What's the root cause of all this? You can't fight gun violence without knowing this...

[Sympthsical]

7. I think whatever answers you get

Will fit neatly into narratives that coincidentally suit worldview and partisan political affiliation.

So, it won't be a particularly useful exercise. There's no point. At this level of polarization, not only are neither side prepared to have a conversation, neither side is willing to do the work of self-reflection on how they contribute to our current cultural environment.

Why this is happening is complicated, and complicated answers do not provide comfort nor absolve blame.

As a result, we'll get a flood of simple answers, then observe with marveled wonder why nothing changes.

My short, short, short answer: A sense of marginalization combined with easy access to guns.

The Right is responsible for the access, and they stoke the embers of resentment and marginalization. Our part in the resentment and marginalization is murkier and would involve self-awareness, reflection, and changes in approach.

So that discussion is not in the offing.