June 11, 2016, 22-year-old singer Cristina Grimmie was shot and killed during her own concert at point blank range.
June 12, 2016, will forever be a date that I remember. A day that 50 innocent lives were taken far too soon and countless others injured while having what was supposed to be a great night at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida. Yes, this was an act of terrorism but don't let that overshadow the fact that Omar Mateen targeted this specific club because it's one of the most popular gay bars in Orlando on Latin night, during Pride Month.This was also a hate crime.
June 13, 2016, in Chicago, four people were shot to death and 25 were wounded by five men with rifles.
It's absurd that the only thing continuously protected in this country is the second amendment. My heart is so heavy and all my thoughts go to those affected by these horrendous crimes. Something needs to be done about these gun laws.
In one weekend, at least 55 innocent lives were taken due to guns. I'm so tired of hearing the words "guns don't kill people, people kill people." Guns are made to kill, that is their sole purpose. Rifles are made for hunting, machine guns are made for wars. You go into a situation carrying one of those with the intent to kill.
We live in a country where Kinder Surprise Eggs are banned because toddlers choked on the toys inside but where it takes only about 15 minutes to be able to buy an assault rifle.
The biggest issue is citizen's accessibility to guns. Right now in Florida, an individual doesn't need a permit to purchase and doesn't need to register any type of firearm. Minors are allowed to purchase firearms as long as they have parental approval. You must have a concealed weapon permit in order to carry a handgun on you at any given time. And that's basically it. Buying a gun is just about as simple as purchasing a car, which is extremely unsettling.
I'm not saying abolish guns, although I personally would love a world without guns, it is not terribly feasible. I'm pushing for a reform where the sheer accessibility to guns is less prominent. There is no reason that anyone needs to own a machine gun or semi-automatic/automatic. There is no reason to have magazines that hold dozens of bullets and there is no reason that people should be able to purchase them on command.
If Columbine, Virginia Tech, Aurora, Fort Hood, Binghamton, Newtown or Tucson weren't enough, maybe this past weekend was. There is something to be said about the lax attitude concerning guns and the Second Amendment in America. Something needs to be done and this needs to continue to be a topic talked about, especially in an election year. Don't allow these types of tragedies to continue to happen, be the change. Your right to own guns does not overpower someone's right to live.
