Theoretically speaking

The Blood Sacrifice Theory would be tough to prove but it isn't the most outlandish theory I've read lately.  It's easy to forget how radically differently culture and norms developed in the New World as opposed to the traditions of Europe and Asia, where there was continuous growth and change for thousands of years.  Look at how quickly a few East Coast colonies expanded to the Pacific Ocean, about one hundred years, comprised of settlers and immigrants of many different backgrounds with varying cultural traditions.  We may be one nation but I don't think we're one culture, not yet.  Things are still developing and changing and maybe mass shootings are an inevitable result, the growing pains of an immature nation.  Theoretically, I think we'll move past this.

Uncle Ken mentioned depression and I thought of the great number of firearms deaths that are suicides, about two-thirds.  There is form of suicide that is called 'death by cop,' where some poor soul, unable to do the deed himself, acts out in a way that is guaranteed to get him shot by the police.  Waving a weapon and acting crazy is good way to get yourself killed, and maybe the mass shooters are a variation of this, thinking that murder is less shameful than suicide.  It's a weak theory.

For good example of the Blood Sacrifice Theory consider the Aztecs.  They had ceremonies where thousands of people would be sacrificed, the victims usually being captured enemies.  The Spanish Conquistadors did us a favor, I think.  If the Aztecs developed metallurgy and decided to expand their boundaries we would be living in a different world today.  Maybe there's something about living in the New World that makes everyone crazy.

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Now the big flap in the news has been that Hollywood Sleazebag, Harvey Weinstein, with accusations of sexual misconduct and harassment, some going back many decades.  I thought the 'casting couch' was a well known tradition in that part of show biz, but maybe those girls never heard of it.  I expect more scandals with media outlets and the legal profession being the main beneficiaries and the public's appetite for schadenfreude to be temporarily sated.  We love our dirt, it gives us something to talk about, and it's not our fault.  By 'we' I mean the population in general and not the enlightened Beaglesonians, of course.  We have better things to talk about.