One Small Step...

Several times now, I've tried to organize and write down my thoughts on what could be done to attempt to reduce the number of mass shootings. As I've talked with my friends, we all seem to be able to identify the various factors involved, but we struggle to specify a particular mitigating measure for any of them.

Gun control is complicated. I don't own a gun, and never will, but the Constitution allows citizens to own guns if they choose. I could go into the history, but you probably know it, and if you don't, the web is a great resource.

Mental health issues- also complicated. We haven't locked up psychotic people simply for their psychosis for decades. There has to be a crime committed or an imminent threat. At least now, I think people will finally start stepping forward and reporting things they find suspicious, rather than assuming people are "just joking" or that they "would never do something like that."

The one thing that I think most of us can agree would be very simple, and effective in deterring some cases, would be for the media to never identify the shooter by name or photo. Ever. In print, on TV, anywhere. Sure, you can tell us about the person. We're all curious why they did it, what their background is, etc. Just provide the information in generic terms. Then at the very least, people know when they are planning these evil acts that they will not garner one minute of personal "fame" from it.

As an added bonus, you also avoid debacles like the misidentification of the shooter in Connecticut.

I don't blame the media for these events, I just think it would be helpful if they kept the identification of these particular types of people out of the news.