Originally Posted by NaughtyVisions

Actually, it's quite simple. The problem lies in our culture as Americans. As far as we've advanced with equal rights and other things, we've become extremely intolerant. People have no common courtesy for others, they have no respect for others. Most have a sense that they are the only person who matters, they want what they want, and fuck anyone else.

Because of that, people lash out at others. Those who have access to guns use them. I'm not just referring to the rash of mass shootings. There was a local story here in PA from a few months ago. Apparently, some guy driving on Interstate 81 did something that pissed another driving off. Rather than simply flipping him the bird and yelling obscenities at him (or better yet, "letting it go," the offended driver proceeded to play road games with the first driver. While the first driver called 911, the second driver pulled out a gun and shot the first driver, as they were driving at speeds of 65mph. The first driver was killed, leaving behind a wife and young child. All over a driving foul. Simply because the second driver lashed out and didn't think about anyone but how pissed off he was. Fuck that this guy could have a family, fuck that this guy had every right to live. But I'm sure the shooter feels better now that the first guy won't switch lanes without signaling, or drive in the passing lane instead of moving over.

Things like this are becoming more and more common place. And even without guys, people who feel they get slighted are so self-centered, they'll beat someone to death over the dumbest shit.

I read an article the other day that a guy shot a cab driver because he thought the cabbie to a longer route to charge the passenger more money.

Our culture needs to change. And I don't blame this on violent movies, video games, music, etc. I'm a product of all of that. But what I had, that many in this country are lacking, is a proper upbringing. My parents instilled in me at an early age the difference between right and wrong, fantasy and reality. I was also taught respect. Respect for other people is something that is seriously lacking in today's America. When I went out walking somewhere as a kid, I didn't cut through my neighbor's yard as a shortcut without permission from the neighbor. I never leaned on a stranger's car when chatting with someone in a parking lot (or my dad's car for that matter).

All of this is what is lacking in our culture. We've become a society of "me first, it's mine, I don't care about anyone other than myself" people. Nobody respects anyone anymore. It's quite sad.

And because of this mentality in our society (not even touching on the mental health issues), people like me are afraid to speak up when someone does something disrespectful (like the old bitch who cut in line in front of me at A.C. Moore the other day when I was trying to pick up something for my son's last school project), because who knows when some fucking asshole who can't think or behave rationally will just pull out a gun and start shooting, or a knife and start stabbing. Sadly for the gun rights activists, it's probably more likely to be a gun.

So the ultimate solution to the problem is to change our culture as Americans. But under the current conditions, the prospect of increased gun laws has more and more appeal.

Every time I see or hear about gun violence (or knife violence), I can't help but think of what Craig's dad said to him toward the end of "Friday" when he saw Craig had a gun.

(holding up fists) "Back in my day, this was all you needed for protection. You win some, you lose some, but you live to fight another day."