When the publicity rating of a tragedy hits critical mass, an assortment of fear-based decisions ensue, with varying degrees of irrationality. People point to guns, bombs, WMDs; all implements of death worthless to the mentally healthy.

In Virginia, a young man diagnosed as "a danger to himself and others" legally purchased a gun and killed 32 people before committing suicide. Prior to the rampage, one staff member was so disturbed by the boy's mental state that she threatened to quit if he were placed in her class.

In trying to solve this lethal equation, the gut response is to blame lax gun control laws. New York is currently involved in a suit against Virginia arms dealers for providing the weapons used in many of New York's violent crimes. The Million Mom March blames the NRA.

Even Congress has jumped on the bandwagon, blaming lack of funds for the intelligence oversight. A newly-introduced bill would dedicate funds to updating and maintaining the federal database of felons and others banned from purchasing firearms.

While such measures have their merits, they fail to address the real danger: identifying, treating, and preventing emotional collapse.

Tragedy makes us all feel a little more sentimental and idealistic anyway. Why not direct that energy toward fostering compassion for our fellow man?

When you come home and your roommate borders on catatonia, do you dismiss it, inquire, or at least recommend a good counselor?

When the content of your student's papers makes you alternately want to cry and vomit, do you threaten to quit, pawn the problem off on someone else, or hope it's just idle angst?

When a man walks into your store to buy a gun, do you ask how he plans to use it, or do you simply take the money and sell him rifles and bullets - based on approval by what you know is a flawed database - so that later you can maintain plausible deniability?

Where do you draw the line of personal responsibility? And when it becomes apparent that the undertaking is too much, what is your recourse?

Perhaps the Congressional allotment would be better spent developing campus mental health programs or broadening those already in existence.

A crazy man with a gun is as scary as a crazy man with a pipe bomb is as scary as a crazy man with a black belt.

James Q. Wilson of the LA Times said, "Americans are a more violent people than the English, even when they can't use a gun." When we can seriously address the roots of our violence, we may not have to worry so much about gun control.

Tell us what you think. Write Spectrum at editor@mcckc.edu.

Copyright 2007 Metropolitan Community College