Over the past few weeks, it seems that the words "shooting" and "terrorism" have become consistently more frequent in our daily conversations. What once was a rare tragedy is becoming commonplace, and what was once a shock to the world is now nothing unexpected.
In 2015 alone, the United States has seen more mass shootings, defined as incidents in which four or more victims are shot, than days in the year (CNN.com). Three hundred and fifty-five attacks in 336 days.
That is more shootings than days in the year.
When I first read this statistic, it didn't seem possible. But then I thought about it. A few days ago, it was San Bernardino, and a few days before that, it was Planned Parenthood in Colorado. Just a few weeks before that, even though outside of our country, Paris experienced the most devastating act of terrorism in its history. Two months ago, students were killed in a shooting at an Oregon college. And under the main headlines, many other shootings fall through the cracks each day.
And so, even though we don't realize it, we become just a little more cautious, a little more skeptical of someone wearing baggy clothing or someone who fits the mold of who we imagine a mass shooter to be. We hug our friends and family a little tighter, and we linger on the phone for a moment longer after we say goodnight.
But each shooting is just as devastating as the last and just as devastating as the next. Each time, somebody's loved one is lost for no reason other than that they were in the wrong place at the wrong time.
The difficult thing to accept, however, is the sad fact that nothing is being done about the unnecessary loss of life that has become so recurrent in our society. President Obama has addressed the public 12 times this year alone on the issue of gun violence, and he is just as frustrated as we all are. The constant argument on whether it's a "gun issue" or a "people issue" stagnates any progress that Congress can make in coming to a consensus on reforming gun regulations.
The point, however, is valid. It's alarming, but if someone has a sick enough desire to premeditate a mass shooting, chances are, they will find a way to get a gun, no matter the regulations in place.
So what possibly can be done?
Well, it seems to be up to the next generation, our generation, to figure out. As the death tolls continue to rise and the number of mass shootings each week proceeds to grow as it is, we must find a way to put a stop to our routine, a routine that has become so desensitized to the murders we see each day. We must encourage others to love instead of hate, and remind ourselves that we are all just people living on this one planet together.
Rather than accepting the idea that this could become the "new normal" for our generation, it is time for us to take action to both prevent gun violence before it happens and to promote open-mindedness, acceptance of others' beliefs, and most of all, peace.
It's time for us to wake up.
