Criminal Violence Republican Perspective

By Bill McConnell

The current political discussion employing the term “gun violence” as a proxy for criminal violence is misleading and manipulative. A serious analysis of the problem of criminal violence should not be framed in terms of “gun violence” or “gun control.” Guns do not commit violence, criminals do. If you refuse to identify the problem correctly, there is very little chance you will solve it. The issue should be correctly addressed as criminal violence or as criminal violence using a gun. Guns per se should only be part of this discussion as one of many means (along with bats, knifes, bombs, etc.) of committing criminal violence. Gun control and anti-Second Amendment advocates have been working for years to skew this discussion by a slight-of-hand manipulation of language. They have succeeded in getting us to talk about “gun violence,” instead of the real issue, namely criminal violence. As a result, guns, responsible gun owners, hunters, gun manufacturers, and almost anyone associated with guns in any positive way have been made into a new class of scapegoats, presumably responsible for any criminal violence carried out with a gun, for which they bear no real responsibility.

Most readers are probably familiar with the term “scapegoating.” Assuming this, I will not go into the definition and literature in detail. But for the record here is the American Psychological Association definition: “Scapegoating. n. blaming: the process of directing one’s anger, frustration, and aggression onto others and targeting them as the source of one’s problems and misfortunes.” (American Psychological Association.

(March 12. 2024) Retrieved from https://dictionary.apa.org/scapegoating)

There are many ways to describe the various types and elements of scapegoating. One way is to note four common ways in which scapegoats are created: One-on-one, one-on- group, group-on-one, group-on-group. (Nickerson, C. [Updated October 10, 2023]. Simply Psychology. Retrieved on March 14, 2024. Retrieved from https://www.simplypsychology.org/scapegoating.html)

In this column I am addressing group-on-group scapegoating. The blaming group in simple terms is the anti-gun group and the scapegoated group is the pro-gun group. The anti-gun group is made up of several overlapping groups such as certain politicians, anti- gun activists, and anti-NRA crusaders. The pro-gun group includes some other politicians, Second Amendment rights advocates, NRA members, law-abiding hunters, and gun owners.

Scapegoating works through the use of several mechanisms. First, blaming and shifting responsibility are two of the main components of scapegoating. Several things make this effective: an easily identifiable sub-group of society—the pro-gun group. Gun manufacturers are blamed for causing crime with a gun by making legally permitted guns and selling them legally and, by an extension of that same “logic,” legal gun buyers and users and “gun culture” must also somehow be to blame. This is the same as blaming car manufacturers and all drivers for at-fault accidents. The absurdity of all this is made clear by blaming the mindless guns (or cars) for the mayhem. Anti-gun activists have cleverly got us all taking about “gun crime, gun violence, ghost guns, weapons of war,” etc. This shift of responsibility away from the actual perpetrators enables them to avoid accountability for their own actions or failings. Likewise, proponents of various violence reduction programs avoid accountability for their failures by blaming “pro-gun” people.

Scapegoating often involves projecting one's own fears, insecurities, or shortcomings onto the scapegoat. By attributing negative characteristics or behaviors to the scapegoat, individuals or groups can deflect attention away from their own flaws or failings. The failure of crime control efforts means that politicians and criminal advocates need someone to blame. In the words of John Burroughs (1837-1921): “A man can fail many times, but he isn't a failure until he begins to blame somebody else.” (Brainy Quote. Retrieved on March 24, 2024 fromhttps://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/john_burroughs_121353)

Scapegoats are often portrayed in highly negative terms, often as dangerous, immoral, or subversive. Demonization justifies the mistreatment of scapegoat targets and reinforces the narrative of their culpability. The demonization of guns, the gun industry, gun manufacturers, and all gun users could not be more clear.

Scapegoating can serve various psychological functions for individuals and groups, including reducing anxiety, bolstering self-esteem, and maintaining a sense of control in the face of uncertainty or adversity. Politicians and the criminal justice community have failed to maintain a safe society and, therefore, they need someone or some “thing” to blame for their failure.

Scapegoating often involves the dissemination of propaganda or misinformation designed to vilify the scapegoat and sway public opinion against them. This can include exaggerated or fabricated claims about the scapegoat's actions or intention. This is exactly why millions of legal gun owners and users are blamed for the “gun crime problem.”

Scapegoating has a long history in human societies, often manifesting itself during times of social upheaval, economic hardship, or political turmoil. Understanding past instances of scapegoating can provide insights into its underlying causes and consequences. One important lesson learned from history is that scapegoating is something we should work to avoid, but gun control advocates in our society have turned this upside down and learned how to become champion scapegoaters.

Clearly, in any sensible discussion of criminal violence guns should be just one of many topics to address and it should not be very high on the list of priorities. Beginning and ending with guns as the main cause of the problem of criminal violence has led to the current frenzy of witch-hunting and scapegoating around “gun control.” A more reasonable discussion might look something more like this:

Example of a list in priority order of possible solutions to address in a discussion of criminal violence:

1. Successful arrest, prosecution and punishment of violent perpetrators
2. Improved treatment for serious mental illness
3. Reasonable and balanced regulation of social media
4. Regulation of violent content in entertainment for minors
5. Elimination of many current gun laws and improved enforcement of others
6. Reducing the availability of the means of committing violence

a. Reducing access to dangerous weapons

i. Reducing access to guns

It is fruitless to continue our current misguided discussion until any debate about “gun control” is properly reframed within the much broader topic of combating criminal violence.