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Hurt people... hurt people

Rock Hill, SC, August 6, 2019

There’s an old adage that says, “Hurt people… hurt people.” That certainly rung true over this past weekend in Texas and Ohio.

Regardless of politics, every one of us desperately wants these killings to stop. In the aftermath of each of these heartbreaking tragedies, there is always a renewed call for action – a demand that lawmakers “do something.”

To dispense with the obvious, the minds and hearts of those inclined to commit mass murder are clearly filled with raw, unadulterated hate. And if we’re truly committed to stopping this violence, then we must be willing to address the issues that fuel this evil.

We can look at any number of possibilities. Could it be declining faith, increasingly pervasive cultural rot, or rise in the number of broken homes. Is it racism, bullying, or more isolation & loneliness in our younger generations? Perhaps it’s the unintended consequences of the internet & social media, or the diminished role of fathers in our society?

Whatever factors have contributed to the rise in mass violence, they have to change. We cannot allow our children and grandchildren to grow up with this as their norm.

So when I join the chorus and say that government should “do something”, by that I mean lawmakers should do everything possible within our Constitutional authority protect everyone from violence, while supporting the work that’s needed to help identify the root causes of these horrible acts.

But please remember this:

Government has **never** been effective at legislating cultural or societal changes. This means that ultimately, the real drive to eliminate violence and hatred must come from our families, our local communities, our schools, and (dare I say it) our churches.