Letter to the editor: How did we get to today's violent state?

If we take a few minutes to evaluate where America is today, we may not like what we see. In addition to the most obvious, our sharply divided and sometimes violent political divisions, there are several other troubling issues which are pulling our nation apart.

Violence is more violent. What, you say? Yes, it’s no longer fistfights that settle things. We now jump directly to guns, knives, bricks, etc., to settle scores. For that matter, there doesn’t need to be a score to settle. It’s just “sport” now. Shoot first, beat people to a pulp, stab them 20 times, then post it online. Even road rage incidents are at an all time high.

How did we get to this point? Sadly, it’s not getting any better. Protests often turn violent, fueled by paid protesters with anonymous funding, and pre-made signs show up and destroy communities.

Perhaps it’s getting easier to transition from video game killing to the real thing?

Mass shootings are now so common they appear in the second section of the newspaper in a 3-inch article. Did you know there were 586 mass shootings (at least four shot in a single event) and 332 school shootings last year alone? Bet you didn’t (neither did I). Crazy, right? But, we all know how many eggs those eagles laid. Ah, the media. Protecting us from pain and news.

If only we could go back to the more peaceful times of Attila the Hun or the Inquisition.

Tim Kaczmarek

Natrona Heights