There comes a point in a progressive, civilized society where you must collectively decide what is of paramount value to that society.

What, as a whole, is most important about the legacy of that society is left to the annals of history.

When, as a society, does it become important to reexamine old traditions and adopt something that better reflects what is of concern?

The culture of weapons is something ingrained in American society, and as many will point out, a pillar to our American freedoms. The “right to bear arms” is one of the central values for what it means to be a citizen of the United States.

The Washington Post reported that there are about 112 guns per 100 people in this country. The only nation that comes close in per capita ownership is the slavic nation of Serbia, and they come nowehere near the homicide statistics that our country touts.

The crux of scoial value that we face is the legacy of violence we have modeled. Our zealotry for guns is resulting in the slow death of our own people, and the trend has only seemed to rise.

It goes beyond a “mental health” problem which many politicains like to use as a buzz phrase during somber aftermaths. If they cared about mental health, Iraqi Freedom veterans would not be commiting suicide in record numbers.

It is up to us right here and now to decide the future of our values, and it starts with sensible gun control.