The Hernandez murder case in Massachusetts revealed a much deeper and troublesome problem we now have in the country; it’s a trend that should give pause to anyone who values human lives. To end someone’s life is a decision that seems to be made as casually as going out for a burger.

As detailed by the prosecutors in the murder allegedly perpetrated by Mr. Hernandez, he called two friends to come over, drove with the friends to pick up Odin Lloyd, the victim, chatted a bit, found an isolated area, riddled Mr. Lloyd’s body with bullets, left him, much like abandoning a bag of unwanted items, drove back home and went on with his life as if nothing ever happened.

Had it not been for the due diligence of the investigators who put the pieces together, Mr. Hernandez would be roaming the streets of Massachusetts with no regret, perhaps looking forward to wow the spectators with his performance on the field.

Sadly, Mr. Hernandez’s action is not an isolated case; it is just another example of a deadly trend that has been set in our culture for quite some time now.

Who can forget the brutal killing of Travis Alexander by Jodi Arias in Mesa Arizona? His mutilated body – 27-29 stabbed wounds, including slashing of his jugular veins, a bullet in the head – was discovered on June 6, 2008. Ms. Arias murdered Travis over disputes on breakup. The trial was televised, followed with interest both here and abroad. On May 8, 2013, Ms. Arias was found guilty of first degree murder. As of this writing, Ms. Arial’s  sentencing hearing (as it is customary in Arizona) will take place on July 18,2013.

In the same month of the murder allegedly master-minded by Mr. Hernandez, across the country, several disputes involving firearms ended in tragedy.

In Tennessee, on June 20, 2013, a couple faces charges involving the shooting of their 6-month old baby; a dispute between Ken Mason, 40, the father and Angela Major, 26, the mother involved the use of a firearm that took the life of their 6-month old baby.

In Garden Grove, on June 25, 2013, Mr. Robert Joseph Price was charged of murder after shooting his neighbor Mr. Glen Ray Berry over the dispute of Fireworks.

In Prince George County, Maryland, on June 30, 2013, Mr. Jerome Zephier Peters was shot by the ex-partner’s boyfriend; the woman came by to pickup the child. A dispute with the woman’s boyfriend ended in tragedy.

The list goes on and on and on.

While we watch lives being destroyed every day in senseless tragedies, it begs the questions; why do we resort to such drastic measures to settle disputes? Why do we put so little value to human lives?