When something awful happens, a lot of people start grasping for answers. They want to do something to make sure a similar incident never can happen again.

It's why so many people turn to gun control in the wake of a shooting. They've been told this is what it takes and so they accept that and internalize it.

In the Atlanta neighborhood of Mechanicsville, they've got a problem. Five people were shot over the weekend at a festival celebrating the neighborhood. Not the celebration most people had in mind. It also wasn't the first time the celebration had been marred in such a way.

But what was interesting is that while people started wanting to address the issue and make sure it never happens again, rather than the usual gun-grabbing we see, these folks decided to talk sense instead.

The rash of violence is bringing painful memories to mothers like Tomeka Pless, who lost her son Jalanni in 2020. He was killed while selling water in Midtown Atlanta.

“That’s the worst pain any parent can feel,” she said.

She said she hopes to see more community policing and crime prevention.

“More patrolling… you know, these events are happening. That is why when I have events for Jalanni, I make sure security is out here and in place,” said Pless.

Both women are hoping communities can get more involved with the youth, and do everything to prevent gun violence like this.

“Start taking your children to church. Let them know about God,” said Davis.

And here's the thing, folks: Every single thing these ladies said will do far more to prevent violence than gun control ever would. 

Why? 

Because what they're suggesting focuses on the people. Their suggestions involve understanding that criminals will be criminals and restricting guns won't stop these people from getting them anyway.

What's more, these calls will do more than prevent shootings. They'll help prevent violence, which is a little different.

You see, gun control is seemingly predicated on the idea that murder is only bad when a firearm is used. People ignore that a violent heart doesn't need a gun to be violent. Take a look what what we've seen in the UK as an example. Guns became difficult to find so what did their criminal underclass do? They started using knives. Then the government started trying to crack down on knives and now folks there are buying kitchen knives with no point just to make everyone feel better.

They're trying to nerf their entire reality, only that's not going to make things better.

In Georgia, gun control isn't likely to happen anyway, but asking for people to start getting involved and maybe address these people's violent tendencies well before they turn down a dark road is a strategy that can benefit everyone. Not only will society be safe from these non-hoodlums, but these younger people will become productive members of society and ultimately benefit from that.

Honestly, I was glad to see where this particular story led. I'd prefer it if there weren't shootings in general, obviously, but if there are, let's start talking about productive ways to address it rather than glomming onto restrictions of people's rights for a change.