I have sympathy for lawmakers who wish to introduce legislation pertaining to gun control, although I personally support the use of firearms for sport and self-defense at the least. But I do not think gun control will solve the problem. While someone on a rampage will likely kill less innocents with a blade than with a gun, I think we need to get to the true root of the problem. In other words, what is making people so angry?

Among my hypotheses is the idea of alienation, where angry men feel left behind by modern-day robber-barons like Bezos et al, though I greatly commend Bill and Melinda Gates for their continued involvement in philanthropy and overall attempts at advancing the human race. I see many parallels between the modern distribution of wealth and the late 19th-century "gilded age." I continue to have faith in capitalism, but it used to be that you could get a family-supporting job with a high school diploma — now, you can barely do it with a very narrow group of bachelor's degrees. It is no wonder some people get so far into despair that some of them are sent into a rage of wanton destruction.

Max Engel

East Lyme