A lot of the who, what, where, and how of the Boston bombing and what led up to it have already been answered and, no doubt, more details will eventually be filled in. The why, however, is the more elusive question. But it's also a crucial one. Why do we have so many disaffected young men in our culture, and what compels them to act out that disaffection in violent ways? As of 2006, boys accounted for 83 percent of arrests for violent crimes. By the age of 17, over a quarter of boys report having carried a handgun. In 2010, there were an estimated 756,000 gang members throughout the country. With Tucson, with Newtown, with countless other places, and now with Boston, the justifications may differ, but the end results have a lot in common. And so, likely, do the beginnings.

Approximately 100,000 people in Texas are involved with criminal gangs, according to the Department of Public Safety’s 2012 gang threat assessment. ...

The recent tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut has understandably led to calls for greater gun control. And, predictably, the National Rifle Association ...