The Orlando Shooting; This Is Not Ok | The Odyssey Online
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The Orlando Shooting; This Is Not Ok

Prayers aren't enough this time

Hannah Budke
Jun 14, 2016
Boise State University
4
The Orlando Shooting; This Is Not Ok
CNN

Sunday morning I woke up like any other day - refreshed and excited for a new week. Then I looked at social media. What I anticipated to be a recap of my friends' Saturday night adventures became dozens of tweets and photos saying #PRAYFORORLANDO


This is not ok. What was previously perceived as the greatest country in the world is now a country where their own citizens are afraid to be.

What is a mass shooting?

While there are many takes on what constitutes a mass shooting, in 2013, federal statutes claimed that any single shooting event with more than three people killed is a mass shooting.

I read that and thought, " Wow, only three people counts as a mass shooting? That's not even that many.

That's the problem. The problem is that I consciously thought to myself that three dead shouldn't justify using the term "mass shooting."

That is three or more people with families and with children. That's three or more people with jobs and degrees. That's three or more people who were planning on having a normal day - not their last day. Since January 1st, there have been 176 mass shootings in the United States.

Here's what you need to know:

Who: Omar Mir Seddique Mateen

What: The largest shooting in U.S. history, killing 50 and injuring at least 53.

Where: Pulse - a notoriously gay night club in Orlando, FL

When: Sunday, June 12th around 2 a.m

Why: Authorities confirm that before the shooting, Mateen called 911 to pledge his allegiance to ISIS while mentioning the Boston Bombing. Shots were fired shortly after.




What about the rest of the country?

Later that day, the annual PRIDE Parade was to take place in Los Angeles. Before the parade, officials stopped a white Acura that was heading towards the PRIDE Parade with explosives and weapons. No other statements have been made - but everyone can assume that if he said he was going to PRIDE, that he intended to use those firearms.

This is not an issue of political views. This is not an issue of who think their ideas are better. This is an issue of innocent Americans (regardless of race, gender, or sexual orientation), are being targeted and killed.

Instead of pointing fingers at party organizations, take that energy to help these victims and their families:


https://www.donationplanet.org/fundraising/donate-...

https://www.gofundme.com/PulseVictimsFund

http://time.com/money/4365694/orlando-pulse-nightc...

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2016...


#OrlandoStrong

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
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