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- In the U.S., Gun Violence Might Mostly Mean Suicide
In the U.S., Gun Violence Might Mostly Mean Suicide
I keep hearing about tons of suicide due to gun violence, and I wonder how much this is becoming part of the gun violence debate.
As I’ve written about many times, the problem with violence is mental health. And the United States is not healthy. There are all sorts of studies and stories about how more people than ever are thinking about suicide.
One narrative says that Gen X and Millenials were promised the world, and that they’re not getting it. Instead they’re getting a dead-end desk job where they can barely pay for essentials.
So they’re sad.
Enter the guns
So then you add tons of guns to the mix.
Think of it this way: how many people alive today wouldn’t be alive if it were easy to kill oneself. Really easy.
What if you could go to Facebook and click the END LIFE button?
Are you sure?
Yes, I’m sure.
A lot of people might click through. Especially given that Facebook shows how well OTHER PEOPLE are doing, which magnifies depression when you’re feeling it.
Ethics
But that’s not the interesting part.
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The interesting part is asking what should be done about handguns leading to far more suicide. Is it wrong to kill oneself?
If I can’t become immortal with my girl (or even if I can), I’ll probably drink a vial of sleep poison and lie down with her for one last time. But we’re waiting until we’re 112 or so.
The point is that suicide is a choice. And it should be considered the most personal and allowed choice possible.
The problem is that it seldom seems to happen for good reasons. It’s not ok if it happens due to mental illness or depression. But if someone is informed and super old or just wants to pass on for some other good reason, I don’t see the problem.
I’m not condoning it or anything. And again, most people do it for temporary reasons that aren’t well thought-out. It’s a simple elimination of pain. That’s the kind we need to help with, and stop.
Where does that leave us?
I guess what I’m saying is that if we start seeing lots of suicide due to guns, the story should not be that guns are bad. It should be that lots of people seem to want to end their lives.
That’s the story.
Let’s fix that.