Interesting story which shows that banning guns does not prevent murder. The U.S. has two main problems involving firearms: 1) gun violence directly related drug trafficking, and 2) deranged people getting hold of guns.
With regard to problem number one, legalization of drugs might possibly take money out of the equation. When the price is driven down, so are the profits. That leaves a tougher economic problem, namely the unemployed and undereducated in the inner city and in rural areas and the issue of abuse. I would accept a higher rate of overdose deaths in the short run while society figures out to deal with abuse. At least in overdose deaths, other innocent people will not lose their lives.
Regarding the more visible problem of mass shootings, the problem is a mental health crisis, particularly among young alienated males who have failed to find their place in a normal society. Spotting those problems early on is key. For example, every Friday, one elementary school teacher has her students turn in a list of the five people they would most like to sit next to in class and the five people they would like to least like to sit next to for the following week. This is done in a manner that protects every child’s privacy but it allows her to observe patterns and detect potential issues such as bullying, ostracization, etc. She has been doing this since the Columbine tragedy in 1999.
Passing laws may make people feel good that something is being done, but it is rearranging the chairs on the Titanic. Politicians are for it because they want to be re-elected and this is a tangible example of them responding to their constituents and taking action. People need to educate themselves on the root causes of gun violence and we need an honest open conversation before we can truly address the issue. Passing laws has been tried before and the evidence shows it doesn’t work.