by Kelly Moser

Created on: February 15, 2008

Public safety has long been considered a legitimate interest of the civil administration of government. By definition, school shootings are issues of public safety and therefore qualify as political issues. see http://encarta.msn.com/dictionary_1861738203/politic al.html. Glad we got that big old political debate out of the way.

Let's talk about the real issue here: Why are people buying guns and engaging in mass murder on college campuses throughout the United States? The answer is horribly simple; They can and they are angry.

The first point is, "They can". One can ponder who "They" are but in our hearts we know "They" are "We". How often do any one of us fantasize about destroying our enemy? The enemy may be a business competitor or social rival. Corporations have used concepts such as "War" in energizing their employees. On high school football fields " Wiping out the competition" is accepted game talk. Socially we are appalled but secretly amused as another Texas woman "Takes out" the competition.

They are "We" and guns are easily available. Most of us channel our anger into fantasy or an increasing medical issue known as "Stress." But more and more individuals are acting out and college campuses have always been a place to "Act out". We have encouraged protest but we forgot to teach out children how to do it.

The angry protests of days gone by are now violent shootings of crowded classrooms. The angry protester no longer needs to carry a sign, they merely need to shoot a gun.

The real issue is when did our culture allow destructive behavior to be defined as " competitive" or a legitimate form of protest? When did we lose our ability to deal with an "Enemy" in a civilized manner? I understand the logic: "Our Nation does it, Violence is socially acceptable, I can do it". The logic is sound, it is the lack of morals that is the problem.

We encourage viciousness on all levels of society but the individual level, and there viciousness is only prohibited if it means violence. We as a culture have forgotten to instruct our young that morality prohibits violence. We take away the stick from the child that is angry and wants to act out, but we let the angry adult buy guns. We do not recognize that often adults act as angry children do. Especially if they have not been taught self control.

So why is this article so simply stated? Why are people killing other people on college campuses? Because "They" are "We" and we can.

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