A Perspective On Violence And Public Policy

Yesterday’s terror attack in New York City was shocking. Acts of senseless violence have become part of our weekly reality, and we would all like to see steps taken to prevent future attacks.

But it’s important to keep the impact of violent attacks in perspective. On the same day that eight people were killed and twelve were injured seriously by the lone wolf attacker, well over one hundred people in the United States were killed in ordinary car accidents. When was the last time you saw politicians demanding “extreme vetting” for driver’s licenses? Nearly one hundred Americans were killed by firearms on the same day. Yet politicians steadfastly refuse to address the issue of gun violence.

When a lunatic kills a bunch of innocent people, it’s shocking and tragic. It makes us feel helpless, and when we feel helpless we long for solutions. The important thing is to avoid policies that do more harm than good. Do we really want to embrace laws that undermine basic freedoms in response to crimes with limited impact? Would it not be better to focus our attention on major issues that kill hundreds and hundreds of citizens every single day, issues such as healthcare, obesity, and gun violence?

Governments don’t enact harmful policies in a vacuum. They do so when the public loses sight of what’s truly important.