Continuing this thought: exposure to lead, childhood trauma, concussions and developmental defects like fetal alcohol syndrome are also all strongly correlated to increased tendency toward violence. If anyone reading this thinks that criminality and violence is simply a matter of good morals and self control or that they would never harm another human, I invite you to buy a block of lead from a sporting goods store and give it a few licks every day for a year (but seriously, for the sake of your family and friends don't do that).

So if you have sympathy for this white retiree because his self-control may have been impaired you should reconsider how you regard people who were raised in unhealthy environments through no fault of their own. Our criminal justice system has zero sympathy for the child of an alcoholic who was exposed to lead, an irregular diet, and constantly disrupted sleep growing up. That kid gets measured by the same yardstick as a privileged kid from the suburbs.