There are often clues that violence is imminent, probable, or likely. We don't yet have all the facts for Ft. Hood and Orlando. We will no doubt learn more about these two who committed those killings in the past couple of days. But, from our experience we know that people who lack sufficient self-esteem, or self-love, and who have become pre-occupied with hateful feelings and thoughts, often write or talk about their extreme and violent thoughts, usually many days, months, or even years before they actually kill.

We, communities, society, all need systems to allow preventive measures to be taken when there are clues pointing to imminent, probable, or likely violent behavior. Yes, restraining orders are issued against people who have stalked or threatened individuals. But, these orders are often ignored, and people get murdered anyway. Rarely is any therapy ordered by the courts, with reports by therapists to be turned in to the courts so that judges can decide on whether detention for more serious treatment, or even detention to save threatened lives, is necessary. People who openly and seriously advocate the initiation of violence in any form, murder, or war, should be subject to arrest, trial, and imprisonment if convicted. We put people in jails and prisons for having a few ounces of an illegal drug in their possession, but those same persons can seriously proclaim the intention of killing many people tomorrow, yet will not be subject to arrest unless and until they actually do the killings.

The Peace Law that I recommend in The Peace Prescription would change all of that. But that change will not happen, and countless lives will not be saved, unless thousands of people get involved to make the Peace Law into reality in the United States and around the world. You can express support for the Peace Law to your family, fellow students, co-workers, and everyone you know. You can write or phone your elected representatives, if you live in a democracy. Or, you can do nothing but just read the headlines and listen to, or watch, news reports of killings upon killings, violence after violence, wars upon wars. Or, perhaps you and those you care about will become the victims, and others who still survive, will get those reports of the violence perpetrated against you and yours. We all have the choice: Be pro-active to get good results, or live with the consequences of not doing so.

You, and everyone you know has the choice to get involved in immunizing your community and the world against violence and war, by means of the Peace Law and all the other steps of the Five Key Steps  needed to make that happen. What you SAY and DO does make a difference. We can all be uninvolved and inactive after we're dead. I guess we can pretend to be dead now, when we're supposedly still alive, if that's our choice, and not get involved to end, or at least markedly reduce, violent behavior. There are lots of excuses at our disposal: We're too busy. It's too hard to do. Lao Tsu said it best: A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Speak up. Pass it on. Do good, feel great about it,  and be proud when you look in the mirror.