"... is the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history."
Virginia Tech, Orlando, Las Vegas.
This is the headline that has streamed across news channels and has been bolded on newspapers three times in my eighteen years of life.
When I attempt to think of Las Vegas, not one single thought comes to mind and I struggle to even find the words that something so horrific makes me feel. The best way to describe this feeling would be numb. It is hard to come to the reality of the situation and understand that this is the country we live in; not a nightmare which we will wake up from in the morning.
I don't think this feeling of numbness will ever subside, and no matter how hard I try am I able to believe that this is the last time something so terrifying will make myself or millions of others feel so empty inside.
Almost two weeks after the tragedy that overcame Las Vegas, all we seem to have to offer are "thoughts and prayers," but is that really enough? October 1st, 2017, Las Vegas, Nevada: 59 innocent lives taken, nearly 500 injured. Our thoughts and prayers. June 12th, 2016, Orlando, Florida: 49 innocent lives taken, 58 injured.
Again, our thoughts and prayers. April 16th, 2007, Virginia Tech: 32 innocent lives taken, 17 injured. All we had to offer were our thoughts and prayers. Yes, it is important to pray for those who now have to live in fear and attempt to escape the nightmare that they have endured, and I believe that coming together for those in need is something that our country never struggles with.
With that said, how much is enough? What does it take for the United States to realize that something is wrong? What will it take to realize that no average human should be able to have access to automatic weapons? It is not a matter of our Second Amendment.
No one is trying to take that right away from the people of the United States. Rather, we are asking how many lives have to be taken until the people and our government come together to understand that there is a problem and to work towards resolving it. I would like to think that this day will come soon, but I struggle to believe it after Sandy Hook.
Since we have failed to change gun control laws after 20 innocent and pure children's lives were taken, nothing will ever open our eyes to change them. It is in our hands to raise awareness to a problem that is typically ignored. It is lost in the midst of football players taking a knee or the president's most recent tweet.
Let's not break this record. Let's hope to never see these headlines on the morning news ever again. Let's not settle for giving our thoughts and prayers being enough.
