A new year brings the promise of more inane government encroachment and invasion into our lives. This year's cause celebre is gun violence, and with it, ways for the government to promise people complete safety within their gilded cage.

The focus has shifted more from types of weapons and rounds of ammo to the mental health of the gun owners. This is interesting because soon the government will be establishing guidelines for unhealthy mental conditions that could deny people their right to own a weapon.

Have you ever considered suicide? Do you take anti-depressants? Do you have a history of domestic violence? Have you ever made threats against public officials? Is your job considered high stress? The government could develop a profile based on any number of criteria they consider to be related to mental illness or not conforming to their preferred way of thinking.

The question is, who assesses government actors? Government has access to more powerful weapons, more violent men, and more opportunity to use them. Where is the psychological evaluation before a government agent is handed a gun? What about the crazies acting as police, judges, legislators and mayors? Who creates and dictates rules of violence against peaceful people?

Government has committed more mass killings than any individual. Government uses more violence than individuals. There are more lunatics in control of government than can directly threaten anyone individually. It is like asking a murderer for help in reducing murder and their solution is telling you not to kill.

Mark McCoy

Collinsville