“Guns are not the enemy of people, rather it is people who use guns to harm and kill other people. No one dares think of depriving people of cars or doctors of scalpels.” John Johnson II 09/03/25
By John Johnson II
Mass shootings and urban violence are often framed as a problem of guns alone, but the roots of this violence run far deeper. Individuals who commit these acts are shaped by a society that neglects its most basic responsibilities: providing food, water, clothing, shelter, jobs, health care, security, and good governance. Chronic deprivation and instability erode mental health, cultivate desperation, and push vulnerable individuals toward violent outcomes.
Focusing solely on guns is not only simplistic, but also dangerous. Firearms are tools; people commit crimes. Efforts aimed at reducing violence must confront the complex web of societal neglect, poverty, systemic inequities, and mental health crises. A society that fails to ensure its citizens’ fundamental needs is effectively sowing the seeds of chaos and mass murders.
Unfortunately, the government’s response to rising urban crime often compounds the problem. Deploying soldiers or National Guard troops to cities as a primary tactic does little to solve the underlying causes. Militarized interventions create tension, fear and mistrust, escalating violence rather than preventing it. Without addressing the root causes—poverty, lack of opportunity—these interventions are a short-term show of force that cannot restore community stability or prevent tragedy.
Policies that punish responsible gun owners while ignoring systemic failures are misguided. Laws targeting firearms without simultaneously addressing societal deprivation are ineffective at best and counterproductive at worst. Meaningful solutions involve providing necessities, ensuring access to mental health care, creating jobs, and building strong community infrastructure.
Scapegoating guns instead of addressing human and systemic factors misses opportunities to prevent tragedy. Government and community strategies must focus on early intervention, education, and investment in social systems that foster safety, stability, and opportunity. Only by confronting the conditions that breed desperation, and violence can society hope to reduce mass shootings.
Ultimately, the conversation must shift from blaming guns to understanding human behavior, societal responsibility, and the lessons of history. Mass violence is not caused by guns—it is fueled by neglect, deprivation, failed governance, and manipulative political tactics that exploit societal divisions.
During the recent Labor Day weekend ABC News reported across Chicago, 58 people were shot, of which several were killed. Rather than providing an infusion of resources to alleviate poverty, housing shortages, and joblessness, the govt. contemplates sending soldiers. Shameful, the wealthy receives an infusion of greater wealth while the marginalized masses receive soldiers!
Addressing these root issues, rather than relying on militarized responses, scapegoating, or punitive legislation alone, is the path toward safer, healthier, and more just communities. The stakes are nothing less than the long-term survival of our democracy and the strength of our society.
YOU BE THE JUDGE!
