttle and this is what I believe.
What do you believe?