Unlonely Lone Wolves...

One of the most harrowing media commentaries about the July 4th Highland Park carnage debunked the theory that the suspect was a loner. That Robert Crimo III had grown up in a volatile household as a neglected social misfit was clearly part of his history; however, according to one cyber terror analyst, at the time of the massacre he was not "lonely" — in fact, with thousands of followers on YouTube and Spotify alone, Crimo had raked in a sizable income from millions of downloads of his graphic videos and photos. Anyone who followed him would most likely share his views and his obsession with violence. Far from being a "lone wolf," the aspiring rapper seems to have espoused alt-right beliefs and had even "scoped out" a synagogue before his onslaught on the parade.

What does this mean? In effect, Robert Crimo III is just the current face of a growing movement of violence-loving, gun worshipping hate groups. Just as Crimo lived in "plain view," so his cohorts also live in "plain view," providing ample signs and symptoms of their disturbed minds. Just as Crimo was able to legally purchase deadly weapons, so those of the same ilk also have access to their arsenals of choice. And just as his family members and associates did nothing to protect either him or society, so the families and associates of other "unlonely wolves" will also turn a blind eye.

The United States has become one of the most violent nations on earth. We are a democracy in which it is too dangerous to go shopping, or to a place of worship, or to school, or to the beach, or to a parade, or to a concert — or, as in the case of 5 year old Khamaya Donelson, even to have an ice cream treat! In addition to a total ban on civilian access to assault weapons, we need, as a nation, to take stock of our values and ask what our children need to become healthy, peace-abiding, productive members of society. This is a question that every community needs to address; it is also the most important question facing our government today.