Several issues need attention to end mass shootings

When we examine the events of the last few weeks in our country, we can look at the confluence of several factors. The gunmen were young (18 years old). This is the first factor, youth with an undeveloped executive function part of the brain which leads to impulsive decisions with poor consequences.

As an educator for 33 years, a quote hung in my office, “The kids who need love the most, ask for it in the most unloving ways.” We tend to ignore the kids and their “unloving ways,” but we need to reach them at early stages.

The second factor is video games. Several of my students were mesmerized by first-person shooter games where they held the power to “take out” the “enemy” through shooting or other violent means. It seems that these games had the dual effect of allowing them to feel in control and desensitizing them to the fact that people were dying.

The third factor is the access to guns in real life that enable them to act out their anger.

The solution is not a quick fix. It takes training and time to teach our youth how to handle emotions such as anger in a constructive way. It takes monitoring video game use for some kids and limiting access to real guns before their brains can handle the decisions those require. We need to value our youth by putting our time and money into efforts that show we care.

Meg McClure

Everett

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Opinion

2024 Presidential Election Day Symbolic Elements.
Editorial: Retain Escamilla, Binda on Lynnwood City Council

Escamilla was appointed a year ago. Binda is serving his first term.

toon
Editorial cartoons for Thursday, July 10

A sketchy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

Blame Democrats’ taxes, rules for out-of-state ferry contract

Gov. Bob Ferguson should be ashamed of the hypocrisy shown by choosing… Continue reading

Letter used too broad a brush against Democrats

In response to a recent letter to the editor, this Democrat admits… Continue reading

Kristof: Women’s rights effort has work to do in Africa, elsewhere

Girls in Sierra Leone will sell themselves to pay for school. The feminist movement has looked away.

French: Supreme Court hits a vile industry with its comeuppance

While disagreeing on the best test, the justices agreed on the threat that porn poses to children.

Comment: When ‘politically correct’ becomes ‘Trump approved’

Companies and reporters are seeing the consequences of using words the president doesn’t approve of.

A Volunteers of America Western Washington crisis counselor talks with somebody on the phone Thursday, July 28, 2022, in at the VOA Behavioral Health Crisis Call Center in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Editorial: Dire results will follow end of LGBTQ+ crisis line

The Trump administration will end funding for a 988 line that serves youths in the LGBTQ+ community.

toon
Editorial: Using discourse to get to common ground

A Building Bridges panel discussion heard from lawmakers and students on disagreeing agreeably.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) speaks during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol on Friday, June 27, 2025. The sweeping measure Senate Republican leaders hope to push through has many unpopular elements that they despise. But they face a political reckoning on taxes and the scorn of the president if they fail to pass it. (Kent Nishimura/The New York Times)
Editorial: GOP should heed all-caps message on tax policy bill

Trading cuts to Medicaid and more for tax cuts for the wealthy may have consequences for Republicans.

toon
Editorial cartoons for Wednesday, July 9

A sketchy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

Welch: A plan to supply drugs to addicts is a dangerous dance

A state panel’s plan to create a ‘safer supply’ of drugs is the wrong path to addiction recovery.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.