Recent violent shootings (Sandy Hook, Aurora, Webster, Oregon mall, Virginia Tech, etc) have shocked and saddened this nation. Rather than focusing our energy on gun control, we need to focus on the REAL cause of these tragedies; poor mental health!
Fifty years ago, guns were readily available to just about everyone, just as they are today. Why is it that in the last 20 years, these types of violent crimes have gone up? Why are there more homeless today than 50 years ago? What's changed?
De-institutionalization. Today, in my state Illinois, the largest mental health provider is the Cook County jail. Jails/prisons in Michigan and New York are similar. We need to re-open mental health hospitals to address the underlying issues to poverty and violent crime!