Effective solutions are those that address root causes. What is behind kids killing kids in schools with guns and bombs? It's a recent phenomenon, so what has changed? Some things, not new; adolescent angst, the prevalence of guns, and laws restricting purchase, ownership and access to guns. 

Two things that are new; the flood of realistic violent imagery flowing into developing brains via entertainment, and the hours spent practicing killing human beings while playing ever more realistic video games. Desensitization to violence and human slaughter combined with adolescents' natural self-centered perspective is a dangerous mix. 

Banning assault weapons makes common sense, but confiscating the millions of existing non-assault guns is impractical at best and impossible in reality. Trying yet another layer of anti-gun-access laws is a feel-good ineffective approach. 

A more effective solution would be to severely restrict premature brains from access to violent entertainment; treating violent movies, music and video gaming as we do under-age drinking. 

Parents, if your child is consuming violent entertainment, you are perhaps the largest component in the problem of escalating school violence.

Warren Morse

Moodus