On June 12, 2016, I woke up, ate breakfast, went to work, spent the night with my family, and went to bed. Tragically, 49 innocent individuals who expected to go about their daily lives just as I did, were denied that opportunity. Instead, they lay on the floor of a nightclub in Orlando, phones buzzing in their pockets as family members try to verify their safety and crime scene investigators attempt to identify their bodies.

That morning, the world turned on their radios, cell phones, and televisions to learn that another mass shooting had occurred in what should have been a place of fun and high spirits. After the initial shock settled, the deceased, the survivors and the families of those involved received an outpouring of support from all corners of the world. People of all walks of life offered their thoughts and prayers and government officials publicly expressed their sympathies.

But thoughts, prayers, and even the deepest of sentiments are simply not enough.

Time and time again this nation encounters atrocities and vows to never let something of this magnitude occur again, yet time and time again we continue to allow it.

Until politicians respect the office in which they've been elected and enact legislation in the best interest of their constituents, mass shootings will continue to be a cultural norm. They must see past the hefty and corruptive contributions made to them by organizations like the NRA. Although thoughts and prayers are consoling, they will not stop the violence. In a position of power, simply expressing condolences and not changing policy is self-serving.

The heartbreak and shock that I have experienced after Orlando’s shooting is slowly waning; it has now evolved into outrage as I and other Americans demand gun control legislation. The legality of assault style weapons like the AR-15 and the Sig Sauer MCX, the latter being the weapon the Orlando shooter legally purchased, is a bloody stain on our American History. These weapons are capable of spewing bullets at an alarming rate. While they may not be fully automatic, they are capable of firing up to 30 rounds of ammunition without needing to be reloaded. There is absolutely no reason that the average civilian needs a weapon that is capable of this kind of destruction.

I will never understand any attempt at justifying civilian legality to purchase and own assault style firearms designed for war. There is no excuse. No one needs this kind of firepower for hunting or protection. If you’re only justification for owning this type of weapon is for recreation or just because it’s fun, I feel truly sorry that you cannot find another form of entertainment other than being capable of ending 49 innocent lives in a matter of moments.

Furthermore, I understand that people would have concerns regarding the 2nd amendment and the right to protect one’s family with something along the lines of a handgun or basic shotgun. We do have a basic right to purchase and own a weapon for protection. However, there needs to be regulation in order to avoid firearms getting into the hands of the wrong people.

I tend to compare my view of gun control with the way the government issues driver’s licenses. They use field and written exams, license renewals, and physical tests in order to regulate who is able to drive and who is not. The same concept should apply to gun ownership. Before someone even touches the gun, they should be evaluated in any category necessary. Background checks, mental health screening, written and practical exams, and license renewals should all be major aspects of the gun ownership process. If a person feels the need to purchase a basic handgun or shotgun for protection or hunting, it should be compulsory for he or she to complete this process and sustain the legality of their ability to own a gun.

The chance of being kill by a gun in the United States is exponentially higher than other developed nations across the globe. In Japan, where gun ownership is remarkably low and legislation is intensive, homicides by gun are almost non-existent. After a mass shooting in Australia in 1996, gun buy-backs and stronger legislation have cut the gun homicide rate in half. In both of these countries and many others, assault style weapons are outright banned from citizen ownership.

There is no excuse not to enact similar legislation in the United States.

Unfortunately, those in power in Washington D.C., specifically those who receive generous donations from organizations like the NRA and have financial investments in the firearm industry want less gun legislation. Politicians have the ability to take action and push for policy change, but because money matters more, all they can do is offer their “thoughts and prayers”.

At this point, it is our job as their constituents, the people, and as humans, to take action because some politicians are blinded by greed. We may not be able to create laws, but we can certainly elect officials that care more about human lives than money. Additionally, there is currently a petition to ban AR-15’s from civilian ownership heading to the White House. Although it has already reached its goal of 100,000 signatures, Washington needs to know the true amount of people that want to see the government do their job in order to protect innocent people from another potential shooting. You can sign it https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/ban-ar-15-civilian-ownership here.