Gun Violence Op-Ed 2022

This piece depicts the harsh reality of gun violence.

I lived in Highland Park, IL for 17 years and reared my daughter there. The recent shooting shook me deep, deeper than all the other massive shootings we have witnessed in 2022 because of the affinity I have for this town and because I have friends who still live there. I thank God no one I knew was injured or worse.
I found myself repeatedly asking, “What is going on with young white men in our society? Why are they so often the shooters in these horrific situations?” I began to write it off as increased mental illness due to COVID.

On July 8, 2022, the Op-Ed in the NYT titled “Why Mass Shooters Do the Evil They Do”, by David Brooks helped answer these questions. His hypothesis is that it’s not mental illness but that there is a “steady stream of young men who think it’s heroic to murder innocent people.” He writes that as children, no one knows them, they are withdrawn and have no social skills. When they fail to be recognized in their world, they crawl inward. As they grow up, their victimhood takes an evil turn, where they see themselves as Superman and it is the world is sick, or in danger. They justify their violence because it makes them feel “righteous, strong, and significant”. Guns give them a narcotic sense of power.

Social isolation has become a real epidemic, exacerbated by the time spent sheltering in place during COVID. Each of us needs to look for the child who is alone and perhaps feels different, maybe not knowing how to make or be a friend. Sandy Hook Promise’s Know the Signs programs have done a great job teaching this very concept in schools. It teaches students to be more socially inclusive and connected to each other. Students are empowered to end social isolation in easy steps. But when not in school, how are our kids spending a typical day? Is a portion of the day spent interacting with other kids? Are they
getting out of the house and playing outdoors? We should ask ourselves if our children feel they are significant and whether they feel they are a participant in day-to-day activities with others. It is a comfort to know that Kevin Schooley and the South Haven schools had the insight to implement and practice the Know the Signs program. This gives our community a foundation for integrating the withdrawn child.

Whether you are or are not a parent, and you want to help the situation in our community and society, please begin in your own block or neighborhood. Please support the children’s organizations in your community. If you are aware of a child that is often alone, try to see what you can do to introduce him to playing at the park or beach along with other kids, joining a sports team, or even spending time with him on your own. Think about places such as our local Mitten Children’s Museum and the Youth Development Center as healthy options and make it a goal to get kids off the couch and into society.