("Violence In America — A Search For A Solution")

   Black Monday, April 16^th, still reverberates in our hearts and minds.  A 23-year-old student slaughters 32 people and wounds 28 others on the Virginia Tech campus and another mass murderer enters the infamous history of senseless American violence with the largest single massacre of its type in all of U.S. history.

   Even more unfortunate, long before this terrible moment — before the other school shootings and the workplace shootings — there was that McDonalds’ massacre in San Diego and the report that was written and sent to the local and national media.  It was an analysis of the problem and a serious suggestion for consideration.  Needless to say it was ignored.

   The report suggested that we should really consider making every reasonable effort to identify the relevant behavioral footprints and extensively treat such unstable personalities before they can become such a terrifying footnote in our history.  It was suggested that if we do not do something of this nature, such horrendous events can be expected to be repeated again and again.

   So now what shall we do?  Shall we ignore the advice once again and continue on as before (with the results continuing on as before) or will we somehow manage to actually give serious consideration to this idea, for the first time?  What will it be?

   Yes, we can argue that some of those perpetrators did not leave many, if any, behavioral footprints to be followed and that there is so little we can do when we actually do make a good identification.  We can ignore the fact that most unstable personalities of this type do leave us a reasonable trail to follow and that we really should develop adequate facilities and treatments for such individuals, even if they might not eventually act out such a violent end.

   That Virginia Tech student is an important example of what could have been identified and wasn’t; what could have been extensively dealt with and wasn’t. He had a long and very troubling mental history.  It had even been professionally determined that his potential for violence was very high.  He was even committed to a psychiatric facility for a short time.

   Records also show his previous involvement with stalking and setting fires.  Classmates and professors recall him as being sullen and scary.  The behavioral footprints were there.  It is the same with so many of the others as well.

   To put it in plain English, this should not have happened.  But of course it did. And a few days later it happened again.  A gunman took two hostages at the Johnson Space Center in Houston and killed one of the hostages and then himself.

   Yes, you can expect more of that sort of thing because we just don’t seem to be able to learn from such experiences.  Or are we finally going to get the message?

   Matt Crenson, of the Associated Press has reported that mass shootings are more common in America since the 1960s.  He noted that since August of 1966, at least 100 Americans have gone on shooting sprees. (AP - 4/21/07) So, should we just accept the situation and huddle in our homes and hope that it will all just go away, as we seem to be doing with so many of our serious issues?  Is that going to be our answer to all of this?

   I sincerely hope not. But please remember, if there is going to be a solution it is going to have to start with each and every one of us, as individuals.

— Jonathan West

Other news material of interest can be seen on the special web site for the "Washington Times."  Click on the "link" below and check it out for yourself.