Latest mass shooting follows a similar pattern

Once again it seems to fit the pattern. The Independence Day shooting in Illinois has many similarities with so many before it. It was yet another tragedy seemingly accompanied by a person with a troubled past, perhaps mental illness, and access to guns. We see it over and over. As a nation, we haven’t been able to take action to reduce America’s appetite for more guns, and more dangerous guns like those favored by mass shooters. Then can we do something about the mental illness? So many of these killers are troubled, often young men and often in a state of crisis at the time. Many left some sort of manifesto, either writings or the history on their phones and devices which show an interest in mass killings. Many struggle to fit into society and are troubled loners. Obviously hindsight is 20/20, but did no one notice these red flags with the Highland Park shooter, or those responsible for massacres in Sandy Hook or Aurora? Nearly half of those involved in mass shootings leaked in advance their plan to others. In retrospect, there seems plenty of reason to believe that some sort of unhinged violence was possible in so many of these cases. Perhaps we need to do a better job recognizing the signs and alerting those who can do something about it. Because if we’re not willing to do anything about all the guns on the street, we should do a better job making sure those prone to mass violence get the help they need, before it is too late.