Orlando, Florida seems like a very happy place. It is known as the Sunshine State, and it is home to the happiest place on Earth, Walt Disney World. But recently, Orlando has been known as a very sad place to be. On June 12, 2016, a lone gunman rampaged a gay night club, killing at least 49 people. This was the deadliest massacre in modern U.S. history, and it was the most vicious attack against the LGBT community. It truly was an act of home grown terrorism.
Yes, everyone can discuss and fight about gun control and how the government needs to create new policies regarding the sale of guns and so forth. This is all that the American people have had to hear about on news stations over the past few weeks. However, fighting will never get anything accomplished. I know that I for one, am tired of hearing arguments. America needs to come together as one and make the right decision for our country. I have also heard so much about the shooter. He may have had ties to ISIS and other terrorist groups, he was being watched by the FBI, and he was still permitted to buy guns, and he clearly hated the gay community. Yes, we’ve heard it all, and it is great to have all of that information. But what I haven’t really heard a lot of is the fact that it was the LGBT community that was targeted and viciously attacked. For at least 48 hours, all of the coverage was centered on the gunman and how America needs to get a grip on gun control. This was the worst massacre in history. Almost 50 innocent people were murdered and many others were wounded. Not to mention, the survivors will have to deal with severe trauma, physically and mentally. Yet, I feel like this shooting did not get enough attention. It seems to me that the focus was shifted to other issues instead of the fact that this was an attack on the gay community.
Instead of arguing and fighting, focus on the people that were attacked. It is 2016, and it is time for America to fully accept and love others, no matter how different they may be. So many lives were lost, and this was most definitely a direct attack on the LGBT community. This was a hate crime against the gay community, whether it was linked to outside terrorists or not. No one should have to live in fear that they may be killed for simply expressing who they are. No one should be afraid to go to public places in fear. I may not be a member of the LGBT community, but my heart aches for the entire gay community as well as the victims, and I wish them all the love in the world.
