Jacksonville Shooting
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

Mass Shootings Are Even More Real When They Occur In Your Hometown

I never thought it would happen to my city.

66
Mass Shootings Are Even More Real When They Occur In Your Hometown

On the Sunday afternoon of August 26, 2018, I was conducting my typical routine of procrastinating and mindlessly scrolling through all my social media accounts. While on Facebook, I saw an article from one of my hometown local news stations saying there had been a shooting. It was the only article I saw of its kind and there wasn't much information available, so I kept scrolling. While talking on the phone with a friend from home, I found out more information. I found out that it was a mass shooting and that it had taken place at the Jacksonville Landing where I had been not even two weeks before.

The scariest part about finding out that a mass shooting had taken place in my hometown was the fact that before "mass" was even a factor, I hadn't batted an eye. Shootings are no stranger to Jacksonville and I didn't realize I had become so desensitized to random acts of violence until the mass shooting was announced.

With that being said, I'm no stranger to local violence. Like I said, shootings are unfortunately common in Jacksonville. On top of that, shootings are no stranger to Florida in general. I remember waking up to the news about Christina Grimmie and bawling my eyes out. I remember waking up a day later to the news about the Pulse shooting and being an absolute mess. I had never experienced violence so close to home before with such frequency. Not only was I a huge Christina Grimmie fan, but I was an LGBT ally and a Florida native. The senseless attacks felt all too personal.

When the Parkland shooting occurred, I was no longer sad. I was angry. In fact, I was enraged.

That rage pushed me to participate in the "March For Our Lives" rally. I really felt like I was doing something; like I was making a tangible difference. Gone were the times of a mass shooting blowing over in a few weeks. This one was going to be remembered, and things were going to change.

When I heard and saw the news about the mass shooting at the Jacksonville Landing, I was numb. I had so many thoughts running through my head. How dare someone do this to my town? To me? How dare you make me worry about my friends and family when I'm two hours away? How dare you make me check Facebook every five minutes to make sure everyone is safe? To make sure no one I know is dead?

It didn't become real until I saw that the video from the stream that was going on during the shooting was number one on the YouTube trending page. In the next few trending spots underneath it were other videos about the shooting. Celebrities and famous politicians started talking about it. National news organizations started talking about it. We started talking about it at school.

People started sending their prayers like it was going to make us feel better; like it was going to do something. It had always enraged me when people would send out thoughts and prayers after a mass shooting, but it never made me feel like this. I feel angry, but I also feel jealous, hurt, and confused.

It's so hard to not be angry and not take this as a personal attack. After Parkland, it seemed like something might change. It seemed like we were safe. Now it seems as though Florida might be plagued - plagued with senseless gun violence and also plagued with a desensitization to said violence.

Raising our voices and taking action are the only ways anything is ever going to change.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

52704
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

33868
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less
Adulting

Unlocking Lake People's Secrets: 15 Must-Knows!

There's no other place you'd rather be in the summer.

956581
Group of joyful friends sitting in a boat
Haley Harvey

The people that spend their summers at the lake are a unique group of people.

Whether you grew up going to the lake, have only recently started going, or have only been once or twice, you know it takes a certain kind of person to be a lake person. To the long-time lake people, the lake holds a special place in your heart, no matter how dirty the water may look.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Top 10 Reasons My School Rocks!

Why I Chose a Small School Over a Big University.

181395
man in black long sleeve shirt and black pants walking on white concrete pathway

I was asked so many times why I wanted to go to a small school when a big university is so much better. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure a big university is great but I absolutely love going to a small school. I know that I miss out on big sporting events and having people actually know where it is. I can't even count how many times I've been asked where it is and I know they won't know so I just say "somewhere in the middle of Wisconsin." But, I get to know most people at my school and I know my professors very well. Not to mention, being able to walk to the other side of campus in 5 minutes at a casual walking pace. I am so happy I made the decision to go to school where I did. I love my school and these are just a few reasons why.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments