You may have heard the argument, “The problem is not guns– it’s mental health.”
That’s partly true. Guns ARE a mental health problem.

The current common interpretation of the 2nd amendment is a clear sign of that mental illness. The bizarre thinking that every citizen of a nation should be allowed to own and carry a deadly weapon for which they have no need, indicates a widespread mental dysfunction that should be obvious to any rational mind.
The desire to own and wield a device that can rapidly end another’s life almost effortlessly is a symptom of mental illness. The notion that any civilian “needs” such a weapon has been disseminated throughout one country in the world, the US. Hardly any other nation holds such a belief.

It is astounding that such thinking could spread so widely in one place while the rest of humanity looks on and scratches its collective head in bewilderment. It seems to involve a non-specific fear directed at potentially every other human being, though most will narrow that to imagine a category of dangerous kinds, perhaps “criminals”, people different from oneself and one’s family.

People globally recognize that a minority among them might wish to do them harm. If their area is at peace, they will have established police and a system of laws to control crime and protect them. Relatively little interpersonal violence occurs. The vast majority, if reasonably cautious, need not fear.

Allowing firearms to proliferate with very little control has had a predictable effect: tens of thousands of excess deaths every year. That in itself increases the societal fear level, leading to beliefs that everyone needs armed self-defense.
Being armed seldom protects any civilian. Gun violence does not happen from duels. Gun owners become more likely, not less, to suffer death or injury of themselves or family members. Added to intentional shootings are accidents, children finding and playing with guns, and suicides.

The belief that any civilian NEEDS a firearm is a delusion. Even the supposed excuse of hunting is not a valid need. How many of us live in a wilderness and survive by killing animals? Is there an inherent right to have “fun” with dangerous toys?

There is a serious additional problem: the fact that nearly anyone could be armed, whatever their intention, makes any encounter with law enforcement potentially deadly. Whether the officer is prejudiced or not, experienced or new, a threat can be perceived in an instant resulting in a needless death.

The existence of racist and/or power-obsessed police is a well-known problem, and knowing that anyone could be armed provides them an excuse to kill or maim. We hear the result of that much too often.

Even with the best of intentions, a subject reaching for a wallet might be thought to be pulling a gun, and end up just as dead.

As we have noticed, most of those who advocate for this insane armed society are on the political right wing, and have been since the 1970’s at least. They thrive on minimized interpersonal trust and political and cultural division on as many issues as possible. That enables wealth to maintain control, even in a democratic system that should empower the numerical majority of non-wealthy citizens.

Organizations of white nationalists and “Christian Nationalist” theocrats also welcome firearm proliferation. They acquire all the deadly hardware they can, with the goal of dominance by their ideologies. Whether they are compatible with corporate power remains to be seen, as they become increasingly militant.

It is possible the original John Birch Society and the NRA did not anticipate that result from their program, or the extent of random mass shootings. Do the political benefits to the power establishment justify the effects on society? They might want to re-examine that question.

For the rest of us who are sick of hearing news of gun deaths daily and KNOW how insane the American obsession with firearms is, we need to increase our influence on those who make our laws.

What we ask and demand should not be just minor cosmetic changes in laws. We should not be shy about going further than before.
No military-style semi-automatic rifles, pistols, and ammunition should be sold.
No one under 21 should be allowed to buy, possess, or carry firearms without direct adult supervision.
ALL firearm sales should require a thorough background check including a psychological screening by a trained professional.
All “stand-your-ground” laws should be repealed.
Concealed carrying of firearms should not be permitted.
Guns MUST be confiscated from those shown to be potentially violent.
Gun manufacturers and sellers should not be exempt from liability.

More may be added to that list, but that should be the minimum.

Some added facts:

States with relatively lax gun laws (most Republican-run states) have a higher rate per capita of gun deaths.

Stricter and better enforced state and local gun laws are effective, but it is nearly impossible to prevent firearms purchased elsewhere from being brought in. Only a nationwide regulation could avoid that.

Red-flag laws work when they are invoked and enforced. When local police or other officials fail to implement the laws, they can have no effect. Confiscation must be REQUIRED, not simply ALLOWED, and the process should be initiated by family members or endangered targets, not just police.

Although mass shootings get more public attention, and obviously show that assault weapons with high-capacity magazines need to be banned, we should remember that MOST shooting deaths happen one at a time, usually with common handguns. There are NO harmless firearms, and NO gun ownership can be considered entirely safe.