It’s been a crazy time here in the southern part of heaven. Like anyone else with normal human feelings, I was pretty shocked by the cold-blooded murders of Deah Barakat, Yusor Abu-Salha, and Razan Abu-Salha. By now, everyone reading this knows the circumstances of the murders, and also knows the trajectories of the victims’ exemplary young lives. As the mother of two teenagers, I shudder to imagine what their parents are going through. I don’t want to even think about it, although at the same time I’m having trouble tearing myself away from all the news reports and interviews.

First, a much noted issue – was this a hate crime? In a televised interview, the father of the two women said definitely yes, noting that the victims were shot in the head execution-style. My son’s Muslim friends, one of whom was close with Deah Barakat, are also adamant that this was a hate crime. Based on what we know so far, I find myself agreeing; this looks like a deliberate murder by a guy with fervent anti-religious views. If I were Muslim, I’d be feeling the hate too.

That’s not the only important issue here, though. It has also been noted that the killer, Craig Stephen Hicks, has a history of threatening behavior. In addition, he was in legal possession of a concealed-carry gun permit. And he owned up to a dozen firearms. All of which begs the question – ARE YOU EFFING KIDDING ME? How is it that, as a society in a developed western nation, a seemingly unstable dude can own a panoply of firearms and a concealed carry permit? Why anyone should have all that is a legitimate question, but why this guy should have all that is beyond absurd. What is wrong with us? And why are we not talking about it?

Let’s please acknowledge that it is too damn easy to own guns. Honestly, it is. In any other western country, the same anger might be present, but the result would have been different because guns are just not that easily available. You can’t easily cure mental instability, but you CAN cure widespread gun ownership. A cursory look at gun death specifics by country makes that abundantly clear. Gun culture kills.

So of course, let’s talk hate crime. But let’s also talk about why mentally unstable people can so easily own an arsenal. These are usually seen as separate debates. But really they are not. Let’s start with the relationship between mental illness and hate. Hate doesn’t beget mental illness. But mental illness can beget hate. And that, I think, is arguably what is going on in this case. Here we have an apparently unstable guy who was predisposed to anger and conflict. One thing he hated was religion, and religious people. His anger prompted him to acquire guns. His anti-religious views prompted him to dislike – arguably hate – religious people. His anger, combined with his views, arguably prompted him to let it all out on his conspicuously religious neighbors. The proximate cause may or may not have been parking spots – but the underlying causes were mental instability, guns, and hate.

Finally, let’s also acknowledge that the Muslim community justifiably feels targeted, and that individuals prone to anger and hate have their feelings validated by an awful lot of hateful rhetoric spewing from politicians and media, especially on the right, but not always (cue Bill Maher…). The rhetoric didn’t cause these murders, and speech is free. But preaching hate is never helpful, so let’s call it out. Speaking of which: hey, Duke University? Now would be a good time to allow that call to prayer from Duke Chapel.