Tim Gee: Many factors in gun deaths

Regarding the Oct. 2 news article “Massacre stuns another college”: I was saddened with the news of yet another mass shooting. First saddened by the loss of life, then saddened by the call for more gun control to solve this disease.

I grew up in the 1950s. This never happened. At that time, one could order hand guns from Sears delivered to one’s home.

There are few reliable statistics, but from what I’ve read, the rate of households with guns has been relatively stable over the last 50 years.

Comparing the United States of 1955 with the U.S. of 2015, perhaps what we’re seeing now is the result of dismantling of our mental health system, underfunding of our school systems, gratuitous violence in film, TV and music, and fracturing of the family.

Based on my impressions of the competency of our current legislators, I am not at all optimistic that any of these genies can be placed back in the bottle.

This story was originally published October 10, 2015 at 2:00 PM with the headline "Tim Gee: Many factors in gun deaths."