It occurred at the beginning of the month, and yet it's horrible to even think about: another school shooting. On October 1, 2015, a 26-year-old student enrolled at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon, opened fire and killed nine students and one professor. Seven other students were severely injured.
Thanks to hero Chris Mintz, the Army veteran who charged the gunman (who I still refuse to name in order to not acknowledge him of his heinous and cowardly acts), many lives were saved and the shooter was taken into custody. Dancing with the Stars contestant and Roseburg native, Alek Skarlatos, paid tribute to his hometown, his college, and to hero Mintz with a dance that aired on October 13, 2015. After averting a massacre aboard a Belgian train this past August, the 22-year-old Army National Guard Specialist completely understood the risk that Mintz took, and for that Mintz will forever be remembered as a hero.
Many articles have been written about mass shootings, and yet nothing has changed in our society. I know it is a very delicate topic; one that is not discussed lightly by any means. I know there are many sides to it, and many people have many different opinions on these horrid acts. But after watching last week’s episode of DWTS and Skarlatos’ tribute, I have remained in a state of confusion and apprehension.
How many more innocent lives need to be taken away? How many more security guards, military personal, and police officers need to risk their lives to stop someone with a gun? How many more tears need to be shed by family and friends of loved ones who had no need to fear for their lives and now need to every time they go out in public? How much more is going to have to happen before government action is taken? Before new gun laws are made? I know people are going to throw the age-old argument, “It’s not the gun that kills people; it is people that kill people” in my face. But then let me argue this opinion right back: Why is it so damn easy for any random person on the street to obtain a gun? Sure, a gun doesn’t go off unless the trigger is pulled but why can any American Joe go buy a gun and think they are even remotely trained to use it? That is where I feel the true issue lies.
No one should have to fear for their life every second of the day, whether it be at school or at work. I don’t understand what possesses people to want to harm others that are like them, but it needs to stop. Columbine High School. Virginia Tech. Sandy Hook Elementary. What were once just average academic vicinities are now tainted with the idea of gun violence. A change needs to be made in our society, and it needs to happen immediately. I’m done waiting around and thinking that gun violence is going to end, and that gun laws are going to change themselves. I keep thinking that it is never going to happen again, and then when I look on the news and see that there was another mass shooting, I cringe. My stomach curls up into a ball and I think “that could have been any college; that could have been me.” I don’t want to have to be afraid every time I go out in public. Change needs to happen and it needs to happen now. Do it for Chris Mintz. Do it for the survivors of each school. Do it, especially, for the victims who innocently lost their lives.
If you want to make a difference, check out these petitions from www.change.org:
https://www.change.org/p/congress-improve-background-checks-to-reduce-gun-violence
https://www.change.org/p/president-obama-take-executive-action-on-gun-violence
