Enough Is Enough: We Need To Do Something About Gun Violence Now | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics

Enough Is Enough: We Need To Do Something About Gun Violence Now

After the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history, will American's realize something needs to be done now?

15
Enough Is Enough: We Need To Do Something About Gun Violence Now
CNN

When I woke up Sunday morning (6/12/16), I noticed a bunch of CNN alerts on my phone. They all were about the tragic shooting that took place at the LGBT club Pulse in Orlando, Florida. I think one of the worse things about this tragic mass murder is that it came as no surprise to me. We live in a country where everyday we hear about innocent people getting blown away. As a culture we have become desensitized to it. It has turned into a human being losing their life being seen less as a tragedy and more of as another statistic. On the Gun Violence Archive Website, there is a six page list documenting the 136 mass shootings that have happened in 2016 alone (as of early morning 6/13/16, 5:30 6/14/16 the number of mass shootings has went up to 139). Let that sink in, 136 times someone has attempted (and a lot of times succeeded) in ending the lives of others. And we are only halfway through the year. Does that mean we should expect another 136 people to go out and slaughter fellow human beings like wild animals before the year ends?

When will it finally be enough? We already witnessed the worst mass shooting in U.S. history this Sunday. We witnessed two cases in 2012 and 2015 where the act of going to see a movie was ruined by gunmen opening fire in the theater. We witnessed in 2015 the racially charged murder of nine African Americans in the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. A house of faith where many people go to find comfort and feel safe in this heinous world. For God’s sake we witnessed 20 children get massacred at Sandy Hook Elementary School 11 days before Christmas. These young kids and their families were probably anticipating having a great holiday, but do you know what their families got as a present that year? Their six and seven year old family members in a casket.

You would think the American people would be sick of this. That we would finally wake up and see that there is a problem. That if we don’t want this to continue we need to pass stricter gun control laws and have a serious conversation about repealing the Second Amendment, but no, we have people like this:

We also have people like Mitch McConnell (the Senate Majority Leader), who has an A rating from the NRA and voted yes on allowing firearms on amtrak trains, essentially running the Senate (which is the highest house in the most powerful branch of the federal government). We also have a big orange buffoon, who is the presumptive presidential nominee of one of our major political parties, who said that the Paris massacre in November would have ended differently if everyone had guns. Well congratulations Mr. Trump for once you are right about something, it would've ended differently. Everyone in that concert venue would be dead instead of the already high body count of 130.

It is time we finally take these shootings as a wake up call. This November we need to elect politicians in all levels of government that are pro-gun control. We need to contact all government officials, whether it is through our own personal letter or a petition, and tell them that we need to do something now. Because if things stay the same, either you or someone you love is going to be six feet under the ground.

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

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

13329
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Moana's Top 10 Life Tips

"Moana" is filled with life lessons that involve far more than finding true love as many other Disney movies do.

39833
Animated image of a woman with long dark hair and tattoos
StableDiffusion

1. It's easy to be fooled by shiny things.

Digital image of shiny gemstones in cased in gold. shiny things StableDiffusion

Tamatoa created a liar filled with shiny things simply for the purpose of tricking fish to enter and become his food. He too experiences a lesson in how easy it is to be tricked by shiny things when Moana distracts him by covering herself in glowing algae so Maui can grab his hook.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

7 Types Of Students You Will Meet In College

You wish you could be #5, but you know you're probably a #6.

20156
cool group of lazy college students in class
StableDiffusion

There are thousands of universities around the world, and each school boasts its own traditions and slogans. Some schools pride themselves on sports, while others emphasize their research facilities. While there is a myriad of differences among each and every school, there will always these seven types of students in class.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

15 Rhyme Without Reason Greek Life Function Ideas

When you have no ideas for what to wear to this date function

320564
A dog and a frog
Healthy Pets

I am going to a rhyme without reason date function and I have looked at so many different rhyming words and I figured there need to be a new list of words. At these functions, there are usually at least two rockers and boxers and an umpteenth amount of dogs and frogs. I have come up with a list of creative and unique ideas for these functions.

If you like what you see, get a shopping cart going with these costumes.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

Yoga love

A long over due thank you note to my greatest passion.

32669
A person in a yoga pose surrounded by a supportive community of fellow yogis with a look of peace and gratitude on their face the image should convey the sense of strength mindfulness and appreciation that the writer feels towards yoga
StableDiffusion

Dearest Yoga,

You deserve a great thank you.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments