We do not have a problem with mass shootings in America

Our only problem is a collective inability to understand structural violence.

It’s almost cliche at this point to mention the way our culture mistakes shock-value for effect. How a spark of bright violence holds collective attention while constant, seeping, protracted carnage goes unnoticed.

In the wake of recent events, admittedly this feels like sacrilege to say, but the very issue of guns—especially mass shootings—has come to hold a questionably deserved prominence in our collective attention. Mass shootings are shocking, but barely register when we compare their numbers to what else kills Americans every year.

Chronic stress-related illness, for example, will kill 1.6 Million of us this year. Chronic stress is often caused by ‘social issues:’ economic insecurity, food insecurity, racism, etc.. Further, not only will a statistically negligible number of us die during mass shootings this year, mass shootings—and perhaps most gun violence—are themselves symptoms of these same issues.

We can’t proceed from here without dealing with the fear associated with gun violence. I don’t want to downplay this at all. The idea that a shooter might emerge out of your normalcy and take your life or that of someone you love is scary. This fear affects many of us. But the tactics we use to supposedly prevent these events — active shooter drills, metal detectors, police shows of force— do not actually reduce fear. We pay for these with our tax dollars and with our general sense of wellbeing. These practices erode our collective trust and are themselves budding contributors to chronic stress.

Too, I don’t know that gun regulations work. While regulations likely won’t make the problem worse, I don’t know if anything short of total confiscation—which I’d be for—will make the problem better either. Despite the increase in mass shootings in recent years, the number of households with guns has been steadily decreasing since the 1960s. Too, most mass shootings happen in places with very strict gun laws. The guns themselves are usually legal. But irrespective of their potential for effectiveness, as we don’t seem to be able to pass national gun regulations, perhaps our efforts to this end are better spent elsewhere.

Cynically, we also don’t have empathy for anyone who dies in these events. Like in eras past, if we did, we’d already have managed to pass gun control — which we can’t seem to do. We carry on with this idea that eventually, more gun violence will gin up the resolve to ‘deal with the problem.’ This is not an effective way of thinking. 1) The increasing amount of incidents like this haven’t brought about the resolve yet. 2) If we even manage to get that far, we don’t know that the tactics we would employ would solve the problem. What passes for empathy or solidarity for this issue is often enough fleece-upholstered fear — self-centered, sanctimonious and reactionary. Our conversational bandwidth is better spent on fixing basic issues.

Of course, there is the issue of Money. The news media loves mass shootings. So do gun manufactures. Fear makes fortunes.

All said, my argument here is not, ‘let’s do nothing about gun violence and it will go away.’ My argument is that our efforts are better spent on more structural, fundamental issues which materially afflict more Americans and likely themselves contribute to gun violence. While the effect of my argument is to minimize the issue of gun violence, I don’t do so with any intention of disrespect for those touched by the issue. Their personal experience with this problem is perhaps even more important if we understand gun violence within the broader complex of issues which contribute thereto—the structural violence which so often goes unseen.

Benicio Silva (is not an NRA weirdo) is a writer.