Op Ed: Gun Violence (...and then what?)

Tamara D. Howell-Files, LMHC MA BSN RN
Nurse/Therapist/Activist

We are living in times where gun violence has become the norm for so many communities, Anywhere, USA. It has increased to such a status that it is often referred to a “pandemic”. Every day we are witnessing trauma after trauma related to the use of guns in America.

A number of things are at play here; we are a society of quick-tempered, easily offended groups and/or individuals who have absolutely no value for life. We are also a society driven by greed and the love for more money, no matter the cost of lives or damage in the process.

There are a number of factors that motivate the behavior of gun use. We have social circumstances, including belief systems that are influenced by family, friends and the environment (i.e. poverty, perceived lack of resources, relational conflicts, hopelessness, racial discord, etc…) in which we live. Other factors may include mental and/or emotional instability; innate or acquired.

The cycles of gun violence not only impact the victims, whether they survive or not. That residue is left on the families (of both victims and perpetrators), the communities and society as a whole. Psychosocial, mental and emotional trauma have lasting effects and may continue throughout generations. Surviving victims deal with the trauma of physical injuries, minor or “severe”, which may eventually lead to post traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) and the possibility of being re-victimized or retaliation, particularly if they return to the same environments.

Young children living in communities riddled with gun violence also suffer from forms of PTSD, even if the violence is not directly toward them. We see it in their behaviors and responses; they are acting out in school, they are not sleeping well, they are consistently thinking of death and dying, they are also becoming more desensitized to what it once meant to be innocent. Family members of those who do not survive gun violence are left in a trail of tears, picking up the pieces, also dealing with forms of PTSD.

Easy accessibility and availability with very minimal to no regulations on background checks for purchasing guns, as well as illegal sales of guns have become the norm without major consequences or policing, particularly in impoverished neighborhoods. We no longer have long term mental health facilities to house individuals who need indefinite, residential 24-hour observation and treatment.

Other contributing factors include the lack of coping skills in dealing with life issues, including hopelessness, a decreased value of life and what we value in life, increased “gaming” among youth who do not separate virtual violence with real-life experiences. The gaming is a problem in and of itself due to the relation of increased anxiety, depression and lack of social skills we now see among many youth who indulge in excessive gaming.

How can we help change this narrative of gun violence? There are local initiatives that have boots on the ground, putting the time and work in. Contrary to popular belief, funding is not a requirement to make real change. Practical, real-time approaches are a start. Holistically, this includes an overall concept of health with the spiritual, mental, emotional, physical and social well-being of each individual intact. If any part of the 'whole' is broken or missing, the imbalance can lead to unhealthy outcomes and behaviors.

As the first established institution, the family and/or the home life is the best starting place for change. Many parents have to do better in their expectations for themselves as well as their children. Model what you want to see in them and from them. Level up your game and mindset from a holistic viewpoint with identified value systems of your spiritual, mental, emotional, physical and social well-being. We are in a crisis. Fictitious superheroes are not coming to save us. When the children are not well, they grow into soulless, empty vessels of nothingness; continuing the vicious and many times deadly cycle of despair.

It is beyond time to step up and do better with what we have. Stop waiting on your "superhero" and put your own cape on! Feed them. Teach them. Encourage them. Making a difference for one can change the hearts of a multitude.