Orlando Shooting, Sandy Hook Elementary School Massacre, San Bernadino Shooting, Colorado Movie Theatre Shooting. How much more can we handle?

Many are asking themselves and our government that same question in light of recent events. Many are calling to assert stricter gun control while many, like myself, are questioning how much government input will really help the situation our country is in.

The Second Amendment of the United States Constitution states "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." This Amendment states that each person, under the United States Constitution, legally has the right to bear arms. Legally, yes, you do have the right to bear arms. However, the majority of these massacres occur by a single person walking in somewhere with a machine gun, such as an AK-47, and shooting hundreds of people in a matter of seconds. Here are my questions for you: 1) Why does the average human being need a machine gun, such as the AK-47? 2) How are these people obtaining these guns?

The answer to my first question is that there is no answer. No average human being could possibly have the need to own such a machine gun. If you're in the military, yes, you do need it for obvious reasons. If you're a sales person, a teacher, a doctor, etc., there is no need to own such a powerful gun. The only need for these types of guns, other than in the military, is to create havoc and cause damage as we have seen. These machines are made to kill/injure. In the military, that is what is expected. In everyday life, not so much.

The answer to my second question is illegally. In recent news, 26 Democrats waged a 25 hour sit in on the House floor for gun control votes. While I do strongly support gun control, I'm not convinced enforcing laws will stop the massacres occurring. These gun control laws will push harsher stipulations obtaining a gun legally, but what about those who buy their guns off the streets illegally? Most of the massacres that have occurred, have been brought out by those who purchase their weapons illegally. So yes, these gun laws will make it harder to obtain a gun in stores, but how do we control those who don't purchase in the stores? Who can stop them? These are the questions and debates our government leaders and we the American people need to be asking ourselves.

I have always been a strong believer in having morals and following them. Maybe instead of shedding light on those who have committed the crime, give media attention to those who have been heroic in these tough times. Don't glamorize those who hurt us. Support and praise those who sacrifice their lives to save ours. America has gone away from the country that people once praised, but it's not too late to move forward. We need to form a stronger unity against evil. We, as a country, need to show why American is the land of freedom and home of the brave. Shooting up a place and killing yourself afterward isn't brave. Sacrificing your life for the person next to your dying is. Glamorize heroes, not killers.