A New Epidemic
December 14, 2012 
5 Comments
In Newtown, Connecticut, a 20 year old named Adam Lanza went into an elementary school and killed 26 people after first shooting his mother in the face. Described by relatives as “not well” and other as “brilliant but remote” (truly, genius is close to madness), the young man put on a bulletproof vest, took 2 handguns and a semi-automatic rifle (registered to his mother) to the school and started shooting. Apparently, he was quiet the whole time that he put 2 bullets into each victim. The incident ended when he shot himself.
The shooting comes hard upon another event where a masked gunman killed two people at a mall before shooting himself. Just yesterday, a man was arrested for firing off 50 rounds in a California parking lot. My question is, what the heck is going on? Does this have something to do with the Mayan apocalypse? Are unbalanced people, thinking that the world is going to end in a few days, wanting to go out in a blaze of “glory”? Are we finally seeing the end result of putting kids on medications for attention deficits and other disorders? Have violent video games made the idea of killing no big deal to the average young man?
Perhaps, but this doesn’t explain why mass murders are becoming so commonplace. In the past, a mass murder might occur a few times a decade, but there have been 24 in the past seven years, just in the United States. In fact, 6 of the 12 worst incidents have occurred since 2007. This is all happening at a time when violent crime has generally been decreasing.
I am already seeing the outcry for more gun control. Protesters associated with gun control groups were in front of the White House chanting “Today is the day”. Countries like Israel and Switzerland, however, have historically had relatively easy access to guns without a history of mass shootings. Recently, these countries have tightened their laws to decrease access, but the reason was more to prevent suicides than murders.
If someone wants to commit suicide or murder, they will use whatever method is available to them. Where there are no guns, people commit suicide, they hang themselves or take overdoses. In China, a man went into a school and stabbed 22 children. I admit that guns are deadlier than knives, but the old saying goes: “Where there’s a will, there’s a way”.
On the other side of the story, there are those who say that if everyone carried guns, few mass murderers would get far before they are shot themselves. Perhaps, but nobody thinks that the Newtown schoolchildren should all have been armed. Some say it shouldn’t be given publicity, that being on the news is just what the killers want. Yet, if that’s the case, why do they often shoot themselves before they get their 15 minutes of fame? The Newtown school gunman didn’t even leave a note.
Where do I see this going? Schools and malls may soon have their own version of “air marshals” providing tighter security than today’s “mall cop”. They will be openly armed and they will have rifles. The sight of armed guards may stop some of the shootings; it might be worth it even if it saves just one child’s life. I can tell you, however, that I often see guards walking around with automatic rifles when I travel out of the country. It doesn make me feel safer.; I feel like I’m in a police state.
If you’re a gun enthusiast, get ready for more and more restrictions. At a local gun show where we live this weekend, there was a lot of business. People see their right to bear arms under attack, and, indeed, they are. If these shootings continue at this rate, there might be one less amendment to the constitution.
I don’t have answers. I don’t have a political statement to make. I just know the beginning of an epidemic when I see one. I’m a doctor, and my usual advice for these uncertain times is to be medically prepared. How many of the Newtown kids would medical readiness have saved? I don’t know. I can only say that a sick society begets sick people. The sicker society gets, the more sick people will be out there. Be quietly aware of your surroundings in public, protect yourself in the way you’re most comfortable with, and be prepared for tough times (they’re a-coming). And, lastly, pray for the children.
Dr. Bones
drbonesclass@aol.com to find out more about our classes.
June 1-2 2013 Puyallup WA Mother Earth News, Booth- Free Lecture
June 8-9 Bakersfield CA, location and times TBA
Check Back for more updates!!!!!
And welcome to our website Doom and Bloom ™. 
Medical kits, suture/staple supplies, IV set-ups, and more for the preparedness community. Go to the Doom and Bloom Shop to check out our entire line!. For any questions, please contact us at drbonesclass@aol.com. 
I think epidemic is too strong of a word. If we had such sensational killings once a week or more, then I’d say it was an epidemic. I do agree, however, that we’ll likely see more armed guards at schools, malls and other public places. We might see more invasive frisking by TSA-types.
I also think the medical community needs to bear its share of the blame for these shootings. How many times have we heard about shooters, alleged terrorists, etc., who have either been on antidepressants or similar meds, or they’ve quit taking them? Naturally, the response to yesterday’s shooting will be to scrutinize for mental illness, and the treatment will be more meds. To what end?
Howdy doc. Let’s place the blame on the moral decline of America. Immoral and evil men and women have spent decades changing the moral make up of America. Now we are indeed seeing the fruit of that tree. There will not be a quick fix as the folks incharge totally believe if we give them more control they will create a human utopia. Our America is weaker and less safe as a result. This shooting clearly shows that evil folks will not be restrained by laws. It’s up to you to protect yourself and yours. The government and their laws will not protect you
I agree there is certainly a moral decline. In addition, it is noteworthy to mention how this young man was dressed. He was wearing (according to reports) a paramilitary outfit complete with a bullet proof vest. That means something–where did he get this image from? Of course it could not possibly be from the constant barrage of media centered hype that the solution to any problem is bringing a gun into the discussion. I agree with Dr. Bones that there is an epidemic. In addition to the total corruption of all our institutions–from spiritual to education to government largesse, there is also the fact that no one to date has mentioned this terrible tragedy from the standpoint of the actual people involved–a father that has had his son commit a terrible act that has pained milllions of people. A son–no matter how mentally ill–is still a human being. The hate filled vitriole by a media focused on making profit at the expense of the pain of others should also not go unnoticed–all part of the epidemic. That as a nation, we can be so callous and not see that the killing of one’s own child or parent is an act that goes beyond the average human’s comprehension requires not hate nor villification but great sadness and empathy. The real epidemic is that as a nation in mourning we can not mourn all the dead–the mentally ill boy who committed this unspeakable act, the loving mother who tried to do everything she could to help, protect and love her child and the father who must now bear the horrible guilt of knowning that his own flesh and blood is responsible for the death of so many beautiful and loving chldren. So the real epidemic that we should be very concerned about is actually a whole nation that has become so twisted as to not see the realities of these facts. And in the utmost irony, the hysterical attacks by the left and the right, by conservatives and liberals alike in placing blame is the real evil of this tragedy. The reality is the accusations and recriminations and the internalized fear, loathing and backbiting is the real epidemic. This clearly demented young man has an excuse–we call it insanity and our legal system thru thousands of years of common law recognize when someone is insane, they are not morally repsonsible for their actions…but what is our excuse as supposedly rational clear thinking citizens? We have none–and that is the real epidemic and the real tragedy.
Anyone can post our articles on their site as long as they credit us as the authors and provide a link to our website! Thanks so much!
Dr. Bones