Shootings, both school and public, we’ve blamed them on guns and mental health issues, but what we haven’t addressed is the root cause.

In many cases, an individual is being shunned, picked on and bullied until they “snap.”

This scenario isn’t isolated to the schoolyard. For almost two decades, conservatives have been called “racists,” “sexist,” “homophobes,” “bigots,” “deplorables” and “garbage.”

During Donald Trump’s first term, Nancy Pelosi, Maxine Waters and their cronies swore to get him out of office “by whatever means possible,” prompting harassment of aides and cabinet members and their families, boycotting businesses and “witch hunts.”

Earlier in November, the media was printing hateful venomous letters (that conservatives would never be allowed to have printed), and for a group that wants us to accept others “as they are,” liberals are hypocrites for belittling anyone who doesn’t believe what they tell them to believe.

How long would we ignore this behavior in the schools before changes are made or rules enforced? For almost two decades, adults, media and politicians have modeled this unacceptable behavior, so it is no wonder our youth and young adults have “issues” if this is what they have seen.

Behavior (good and bad) is based on “societal standards,” but by accepting everyone’s fantasies as “acceptable” and printing venomous words (except conservative views) there is no standard to base behavior on. So, the next time someone “snaps” we can blame the lack of role models and no societal standards.

Rich Hatch, Hebron