Yesterday, we had another school shooting.

And yesterday, yet again, a lot of people blamed video games, guns, bullying, ect ect ect.   At this point, I really don’t think anything is really be done.

Suggestions to stop or deter it has been teachers carrying guns, which I’m oddly for.  Having worked in a public school system and observing some behaviors, I guess I’m a bit biased.   My perspective is from a quieter more sanguine twenty years ago.    I have friends who are teachers.   If carrying a gun meant saving themselves and others, go for it (but only if they want to).   I like having to send Christmas cards.

There’s one obvious connection to all of these shooters that no one is talking about.
—>  Stay with me.   This is kind of a odd thought.
The 100% common factor is that all these shooters are male.

It’s true.
The Texas kid, the Sandy Hook guy, the dude from Las Vegas, and others, are all men.

Okay, so this where ‘toxic masculinity’ comes in.
These men feel wronged, want some kind of publicity, mental illness, or there could be domestic abuse somewhere along the line.    What it boils down to is men just let these strong feelings be suppressed until they snap.
—  Yep.  Just like Thanos.  << snap >>  Then their world ends along with a lot of other people.

I have a very odd suggestion….  how about if guns could not be bought or sold by men, unless men underwent some sort of counseling?
————- Yeah, really odd thought, but what the hell?

I don’t mean a one time session, but maybe four or five, just so the guys can get everything out in the open.    It could be group counseling or one-on-one.    I don’t even think the shrink needs to be fully credited.    There just needs somehow be a way to make a connection to another person and not be judged.  There needs to be someone trusted and unbiased just to listen.

Sure, not all men need counseling.
True, but the guy still needs to be evaluated first.   He also needs to know that the support is always going to be there, no matter what.   They guys also need to know that they don’t have to go hunting, play sports, or get drunk to feel masculine.

—>  Here’s another big leap.
The guys could try some of the activities that women used to distress, like cooking or …  okay, well I really can’t think of anything else, but something.

That will probably never ever happen in my lifetime – that the general male populous would feel comfortable enough to explore traditionally female ways to relax while not being considered gay.

Yeah, I know.

I think, as the generations progress, masculinity could go one of two ways or, why not both?
—  The guys in the city will, if they haven’t already, discovered how nice an occasional pedicure can be.   Even if the toes aren’t painted, the warm water and massage can help reduce tension – especially if you find someone who works the foot’s pressure points.
City guys can wear lavender shirts, complain about the weather, and take a day off work if they’re ill.   They have other things that keep their attention.

Rural fellas are different.
Based on personal experience, guys don’t cry.  They tend not to go shopping and they only cook if there’s some sort of danger involved   i.e. – grilling.    They don’t go to plays, but to monster truck rallies.   Cars are a big thing and sports – any type of sports, save golf, is worth following – even if it’s the kid’s little league.

—  Which is like really weird sometimes because Jason is pretty expressive.  Rural guys are to, but not quite in the same way.

Unfortunately, and I hope to be wrong, see my rural fellas hanging on to traditional masculine ways for years to come over the city boys.

Where do most of the mass shooters come from?
— Mainly from the rural states.

Don’t get me wrong.  There’s shooters in the city too, but those tend to be more personal one-on-one affairs–  although I can be surprised.

So, I doubt this whole counseling liberal thing will ever come to pass.

Of course, there’s another solution.
Prohibit gun sales to men.   Only sell to women.

That would go over really well in our patriarchal society.

If all options should be equally and unbiasedly considered to solve the problem, this one should be too.