Culture of Violence is the Real Enemy

Baltimore Sun Letter to the Editor from Dave Goldsmith November 9, 2002.

Whenever there is a sensational gun crime, the Democrats call for more gun laws and the Republicans call for stricter enforcement of existing laws and longer prison sentences for gun-using criminals. But how would better enforcement of existing gun laws or longer prison sentences have prevented the Beltway sniper tragedy?

The truth is that we live in a country that validates and even glorifies violence, from the president (“I want bin Laden dead or alive”) down to the mayor of Baltimore, who recently threatened to beat up his critics.

Go to a computer game store and watch about one minute of “Grand Theft Auto” to get an idea of the lessons our children are absorbing. Turn on a television during prime time and you will usually only have to wait seconds before some act of violence is portrayed on the screen.

Gun violence is as American as war, low minimum wages and childhood poverty.

Until the underlying causes of violence are addressed, the Democratic and Republican solutions will continue to ring hollow after each and every sensational gun crime.

Dave Goldsmith
Woodstock
The writer is the coordinator of the Baltimore County Green Party.