FBI research indicates that all of the "kids who kill kids" have two things in common, whether in Pearl, Mississippi, Paducah, Kentucky, Jonesboro, Arkansas, or Littleton, Colorado, and so on.

First, these kids seldom, if ever, went to church, where they might have been subjected to the Ten Commandments or heard the message of "be ye kind, one to another," The Golden Rule and other teachings that help develop law-abiding citizens.

Second, they frequently played interactive video games where they practiced "shooting" their victims, which were so lifelike they looked real. They bled, they screamed, they exhibited the pain of having been shot. The sense of "taking them down" was very real, so they were living out the fantasy in their own minds. In the process, they were desensitized, and took no thought of the long-term consequences of their actions. They were in control, and growing less sensitive to the value of human life until — for them — it had no value at all.

The killers were in many ways "misfits," and did not gain acceptance among their peer groups. Their only exposure to what the church "teaches" was the way believers are frequently depicted on television, in movies and on the Internet. Power and violence are two tremendously dangerous and attractive lures for a troubled youngster who has been fed the power concept, combined with hatred and fear as well as anger.

Incredibly enough, one of the Columbine students had never shot a gun before, and yet, because of the virtual-reality interactive videos, he had been carefully taught a very effective way to shoot. Each of his first eight shots was right on target, except this time, they claimed living victims. An FBI agent with many years' experience told me he doubted that even with his training and hours on the firing ranges, he could have shot as well. In short, not only were the young killers desensitized, but they had been trained to kill.

In a 12-year study the FBI conducted in Dallas on bank robbery, one thing was consistent with every robbery. Many of the robbers had the two above factors (they seldom, if ever, went to church, and had watched lots of violent video and TV), but the third factor was their fascination with violent pornography. In violent pornography, it is the man who is in control — he dominates, he's the boss and he's the one who dictates to others. When bank robbers walked into banks with their guns, they were in control, i.e., "I am now the boss; you will do what I tell you. You will obey, or I will blow you away."

When a person has been saturated with violent input and is convinced that life is unfair and feels rejected, he often turns to violent actions. Strangely enough, many people, led by the media, will deny that watching pornography or violent videos/TV has any impact on their behavior. Common sense dictates otherwise.

Ban violent, interactive videos from your home. Know your children's friends, and find out if those kinds of videos and games are being used in their homes when your child is present. It's true that you can't control everything, so you must set the right example from infancy.

This idea of some things being "for adults only" is absurd. Filth, violence and profanity benefit no one, regardless of age. The parents setting the example by not watching gratuitous sex and violence on TV, and explaining to their children in a loving way why they do not watch it is critical. If kids have been taught this from early childhood, it won't even be an issue when they become teens. Be proactive, protect your children and I'll see you — and your kids — at the top!

To find out more about Zig Ziglar and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate web page at www.creators.com.

Photo credit: DariuszSankowski at Pixabay