When is the time to talk about it?

After Columbine

Where 13 lives perished and TV footage rolled

We became horrified and sick with heartache

But we didn't want to talk about it.

After Virginia Tech

Where 32 lives were lost

We simply sat back and sent our prayers to a God who couldn't do anything about it

But we didn't want to talk about it.

Or after Sandy Hook,

Where 26 lives were took

Politicians shook their heads and said

"Now's not the time to talk about it."

So our nation grieved and sent their tweets

But we didn't want to talk about it.

But in Parkland, Florida

Where 17 humans became angels in a matter of minutes,

We finally want to talk about it.

We need to talk about it.

It's time to talk about it.

In the United States, there have been more deaths due to gun violence than all of our wars combined

Now personally, that's a statistic that genuinely blows my mind.

In the United States, over 13,000 gun homicides occur per year, almost 96 people are shot and killed per day, and now over 300 mass shootings have transpired since January 1^st.

Yet we are told now's not the time to talk about.

And the Republicans will say, "Don't vote for gun control!

This isn't a gun reform issue; it's a mental health issue

And the Democrats only want to take your precious second amendment away."

But, these are the same hypocrites in office who have cut mental health and school safety programs by close to 40%

The same people who want to stockpile weapons for the military, claiming they want to keep the people safe from foreigners but fail to keep Americans protected from other Americans.

The same people who care more about unborn fetuses than about living children who were shot in the stomach while attempting to learn algebra.

The same people who bow down to the NRA simply because gun lobbyists have financed their campaign and who know that 80% of the population – INCLUDING legal gun owners – want to see a change.

If it were an act of terrorism, we would've lost our minds

If this isn't considered terrorism, then we have lost our minds.

In fact, maybe terrorism should be redefined.

17 people.

17 hearts no longer beating.

17 bodies no longer breathing.

17 lives no longer living.

Can't you see the blood on our hands?

Can't you see the bodies being carried out of the places that were supposed to keep them safe?

Can't you hear the children screaming? The footsteps retreating? The shots ringing?

When will it end?

So we must stop offering our prayers and our thoughts and instead we must learn to acknowledge that we must vote.

Vote for the people who will stand up to the NRA

Vote for the people who will initiate the change

Vote for the people whose agenda is not to take away the second amendment

But who want to restrict the sale of automatic weapons, increase background checks, and increase funds for school safety and mental health programs.

Prayers will change nothing.

Thoughts will change nothing.

Offering condolences will change nothing.

But taking action will change something

Policy change will change something.

Listening to the people will change something.

So what's more important: your selfish pride, your so-called patriotism, and your financed campaign?

Or: the lives of Americans, the safety of schools, and the deceased who we must not let die in vain?