Columbine, Virginia Tech, Fort Hood, Aurora, Tucson, Newtown, Charleston.
And now Chattanooga.
There are too many other sites of unprovoked carnage to remember immediately. Because the murders of five members of our armed forces happened in our community, they will endure in our collective and individual memories, perhaps forever.
Clif CleavelandSome will argue that the only way to prevent such violence is to arm everyone or to post heavily armed guards at every public gathering place: malls, schools, churches, restaurants, parks and businesses. But think of all the people who might be caught in resulting crossfire.
As an alternative, what might happen if we addressed our too-common outbreaks of gun violence as an epidemic, comparable to an infectious disease? By applying principles of epidemiology, we might find new initiatives for prevention of tragedy and treatment of potential offenders.
Epidemiology is based upon finding commonalities in outbreaks of illness. What is the source or reservoir of the illness? Are there factors that enhance the reservoir? What is the vector or the agent of transmission? Are there unusual susceptibilities among victims?
In the overwhelming majority of mass murders in our country, the perpetrator is a young male. Guns are the weapons of choice with a preference for military-style, assault weapons. Post-tragedy analysis has sometimes identified illnesses such as schizophrenia in the assailant or a history of alienation from family and society.
Certain genetic abnormalities in males have an increased association with violent behavior. These range from extra male (Y) chromosomes to defective genes that regulate critical enzymes in the brain. The presence of an abnormality, however, does not invariable lead to criminal behavior.
The behavior of genes may be significantly influenced by the chemical environment in which they act. The prenatal environment may be altered by exposure of the mother to alcohol, cocaine, heroin and heavy metals such as lead and mercury. These are the "epigenetic" factors in development, or factors that have nothing to do with genetics.
Sexual or physical abuse of a child may exert powerful epigenetic influences on mental and social development. The possible effect of repeated exposure to violent video games and televised programs is yet to be assessed fully.
Functional brain scans give us insights into the structure and activity of different parts of the brain. On these scans, sociopaths - persons seemingly without a conscience - often exhibit a pattern of reduced activity in the frontal lobes of the brain, which is where our executive functions, including our decision-making skills, are created. Are some boys born with such abnormalities or do they develop over time, possibly in response to abuse or other trauma?
Recognizing the vulnerability of young men who may feel isolated, depressed and angry, society's hate-mongers proclaim a creed of revenge in which the oppressed can find the recognition which they crave. Perhaps these leaders are themselves biologically or socially damaged and seek to leverage their hatred.
While neuroscientists work on the possible biological determinants of violent behavior, we have abundant evidence from social scientists on the effects that poverty, poor education and abusive relationships in childhood may have on adult behavior. These variables can be addressed, but at a cost which our society may be unwilling to pay.
The vector in this epidemic is usually a firearm. Campaigns to regulate firearm sales or to conduct universal background checks or to ban the sale of assault weapons have repeatedly failed. Lobbyists are powerful, and our politicians will not touch these issues. In our epidemic analogy this is still the most controllable factor.
The complex social and pathologic factors related to horrific crimes are discussed in depth in "The Anatomy of Violence: The Biological Roots of Crime" by Adrian Raine, a distinguished psychologist and criminologist at the University of Pennsylvania. Better than any other source that I've encountered, Raine's book balances the roles of poverty, abuse, genetics and physiology in the analysis of males who have committed horrific crimes, including mass murder. Some of his recommendations are controversial but set the stage for overdue public discourse.
We have a choice. We may mourn the victims of the Chattanooga massacre, help their families and move on. Or we can undertake a sustained assessment of all violent acts in our community with an ultimate goal of prevention.
Imagine a future highway sign at our boundaries: "Welcome to Chattanooga-Hamilton County, A Violence-free Zone."
Impossible?
Contact Clif Cleaveland at cleaveland1000@comcast.net.