Why do we choose to harm others?

In “Rethink the Second Amendment,” Vincent Baldini seems to blame our Constitution, the National Rifle Association and, essentially, ownership of guns for the atrocity in Aurora [Northwest Voices, seattletimes.com, July 27].

In “Laws don’t stop intent,” Andy Anderson states a position much closer to my own, but still misses the true reason for the violence we see perpetrated with guns [“Northwest Voices, July 27].

I believe that in the same manner as the drug-abuse crisis we seem to be experiencing in our culture as of late, so too is violence expressed with guns merely a symptom of little-discussed problems of society.

Until we discuss and explore the reasons why we are choosing to escape our daily life (drug use) and discuss why we choose to harm others when we are experiencing strife in our lives (if guns were not available, other means would be found), these problems will continue to persist. No new set of bandage laws will ever make these problems go away.

— Andy Houle, Kent