After reading many comments in response to the question, “Are their too many guns in Florida?” I believe the majority consensus of the people writing comments in the Eastlake Patch inspired forum shows that, yes, there are too many guns in Florida. Of course, there are many in our society that don't believe there can ever be enough guns or ammunition in our country. Still, a larger question remains though. Are we much too violent as a people?

   How many times have we heard "guns don't kill people, people kill people." We certainly need to examine why this is true. However, what is it about Americans that makes us so violent towards others? Is it in our DNA or has it been nurtured by our history and our culture?

   Let's take a look at our nation's history of violence. Our country began with revolution against England based on the belief that we could no longer live under a tyrannical and oppressive regime. We fought a very bloody, deadly and long Civil War based on the belief that it was wrong to enslave other human beings. We joined wars against Germany then Japan to defend the freedom of not only, ourselves, but also other civilized nations and their peoples. We have fought in numerous other, many would say, unjustified wars or conflicts too. We are a people of war! We have caused much carnage, death and destruction at home and abroad all over the world. This is our national legacy, we are efficient at war and very effective in making devastatingly deadly weaponry with overwhelming firepower. We currently spend more monies on our defense budget than the next thirteen countries combined.

   Although, sometimes violence is necessary to be used as a last resort, unjustified violence is purely evil. Edmund Burke once wrote “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” Is now the time? Can all good people in America come to the aid of their fellow countrymen who are being slaughtered by the hands of these violent evil persons?

   Perhaps then, we good people, really do need to examine our violent history and our culture of violence before we can even begin to solve the ongoing problem and the senseless tragedies caused by gun violence. How do we tell the next parent who losses a child or loved one that there is nothing to be done? Burke also wrote “When bad men combine, the good must associate; else thy will fall one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle.” No, guns don't kill people. In the hands of violent evil persons though, they are used as highly effective tools of death and destruction. Can we good people change this, our culture of violence? Will we as a people change this, our culture of violence and become a more peaceful, tolerant and less violent nation? Only time, will really tell.