I'm not sure 'symptom' is the right word and in searching for the 'solution' there are intervening steps that would help. Curtailing the ease with which guns, particularly military-grade guns, can be acquired would be such a step.
M., I agree, and one can do not just one
or the other, but both at the same time. Things like (addressing symptoms) repairing the aberrations of military grade weapons being sold to civilians, especially with inadequate periodic background checkups, as blocked by the Republican Congress members, AND (preventative) making a start to address the social issues that seem to be one root cause, and the adoration of violence on TV and in Games, to name
a few (!)).
I
do think guns are more a symptom, than e.g. something constitutional (which it also is, but not exclusively). I'm not so sure that gun possession is praised to the skies only due the US Constitution, because many Americans do
not even have guns. But there is a large group of people who think that their government cannot be trusted (and neighbors / strangers / etc.), and they need guns to protect themselves against the Government they themselves helped to get in power. There are some opportunities for improvement on those aspects as well, it seems. A more trustworthy government might also help, less influenced by personal gain (campaign
donations and/or bribes) and Lobbyists (often former politicians).
Not an easy task, but it is insane to not at least make a serious effort. I prefer to focus on things that
can be done (even if they are hard to do), instead of focusing on the things that
cannot be done. More productive that way.
Cheers,
Bart