On June 10, singer/songwriter Christina Grimmie was shot and killed by a man who was armed with two guns and a hunting knife who attended her show with the intention (and means) to kill her. On June 11, a mass murder occurred at a gay nightclub in Orlando, called Pulse. Initially, 20 people were reported dead. The number is now at 50 and continues to grow.
Our gun control laws are not strict enough.
Fifty people. Fifty people with lives, families, jobs, loved ones, and dreams.
In 2015, there were 372 mass shootings in the United States. That means that there were more shootings than there are days in a year. As of June 12, there have been 131 mass shootings in 2016.
Our gun control laws are not strict enough.
Canada has had eight mass shootings in 20 years. Australia hasn't had one since 1996. The United states have had seven mass shootings since Monday. People do not deserve to die.
Our gun control laws are not strict enough.
Since these attacks, many people have taken to social media to put their own opinions on display.
People like Ben Howe don't seem to understand how a peaceful society works. When you retaliate against someone behaving in a violent manner with violence, it only makes the problem worse. Defending yourself against someone holding a gun by holding a gun is not protection. It's war.
And this tweet, with over 60,000 retweets, wraps up what many are thinking (and still holds true a year later from when it was posted).
While utilizing social media is an effective way to share your opinion on issues such as these, nothing will change with the click of the "Tweet" button. You can contact your local representative and take initiative with the issues you feel strongly about. When we act together in a productive way, we cannot be stopped. Here's an article that explains how to contact your representative and effectively communicate your arguments: https://medium.com/@nicolesilverberg/it-s-on-us-to....
Additionally, you can give money through GoFundMe to a fundraiser that has raised over $80,000 so far for Christina Grimmie's family in their time of need, or you can donate to a GoFundMe campaign supporting the victims of the Orlando Pulse shooting, which has raised over $200,000 so far.
Although I've said all of this, I am truly at a loss for any words that could actually explain my own feelings or help those affected. I live with a sense of fear in the back of my mind as I wonder what could happen next. Nowhere is safe anymore. Not a concert, not a school, not a club, not an airport, not a place of worship. I will continue to live my life and do the things that I enjoy because the sad reality is that deeds like these, that are impossible to explain, can happen anytime and anywhere.
As we stand with the LGBTQ+ community and family members of Christina Grimmie and the victims of the Orlando Pulse shooting, we must be reminded and empowered by the opportunity that we have to change. At this point, it is as crucial as it has ever been. We need gun control, and we need change.
