Ron Reagan: Guns a Symptom, Must Find Reason for Violence

Guns and violent movies and video games are the symptoms, not the problem, Ron Reagan says, and America must address the underlying reason behind such events as the mass shooting that left 12 dead at Washington Navy Yard on Monday.

"Why are we such a violent nation?" Reagan asked Tuesday on MSNBC's "Hardball." "We always look to guns –  this gun, that gun or violent movies and violent video games. But those are symptoms."

Host Chris Matthews replayed the words of Dr. Janis Orlowski, chief medical officer at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, on Monday.

"There is something evil in our society that we as Americans have to work to try and eradicate," Orlowski said.

Reagan said he doesn't know that the "it" is that Orlowski referred to, but agreed it was vital to find it and expunge it.

"But we are a violent society, an extremely violent society, right from the top to the bottom," Reagan said, "from our foreign policy to our lowest, basest entertainment we seem to be thrilled by violence and death."