Monday, June 13, 2016

Just Another Day In America

Yesterday, 50 people were killed and 53 more were injured at a nightclub in Orlando, Florida.  A hate crime and yet another act of gun violence rolled into one.

If you haven't heard about it yet, you live under a rock, don't watch TV, or haven't discovered the internet yet.

Two days ago, a very talented 22-year-old young woman named Christina Grimmie, a contestant on The Voice, was shot and killed outside a concert venue (also in Orlando) just three miles from Pulse, the nightclub where these mass killings took place.

So in just two days, over 50 people are gone.  Countless lives are going to change because of those deaths.  The friends, family, and in Christina Grimmie's case, also fans, are and will be affected for years to come.

I don't understand people who think it's more important to have a gun than it is to protect the lives of children, churchgoers, moviegoers, or people going out for a fun night of music and dancing with their friends.  When you go to school or make a choice to engage in entertaining activities, you don't expect to die.

In 2012, we lost 26 people - 20 of them children under the age of 7 - when they were gunned down at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut.

If things didn't change then, if people weren't moved knowing 20 innocent little kids lost their lives, I don't expect anything to change now.

But I can still hope.

We don't need prayers.

We don't need endless hours of people on television talking about it.

We don't need the empty bullshit spewed by politicians, especially the ones who consistently vote against gun control measures.

And we don't need memorials and dedications.

We need action.

So, act.

I am.


 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
2015: Five Fabulous Foodie Finds
2014: And Just Like That, It Happens
2013: The Midday Bird Got The Worm
2012: Keeping Time In A Place That Goes From Salty To Sweet In Less Than A Mile
2011: Pride Of The United States Air Force
2010: The Dinosaur Rears Its Ugly Head
2009: Kidnapping Is Obviously Not Their Forte
2008: Eddie Friday On Ice
2007: Having Influence Where It Matters
2006: MacGyver To The Rescue
2005: The Weekend

5 comments:

Optimistic Existentialist said...

I agree with you 100000000%. Guns are the great scourge of this planet...I do not understand the people who argue against this! So glad I found your blog today.

Marlaina said...

Well said. I agree.

JWINTHEDESERT said...

Its NOT the guns. Its what is behind it pulling the trigger. My guns never killed anyone or thing.

The Daily Rant said...

OPTIMISTIC EXISTENTIALIST: I agree with YOU a bazillion percent regarding guns being the great scourge of the planet. Plenty of countries get along fine without every citizen being armed. We have more guns in this country than people. I know you're a native Kentuckian - hello, gun central! (I lived in Kentucky for a while, too) - but I'm sure in Germany you don't fear being shot in a movie theater or nightclub. That's literally a concern for me - especially since I travel all over the U.S. and some places are a little more gun crazy than others. Thanks for commenting. Hope to see you back here again!

MARLAINA: Preaching to the choir, I know. It would be nice if our people could take a peek to the north and see how nice and peaceful Canada is. If only.

JW MONDAK: It actually IS the guns. I'm sure 50 people wouldn't be dead if that guy couldn't get hold of a military grade automatic weapon. I mean, really? Does a person NEED that? Absolutely not. The "guns don't kill people" argument is tired and just stupid. It's come to the point where those who are responsible and safe with firearms are just going to have to suck it up for those who are not. The time has come. You've had your chances. I'm going to have to go with the "bad apple spoiled the bunch" bit. Kind of like kindergarten when the whole class has to suffer a punishment for the one kid who was an asshole. We have too many assholes in America. Go to a gun range if you need a fix.

Denis said...

Unfortunately today's reality is that you need to be prepared for any event, since the problem is no more than one year, there is no real solution to the given moment.