One of the most startling revelations brought to light since Uvalde, that everybody with a brain had LONG suspected, was the level of grooming, some by institutional actors, that exist on the Internet that is geared to direct vulnerable young and confused minds towards this very path. In the past and throughout this country and the world's history since firearms became commercially produced and widely available, you almost NEVER heard of one instance of mass shootings. Generations of teenagers grew up through phases of angst and hormones, bullying and conflict, and they sometimes had to fight, but they matured and became productive adults.
All that changed in the mid-1990s when virtual spaces filled with faceless and anonymous members became widely available. The Internet is a marvel of modern technology but one unavoidable flaw it has is that it tends to attract vulnerable younger minds who are seeking refuge from conflict in the real world. If the entire Internet population is wholesome and possess good intentions, the virtual world can be another source of positive guidance steering these temporarily troubled minds onto the road they are supposed to go. But it is not like that. A whole host of predators exist in the virtual world and to add to it, insidious actors lying in wait eager to mold these vulnerable minds into lethal soldiers to push their agendas. Almost every mass shooter starting from Columbine have been egged on, encouraged, and pushed by chat room voices to go on that particular path. And every time another young, angst filled person posts a rant onto social media complaining about bullying or failure to attract romantic partners, you KNOW the sharks will be lying in wait, eager for another potential target to turn into their own personal smart bomb. And even in places like Japan where firearms are almost completely restricted, an angry mind that has been groomed and steered into a path of destruction would use arson, explosives, or a vehicle to carry out their acts.
On cue !
