Domestic terrorism:

"activities within the United States that...involve acts dangerous to human life that...appear to be intended--

(i) to intimidate or coerce a civilian population..."

(The Patriot Act)

The largest mass shooting in U.S. history that recently took place in Las Vegas has left me in a prolonged state of confusion, anger, and heartbreak. I'm confused because legislators of the country I live in somehow do not care enough to proactively pass legislation to combat the issue. I'm angry that so many innocent people lost their lives in Las Vegas on Monday in a way that has become all too routine in our country. I'm heartbroken because people continue to lose their loved ones by the masses due to acts of terrorism, and our cowardly leaders continue to do nothing about it. Yes, sending love and prayers in the wake of tragedy is comforting and uniting and should be done every time something like this happens. But love and prayers are not going to stop these mass shootings from happening again; they never have and they never will. It feels like a recurring nightmare, the scariest part being that probable solutions to the issue actually exist. But they don't care.

I'm calling upon my friends, family, peers, coworkers, and most importantly my legislators to ACTUALLY talk about how to move forward from this tragedy. We cannot afford to mask the issue or let it fade away until the next shooting happens. There is no longer any room to deny the fact that we need regulations on deadly weapons. Something. Anything.

A work of art, "Casket Pretty", by Noname, is a song about police brutality in the city of Chicago and the countless number of innocent lives ended at the hands of a system of injustice and racial inequality. While the contexts are slightly different, “Casket Pretty” encompasses the general pain-staking heartbreak felt when innocent lives are lost, whether it’s due to police brutality, domestic terrorism, or any other form of pure evil. I feel that this song can express my feelings of anguish and anger better than any other words could.

"Ain't no one safe in this happy city

I hope you make it home

I hope to God that my tele' don't ring...

...

Tonight the night his baby said goodbye

Roses in the road, teddy bear outside

Bullet there on the right

Where's the love when you need it

Too many babies in suits

Too many babies in suits..."

-Noname

Listen to the song in its entirety on Apple Music or Spotify.