Young Man Who Targeted Kavanaugh Wanted to ‘Give His Life Purpose’ — Why That’s a Big Problem – Opinion

Let me ask you a couple of questions. How’s your spiritual life? Is there a strong support network and meaningful things happening in your life?

I’m asking because it’s time to say the quiet part out loud: There’s a massive crisis of mental health and spiritual brokenness among our demographic in this country.

Surprised to learn that 26-year-old man had planned to kill Justice Brett Kavanaugh, I didn’t surprise myself.

But I was even less shocked when I discovered that he told authorities that he wanted to “give his life purpose,” according to CNN, by attempting the politically motivated act. People can talk all day about how upset the suspect felt at the possibility of the Constitution being overturned. Roe v. Wade or how he had a handgun despite being against the Second Amendment, there’s a larger theme at work here.

Consider that the Uvalde shooter and the Buffalo shooter were both young men. These examples are not recent.

He was taken into police custody. Police found several items, including a handgun and tactical gear. Zip ties were also discovered. A hammer as well. The indictment stated that he was angry at the leak of a ruling showing that SCOTUS could overturn Roe v. Wade. He stated that he wanted to “give his life purpose”

— Whitney Wild (@WhitneyWReports) June 8, 2022

Investigators heard him express his anger over Uvalde’s shooting, and he indicated that he believes the justice will side with the second Amendment to loosen gun laws.

— Whitney Wild (@WhitneyWReports) June 8, 2022

All of them needed mental health care, or better. By going to such extreme lengths with their actions, it’s the failure of their support systems, their communities, and our culture.

Let’s be honest: Our current culture glorifies violence and dismisses the need to uplift young men. Although mental health issues are less commonly stigmatized these days, some people still consider faith to be taboo or even disapproved of. Adolescent men’s mental health needs are still generally not prioritized, and healthy masculine solutions to leading a purposeful life are frowned upon.

Kavanaugh’s violent assassination was a desperate act of self-deprecation by men like that one. Without a higher purpose, such acts are totally absurd. There was clearly a degree of spiritual breakdown here.

If you have a teenager or 20-something man in your life, they’re probably not thinking up plots to do horrific acts on others, but they might be going through mental health struggles that they are unwilling to admit. They might feel lost or confused about their life.

If you’re a young man, the best thing you can do is go to church and find a healthy community there. I’m not saying you need to become some ultra-religious nut, but a solid faith life will work wonders. Maybe that is not your thing, but it’s worth a shot. If the thought of that makes you feel sick, at the very least you might need to talk with others about what you’re going through–ideally, in person.

It is also beneficial to have a job, and keep one, most of the day. It not only helps occupy one’s time but also helps you figure out strengths and weaknesses in a way that’s productive. Teenagers may need this to regain their social skills following the coronavirus lockdown.

When I constatly hear these stories about young men my age doing (or attempting to do) horrific things nationwide, it’s disheartening–especially because there are ways to prevent it.