What happened in Las Vegas hurts my heart deeply. We have lost so many innocent, vibrant lives.

We have lost people both young and old, and the deepest sadness comes from the fact that we have lost these American citizens on our own soil.

This situation is an unfortunate reality that has left many people in this nation at a loss for words. There truly is no way to express my sorrow for the families and friends of the 530 injured victims, and the 59 beautiful souls that we lost on Sunday, October 1st. May they rest in peace, away from the cruelty in this world.

Unfortunately, with each mass shooting, I remain unsurprised, yet still shaken.

These mass shootings have become too commonplace in our society. As an 18 year old that has lived in America my whole life, this has become my reality. The news is filled with incidents of atrocities, of the bloodshed, and of the lives lost due to gun violence each year in America.

I watched in horror as Congress refused to take action after Sandy Hook, San Bernardino, among many many others. There has been one mass shooting for practically every day of this year. According to the New York Times, during that past 477 days, there have been 521 mass shootings.

Yes, you read that correctly. Five hundred and twenty-one mass shootings. Just let that sink in for a moment.

Many people decide to bring up the argument "Guns don't kill people. People kill people." And while this sentiment may be true, people are using guns to kill people. No one is saying "let us get rid of the second amendment" or "forget about the right to bear arms" but there need to be limits, as with anything in life.

The reality is, with 300 million guns in America, it has become far too easy for people to commit these atrocious crimes. We need better regulations, better background checks, and a limit as to what types of guns should be available for purchase. This is not a war zone. This is our country, our home. Citizens should not have to fear for their lives when they want to go to the movie theatre, go to school to get an education or attend a concert.

We cannot let these victims go without seeking justice or the true nature of their deaths. We have tragically lost teachers, mothers, police officers, and many more who each have an individual story. We as a nation simply cannot ignore the facts and statistics of gun laws globally and domestically.

I am not writing this because I want to ignore the tragedy that has occurred or to press a political agenda. This is essential to our society. We desperately NEED change. We cannot continue onward like this. The atrocities that have happened continue to happen more extremely, and more often. Imagine if one of these victims was your mother, your brother, your cousin, your friend; I am sure that you would see this issue in a new light.

We need to come together and fight for what is right. No one deserves to be the victim of these mass shootings. Call your representatives and get involved. Let us be the generation of change!

Lastly, please hug those close to you. Treat people kindly. Be generous with your compassion. Just know that I'm sending love to you all, whoever is reading this.