An elementary school, a water park, a church, a movie theatre. What do all of these places have in common? No, it has nothing to do with their seeming innocence. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Those are now all places where people can no longer feel safe.
On Wednesday, August 26th, two young journalists' lives were lost at the hands of a disgruntled ex-broadcaster as they filmed live. The details as to why such actions were taken have been documented extensively to this point and do not need to be repeated. Instead, the talk needs to be moved forward. Moved forward towards a solution: America needs to fix it’s gun problem, now.
I understand the uncomfortably and controversial nature that is attached to any conversation concerning gun control. However, the seemingly common nature of shootings in America should leave us with no choice. It should have left us with no choice before. It is too late now. Lives have been lost, and too many of them. Now, we are left only to scramble to try and pick up the pieces left behind by these vicious acts, and hope that there is a way to buck the trend.
Laws are directed at those that have no problem committing heinous or irresponsible acts. They are not meant to target harmless people that would rarely commit crimes. The same idea should be applied to gun ownership. Yes, this would obviously not be ideal for responsible gun enthusiasts that take every safety precaution necessary and would never kill another human being. But any first grader understands that life is not fair, and just because you behave responsibly with a toy does not exclude you from having your toy taken away when somebody is not. And when people’s lives are taken from them, there should not be any question.
Many will want to discount these issues by calling each of these shooters crazy. While that is probably the case, how many crazy people killing innocent ones makes it no longer an excuse not to change? Is there a set number in mind? Should I be waiting for the day instead of writing this? Is there such a desensitization to homicides on a daily basis that people have just accepted that into status quo?
Some may take this as a very naive way of looking at the world, a failure to accept that bad people exist and will find a way to do bad things no matter the laws. To those people, do not settle for the status quo. Change happens through discussion and through action. I am only a 20-year-old college kid. But I have a voice. The “Greatest County in the World” cannot stand for what is happenng to their people on its soil.
