(Thanks to a good friend who put this idea in my head :-))
The 'gun culture' in the USA evolved at a time when people still followed a natural history of human/animal violence - the only difference being that guns were introduced. Previously, when someone had a beef with someone else in society, they went and confronted that person directly if they wanted to they could get justice peacefully. If not they would sort it out violently, but still between themselves or closely so. They could be challenged to a physical combat (as animals do). Weaker persons usually came off worse and otherwise had to put up with a bit of injustice. Guns were a sort of 'equalizers' when they came along - duels were fought, lives were lost. This was still considered a step up in 'civilized' behaviour - giving the physically weak a more level playing field. Such personal score settling continued for a long time in the USA and such challenges and physical contests and duels were outlawed as a presumed comprehensive legal system was put in place. Humans fancied themselves being better and more civilized than animals.
People with grievances now had to deal indirectly through a third party and not with each other. In the old days, the conflict usually involved only the relevant parties or willing participants. Now there is a host of departments and authorities and bureaucracy. There were probably a few crazy, insane people in the old days too, who would attack any random person in a fit of rage. They were usually put down before they could cause too much damage, though I bet historically there were many mass victims too.
Now, we have gone a bit 'too civilized for our own good' perhaps. We have taken away the option and predominant culture of people seeking direct resolution with those they are aggrieved with, in a legal manner. Though we have put in place courts, rules and law-enforcement, it may not bring sufficient resolution to some who have a grievance with nameless, faceless people or institutions. Even if they have a person they directly have a beef with, they cannot seem to get a satisfactory resolution or be able to deal with that person directly. If they feel the system has let them down and it happens over a period of time, some of them might turn into sociopaths/psychopaths if they do not learn to accept some inherent unfairness in life. With the system not being perfect they can get access to guns or weapons and now kill random strangers as a result of their twisted logic. Making law abiding citizens more helpless in the face of such is surely not a way to go.
I have developed more respect for the old-fashioned, animal, 'uncivilized' way of conflict resolution over this modern way of mass shootings. This is on a personal level. On a societal or national level too, in the old days, armies fought each other and people accepted the verdict and the rule of the victor. These days, we bomb innocent, un-involved civilians as a natural, acceptable strategy and still think we are advancing as a civilization!! Strange. One seems to feel nostalgia for the 'good old days' when there were personal fights in the streets to resolve issues!!
No easy way back or forward. Personally, I think more need to accept a little bit of unfairness in life - made up by a lot more display of kindness and love towards each other, from at least a few people in each life. We need to connect and interact more for that.
Copyright (c) Kannan Narayanamurthy 2017
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