Gun Violence: A Sick Shooter In A Sick Society — Letters that should have been in the new york times

6.11.22

To the editor:

Esau McCaulley, writing from a theological perspective, observes the inadequate application of Christian notions of evil when pro-gun politicians lament the presence of evil within the heart of the shooter while ignoring the evil within a society that encourages such acts (6.11.22, What supporters of gun rights mean when they talk about 'evil'). He writes 'They have a deficient doctrine of sin and evil, limiting it to the individual.'

From a psychological perspective, this should be seen for what it is: a rationalization that allows those opposed to gun safety measures to abdicate responsibility for their culpability for gun violence in our country while avoiding seeing themselves as 'sinning' and 'evil'. And without this sense of responsibility, there is no room for action.

A similar mechanism is at play when pro-gun advocates emphasize mental illness in the shooter - a myopic viewpoint that ignores our society's sick relationship with guns and projects all 'sickness' into the shooter. Illness is not confined to the individual. Case in point: after mass shootings gun sales go up - this is a symptom of our sick culture. Unless and until this sickness is more thoroughly acknowledged fighting gun violence will remain an uphill battle.

Respectfully submitted

Larry S Sandberg