What can our society do that will actually address some of the causes of the current violent trend? Let's have a non-polarizing discussion.

your comment is exactly how I feel. I call myself a 2/3rds conservative. I look for a strong national defense and fiscally sound policies. After that I am socially liberal enough to be cool with most any lifestyle choice, but I really cannot defend abortion.

SSG Trevor S.
You sound like a Libertarian to me. Take the plunge and come on over! :)

PO1 John Miller - You are correct about the Libertarian leanings. I would vote for a Libertarian running for Senate, Congress, or State level. Johnson seems to have low support and to be making a mockery of his own name right now though. It would be kinda funny to attend a rally with a 90's era "Big Johnson" shirt though.

Col Rebecca Lorraine - Loved astronomy, enjoyed anthropology: almost majored in it but I got married instead. Evolution? My favorite. I recommend Yuval Noah Harari’s book “Sapiens.”

I’d love to read about your god. Most people refer to the god of the Good Book, Yahweh.
The Roman Empire is important history. Fortunately, it’s well documented. When they ruled “the world” from England to Spain, from Turkey to Egypt, they allowed all those peoples to continue worshipping their own gods. Many religions came to Rome. The Iranian god, Mithra, was popular among Roman soldiers. An important event occurred at the Battle of Milvian Bridge: Constantine thought he saw a sign like a cross in the sky, so he asked the Christian god to help him in battle. He won! So he ordered that Christians would no longer be persecuted. He invited 1800 Christian leaders from all over the empire to meet at the Council of Nicaea, and had them agree on a central doctrine, determine which books should go into a Bible, decide on the divinity of Jesus, and determine if god was triune or unitary. Constantine was good for Christianity. Then Theodosius was even better. He made Christianity the only official religion throughout the empire. Cities and villages fell in line. Mars, Jupiter, Mithra and all the others were pretty well destroyed. For the past 16 centuries, the whole western half of the globe has known only the god of the Palestinian Jews who followed Jesus.

Had the Battle at Milvian Bridge gone the other way, Americans would be worshipping Mithra now, and nobody would have ever heard of Jesus.

So that’s Yahweh’s story. What’s your concept of God? Message me if you like.

MSgt Mike Mikulski - Four people were carrying in Orlando. They engaged the shooter when he started. They exchanged fire and retreated, probably because they were outgunned.
The Christianity thing started because the OP brought God and Morality into it.

Capt Michael Greene - Would you stop with the God vs Godless thing? I am not adverse to understanding there are people who don't believe the way I do. That is the reason for my #2 point. This gives a secular avenue to approach the issue as well as a non-secular path. Focus on the issue, not your prejudices on religion. Thank you.

Capt Michael Greene - Very cool synopsis and I was looking at sapiens as a read possibility. I am a science major, so microbiology, chemistry, anatomy, physiology, anthropology, sociology and astronomy form my understanding of the God of many. God may be many and comes in many forms. Mans need to connect with the understanding of our creation is what drives our spirituality. It is hard to understand that 4.8 billion years ago our sun created our galaxy and we just happened to be the right distance to form this little planet of primates and all the other life forms that exist. That little spark that began this came from something far bigger than we can imagine, but we try. From Hinduism, Buddhism, daoism, Christianity, Bahia, Islam, are just the biggest we know now. But the Pharohs were Gods, mythology as you mentioned oden and so many different forms of spirituality. I don't believe I have been truly given the wisdom to judge one as right or wrong. Each one have a lesson to teach and I truly believe God, in their infinite wisdom provides a structure of faith appropriate for the needs of the culture. About every 500 years a very powerful spirit comes and guides groups of those who need a different path. Native Americans believe in animal spirits, planets, stars, and they had their own metaphorical approach to the earth, life and nature. When I look at any creation on earth or consider the immense universe in which we are smaller than a grain of sand. Everything is from something. It's hard to understand, but that is my God. They have lessons for us if we are open and wise enough to believe. I just see it all as an amazing miracle. One of my favorite books is called The Years of Rice and Salt, by Kim Stanley Robinson. It is a novel, alternative history that makes on consider the possibilities! Wow, long comment!

8: Demographic based information shows that Firearms related homicide is Socio-Economic (and self correcting as our economy goes up within urban areas). Exacterbating issues appear to be Population Density (also a Socio-economic factor) and Education (Socio-economic factor). See #3

9: Accounting for "Mental Health" (As in those who were taking or withdrawing from prescription medication which altered brain chemistry) significantly changes #2, and Suicides (which should NEVER be included in crime statistics or Firearm related deaths, as they are accounted for elsewhere).

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS good catches.

someone did some work here!

The government's own stats defeat their claims of epidemic violence and need for more laws. I've been pointing folks to the CDC site for this breakdown for years and honest progs admit to being rudely surprised by what they find.

Another set of factors on violence and it's frequency is the percentage of younger males and a nation's homogeneity or lack of. The less violent societies tend (it's not an absolute) to be those made of a single ethnic group ie Japan and until recently much of Europe. Those same nations also tend to have on average much smaller percentages of young males-the prime law breaking group.

Sociology is at best an imperfect "science" but this is one area that has received a lot of study the last few decades so...

SFC Charles Temm - If you want to end Violence (et al), "Warehouse" 16-25 year old males and the problem just goes away. We don't have a problem outside that Demographic. We don't really have a problem inside that Demo until you get to low education and low economy sectors either. In essence, "Young men are stupid, and do stupid things" not and excuse but definitely an area to focus in on.