Tragic shooting

The recent shooting in Tucson, Arizona of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and several others is proving to be a lightning rod for multiple issues of public policy. Jared Lee Loughner, the alleged shooter, is drawing considerable attention, and the issues relating to this shooting is already being politicized.

There is already a call to “tone down the rhetoric” of public speech. The implication being that the current climate of incivility might have contributed to Loughner’s actions.

There is the deeper issue of Loughner’s mental health and the failure of “the system” in providing him with the necessary health care when his pattern of erratic behavior first started to manifest itself.

There is also the appeal for stricter gun control legislation in response to the ease with which this disturbed young man could purchase a weapon.

I don’t know the solution to all the issues raised by this incident. I do know that there will be blame cast about. I do suspect that there will be those who will use this tragedy to advance their own political agendas.

I hope, however, that we don’t lose sight of the human side of the story. Six people died and over a dozen were injured, needlessly. A young man committed a tragic crime because too many people ignored multiple warning signs that he needed help. At the very least we can hope that we might be more vigilant in offering help to troubled souls before they fall off the edge.

The first George Bush held out a vision of a thousand points of light in the hopes of our becoming a kinder and gentler nation. We have moved further from that vision rather than closer to it. I suspect that 9/11 had a lot to do with that. In the immediate aftermath of that particular tragedy things happened in our country that made me very proud to be an American. The stories of generosity and courage and kindness were heartwarming.

But, since then, in an effort to create greater safety and security, we have instead created a climate of suspicion and distrust. If Jared Loughner had manifested his disturbing behavior in the immediate aftermath of 9/11 I believe he would have gotten the help he needed. But, since his troubled soul was revealed in our current atmosphere of paranoia, seems as if everyone turned their backs on him, maybe thinking, “He’s not my problem.”

Well, he is our problem now. And a system of criminal justice that is already overtaxed will have to deal with one more criminal who might never have been one had he been treated as a patient first. As expensive as health care is, I believe it is cheaper than the costs society will face in the aftermath of the Tucson shooting.

Here’s hoping we reach out to help the troubled souls we know. Who knows what tragedies we might prevent?