How Much Longer Will the US Ignore Brain Science and Gun Control?

Politics without science is just as deadly as politics without principles. As a result, the MAGA anti-science and anti-truth belligerency against gun reform has needlessly killed hundreds of children, the most recent in Uvalde, TX, when another teenager fatally shot nineteen students and two teachers and wounded seventeen other people at Robb Elementary. It was just one of many other incidents, where an AR-15 style assault rifle was easily purchased and used.

Only in America. No other country suffers this sickness of ignoring the science of how the human brain develops. The mood swings, the unpredictable emotions and delusions of immortality-all things that make adults question the behavior of teenagers, can be blamed on the fact that their brains and bodies are undergoing massive change and have a hard time keeping pace. Anxiety and stress, bullying, Internet gaming, and easily obtained assault weapons make it worse.

The brain has two sides-an impulsive side, and a cautious side-and they balance one another. Before adulthood, however, the impulsive side of the brain is aggressive and filled with risks, while the cautious side of the brain (prefrontal cortex) where decisions are made is still playing catchup as a teenager. This explains why many teens do not yet consider the consequences of their actions. In fact, the cautious side will not be fully developed until their mid-20s.

Something else science teaches is that decision making during the teen years can be largely overshadowed by emotions mainly because the brain relies more on a part of the brain called the amygdala. This part of the brain is associated with emotions, impulses, aggression, and instinctive behavior that often results in poor decisions. The amygdala is opposed to the part of the brain where logical reasoning, problem-solving, and controlling impulsive behavior occurs.

Brain science also shows that anxiety, coupled with bullying and the “fear of missing out” or being rejected, negatively impacts the brain. To be sure, angry young American males (and older males) may be the United States greatest public health crisis. The stress over a rapacious economic system, the use of racism by political leaders, corporate exploitation, rising income inequality, bullying, and the fear of being left out (social status) has all produced a nation that is boiling over.

Brain imaging studies further show that the teen brain is not only struggling with coping and decision-making skills but is prone to addictions like alcohol, drugs, or prescription pills to cope in an overly anxious society. This includes addiction to the Internet and gaming. Researchers found that “reward chemicals” in the brain, creates signals of pleasure. Whether it be drugs, alcohol, opioids, or first-person shooter video games, feed-back loop is developed.

The US is failing like no other nation when it comes to brain science and gun control legislation. To read the description of America’s latest school shooter is to recognize an all-too-familiar profile: young, male, angry, teenager, who easily obtained an assault-style weapon, was bullied in school and addicted to the dark web, had grown-up in an overtly racist and classist society, had no sense of belonging, and whose brain was sorely underdeveloped-like other teen shooters.

Brain science and common sense says guns should be purchased in the mid-20s, only after a lengthy waiting period, and with a thorough background check-including online posts that appear threatening. Yearly gun training and permits should also be required. And since the brain is continually evolving-and sometimes “devolving,” a limit on the number of guns per owner would be something to consider.

Consequently, how much longer will the US ignore brain science and gun reform? It all depends on how expendable children are in relation to the gun industry, its lobbyists, and politicians that have no principles or know no brain science.

Dallas Darling (darling@wn.com)