Days like today are the days I question humanity.
I woke up, made pancakes for my parents, checked my phone and saw that there was a literal massacre in Orlando. Not a shooting, a massacre. 50 innocent people, 50.
Those 50 people went out last night thinking they would have a fun time, dance to some music and go home. Instead a man affiliated with Islamic State terrorist group, showed up with an assault rifle and ended those 50 innocent people’s lives. For what reason? Because they were lesbian or gay? Those 50 people were someone’s daughter, son, brother, sister, grandchild, best friend, boyfriend, girlfriend they were someone to people. They were loved and their lives were taken too quickly, too easily.
The real question I have is this: how, why did this man have an assault rifle? How did he get one? Aren’t assault rifle’s used in war? Why on earth would anyone ever feel the need to own a weapon with such power, which could cause so much destruction? I’m not questioning police protection, there is no way they could’ve ever known a terrorist group would target a gay club in Orlando of all places. I’m questioning the gun policy that somehow allowed this sick human being to get his hands on that type of a weapon. He legally bought the assault rifle. Legally. How? It's a military grade weapon. Why are they even being sold? They were designed for military use.
What I want to know is if gun laws will actually change. In the past it seemed like gun laws were discussed after tragedies like this happen but were never made stricter; the topic just somehow disappeared. Is it really going to take a massacre for this to change? Is it going to take 50 innocent lives for this to finally change? After colleges, movie theaters, high schools, elementary schools etc. have been through the destruction of a shooter, is this finally going to make politicians realizes there is something wrong with the gun law?
This is one of the most sickening things I’ve ever had to come across. Who in their right mind would ever believe in something like this? I don’t care if a man loves a man, a woman loves a woman, they are people. They are regular people just like me and every other regular normal person in this world. They physically look the same as everyone does, they behave like everyone else does, they feel like everyone else does. They aren’t harming or threatening anyone by loving someone who is the same sex as they are. The fact that I watched the news and heard people from the club saying "it felt hateful" disgusts me. This is why gay pride month and gay pride parades are so important. The fact that the L.A. parade still went on today is so important.
This is a time where everyone needs to stand for each other and support each other whether they support gay rights or not. It doesn't matter if the people in the club were gay or lesbian. They were important to people, they impacted people, they loved and were loved. Hatred needs to be put aside in times like these. We all have to stand together. It wasn’t just an attack on the LGBT community; it was an attack on innocent people just like in Brussels, or Paris. Everyone deserves to feel safe. Everyone deserves to feel loved. My question to everyone is: would you rather see two men or two women holding hands, loving each other and being happy or seeing two men or women pointing guns at innocent people? I send my love and prayers to the LGBT community and everyone affected by the tragedy.
