A few days ago, I was driving down the highway with my little sister when she saw on a billboard, "#prayfordallas" and asked, "What does that mean? What happened now?" Key word: now. At 12 years old, tragedies like the recent events that have occurred in America have become normal occurrences to her. I had to carefully explain the war of race that is going on in America. This is something I never thought I would have to do. It is something that a 12 year old shouldn't have to know about or understand. Her biggest concern should be what her homework for the day is, not why Americans are killing each other. It really just saddens me to a point that is indescribable.

I am someone who was raised around the justice system of the United States of America. I am outraged with the recent occurrences regarding our country's legal system. My father is an attorney that practices in two different states, Illinois and Kentucky, and has been sworn in by the U.S. Supreme Court. I grew up going with my dad to court in the summers to watch him work. During big trials, I would even skip class during the school year to watch his opening and closing arguments. I grew up around all of his friends who were attorneys, paralegals and judges. I grew up with the belief that our justice system worked and was built of good, honest people that made sure to the best of their ability justice was served, because that was all I was exposed to. But, this has since changed through the power of media. From police brutality to unfair sentencing happening across the country, I have come to realize our justice system is failing us all.

Just recently, video evidence of Louisiana police shooting and killing 37-year-old, Alton Sterling, was released. The video very clearly shows the extremely fast escalation of the situation. Sterling was selling CDs outside a friend's business, whom he had permission from to sell his CDs at, when police responded to a call of a suspicious man outside. The store owner explained that Sterling was asking "What did I do?" when officers tackled him to the ground and at that point saw a weapon. The video clearly shows the force used to subdue Sterling and shows how officers made no effort to try to disarm him safely. Officers stated, "You f***ing move, I swear to God," as they both pulled out their own weapons. Then, five shots rang out at point-blank range.

It is obvious that police brutality against people of color is much more common than Caucasians. However, it still happens. In 2014, 18-year-old Caucasian Bryce Masters was pulled over by an officer who believed his license plates were involved with a crime. Upon refusing to exit his vehicle without knowing what he did wrong, the officer tased Masters. One shot and pull of a taser can be a reasonable use of force, as with one pull only five seconds of electricity is emitted, but this officer tased Masters for 23 seconds. After falling out of the car, the officer dragged Masters' body behind the vehicle and dropped him face down on the street. The extreme length of time being tased sent Masters into cardiac arrest causing his brain to be deprived of oxygen for six minutes. Even though Masters did not die from the incident, he very well could have and is now suffering from the permanent brain damage caused by the lack of oxygen flow.

Do police officers need to take safety precautions? Yes. But do these safety precautions apply to themselves, the surrounding individuals and the criminal? Yes. Is it an issue of too much power? Maybe. Is it an issue of too little training? Possibly. Is it an issue of racial stereotypes? Certainly, in some situations. In both of these situations, the officers could have handled the situation better.

And now, with all the injustice caused from our criminal justice system, Americans have taken matters into their own hands and responded in protests, which sadly have turned into violence. Innocent police officers were killed and injured by a an Afghanistan military veteran who was angered by the recent shootings by police. According to

CNN, the suspect "told police negotiators that he was upset about recent police shootings, that he wanted to kill white people -- especially white officers." A nation who was taking strides toward equality with the legalization of gay marriage and the ruling of equal pay for the national women's soccer team is now crumbling over an issue we thought was solved years ago. On the opposite end of the justice system process, we are seeing a trend of outrageously light sentencing for mind-blowing reason.

Olympic sprinter Oscar Pistorius was convicted of the murder of his girlfriend and was finally given his sentence. Pistorius was sentenced to a mere six years for murder. Much of the public is infuriated with the sentencing, saying that his celebrity status influenced the decision. The judge made his decision based on the idea that Pistorius is remorseful and a good candidate for rehabilitation and that the hardest part is to face the victim's loved ones and apologize. This man takes a life and gets a measly six years because it will be so emotionally draining to apologize for his wrong doings, and he feels "sorry."

Does feeling sorry bring this woman back? No. Does six years make up for such a heinous crime? Definitely not. But, he feels "sorry," so let's just give him the benefit of the doubt.

Much more publicized, is the six-month sentencing of Brock Turner. Turner was convicted of sexually assaulting an unconscious woman behind a dumpster after two witnesses intervened and held Turner until police arrived on scene. Judge Aaron Persky made the light sentence ruling stating that because of his age and not having a criminal history the six-month sentence was appropriate. He then stated,

"A prison sentence would have a severe impact on him."

Turner's parents each wrote a letter to the court pleading for a light sentence explaining that he is remorseful and his emotional well-being has been changed. His father even has the audacity to use the wording of "20 minutes of action" in explaining his son's crime did not constitute a sentence that would gravely affect his life. Well, Mr. and Mrs. Turner and Judge Persky, maybe he should have thought about the consequences of his actions before deciding to sexually assault an unconscious woman. Isn't that one of the first things a parent is supposed to teach their child: to think before they act? And personally, I do not care how affected Turner is by the crime he has committed because the victim is the one who didn't decide for this to happen; only her feelings matter in my eyes. But, hey, let's cut Turner some slack by giving him a minuscule sentencing because he has a so-called "bright future." Well, not anymore.

So, what even is "justice" anymore? Do we as Americans know true justice? Do the politics that consume everything we do in life allow for justice to be served? No. In this country, justice is a lost concept.

Children everyday in school recite the pledge of allegiance with the closing line of, "...with liberty and justice for all." But, is that really the case? All we can hope is that a peaceful movement for true justice brings us back to a place where America can be whole and at peace again.