Domestic Violence en masse: A Public Health Epidemic

The nation is facing an epidemic of gun violence that has all of the characteristics of other epidemics. There are many ways to look at what is happening. It can be seen as a series of quakes along with identifiable socioeconomic and ethnoracial fault lines in our country. From this point of view, the major fault lines lie across the old Mason-Dixon line, and the boundaries separating the coastal areas from middle America, i.e. the Rocky Mountains and the Appalachian mountains. The increasing tempo of quakes, just as in seismology, does not mean a decrease in pressure along the fault lines. Instead, it indicates an increasing probability of a larger and more damaging quake. One can also pull in concepts of amplitude and intensity.

A big event in Las Vegas can be felt in Los Angeles, the up and down movement might mean less lateral movement in San Francisco where liquefaction of terrain could more readily occur than in L.A. The characterization of disease epidemic seems much more suitable since the agents are living and actionable.

Growing Fear in America

This FindaTopDoc series has included issues such as fear and anxiety, the use and abuse of emergency room resources, host and vector interaction, and the effect of climate change on host and vector interaction. These ideas are readily applicable to the increasing mass violence in the United States. The major complication is that the violence may be enhanceable by foreign intervention.

Guns, knives, explosives, and toxins are the usual agents of lethality. The strike points are where people gather in relatively large numbers and where entertainment, shopping, or just plain meandering are the individual preoccupations. The vector is usually a male, usually postpubescent, and angry with a targeted group (by race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status or sex) selected. This targeted group is usually readily extended when the lust of mayhem begins. The mostly male perpetrators include those who feel that they have been bypassed or downgraded at work because of some minority or other group preference.

This cohort involves a considerably older population. Misogyny plays a role, race and ethnic bias, and the fear of rejection or fundamental unworthiness underlie the projected rage. The ability to tap into a major theme that is sweeping the country is of great importance. The poisoned tree of anti-ism bears many fruit. (The we, me, us first phenomenon may be an atavistic hominid response to a planet that can no longer sustain all of us and may be just what isn't needed as climate change dictates world cooperation.)

What Can One Do?

For one thing, avoiding places of mass entertainment where inhibitions can be loosened by alcohol is probably a good idea. Utilizing digital devices to keep track of family and friends is probably wise. Continuing to pressure elected representatives to make sure they are aware of governmental processes that are no longer functioning. For example, the Department of Homeland Security's mass domestic violence investigatory unit was dismantled early this year because of ostensible lack of need.

The primary deterrents to the epidemic are not psychiatric care for mentally ill persons, but community awareness of deviant behavior, community advocacy for adequate gun control laws, and maximum maintenance of personal and familial well-being. Sinking into the sea of despair only adds to the problem and increases susceptibility to mayhem. Know the resources that are available and learn how to use them. Ensure that they are functioning, as well as maintain personal and familial health.