After the most recent shooting in which a gunman took down nearly 50 people at Pulse in Orlando, Fla., a gay nightclub, almost immediately people began calling for gun control. It's a predictable thing that happens after almost any mass shooting in the last couple years. Unfortunately, this has happened, and I don't think almost anyone wants these kinds of things to happen. Unless you're Westboro Baptist Church.
There are lots of emotions that people deal with after anything this terrible happens. Even locally, there were at least two known to be victims of this massacre. Makes you realize what a small, scary world we live in. No one should have to live in fear. I mean no one. I don't care what your personal feelings are about any one particular person or what their sexual orientation is. That's not being
debated here nor should it be debated in a tragedy like this. What is being debated of course after any mass shooting is the need and want for gun control. We've been down this road far too many times. And the end conclusion is always the same. Legislation can be introduced of course, but passing it is another. And when and if this legislation is passed, what's going to happen when this legislation doesn't work? What then? Are we going to hear cries from people to ban all guns or any kind of weapon that some people may feel can used for deadly purposes?
There is also a catch word going around through the media and across social media that is being misused and that is 'assault weapon' or 'automatic' weapon. Both of those words to describe weapons are used incorrectly. Mind you, I am not a gun connoisseur, nor do I own a gun, but I have common sense and I know how to look things up. Something that apparently gun control advocates who are playing off people's emotions (which by the way is disgusting), are currently doing. Assault weapon simply describes the aesthetics of a gun, and has nothing to do with the operation of the gun. There is nothing operationally different between an assault rifle and a hunting rifle that my brother uses to hunt deer in the fall.
I've also heard A LOT of people say that "no one needs a weapon like that." The purpose of the Second Amendment was for self-defense. and to keep the government in check. If you're waiting on the government to protect you or for police to arrive on the scene, you will probably already be dead. It's a harsh understanding and one of the biggest reasons why I am a supporter for people to defend themselves. I want to live in a world where gay couples won't be afraid to hold hands in public, and certainly not when they are out having fun. I just wish someone there would have been equipped to deal with that situation. Can you imagine if the gunman had been taken out by an off-duty police officer who used his gun to stop 50 people from being killed? I want that to be a reality. Gun-free zones are extremely dangerous, and are targets for people like Omar Mateen. They don't follow rules. They never will. Regardless of the fact that he was on an FBI watch list, he was still able to purchase a gun legally because we live in a democracy, and the government can't watch every citizen 24 hours a day, even though they try very hard to.
I wish that we could keep guns out of every single bad person's hands, or every person that is "on edge" but it would be nearly impossible. Stripping away the rights, whether that be Second Amendment or Fourth Amendment, of a law abiding citizen is wrong. Playing on people's emotions after a national tragedy because you think more government legislation is going to solve a complex problem, is incredibly stupid and irresponsible. I don't want to live in a country that does this.
These are tough times. Let's love one another. Teach acceptance. Learn about diversity of different religions, sexual orientations, backgrounds, etc. Use this as a teaching tool for those who don't understand. Raise awareness for LGBT issues. Practice kindness. Let's not create more political divide in this country.
Because frankly, this is exactly what's happening.
There are lots of emotions that people deal with after anything this terrible happens. Even locally, there were at least two known to be victims of this massacre. Makes you realize what a small, scary world we live in. No one should have to live in fear. I mean no one. I don't care what your personal feelings are about any one particular person or what their sexual orientation is. That's not being
There is also a catch word going around through the media and across social media that is being misused and that is 'assault weapon' or 'automatic' weapon. Both of those words to describe weapons are used incorrectly. Mind you, I am not a gun connoisseur, nor do I own a gun, but I have common sense and I know how to look things up. Something that apparently gun control advocates who are playing off people's emotions (which by the way is disgusting), are currently doing. Assault weapon simply describes the aesthetics of a gun, and has nothing to do with the operation of the gun. There is nothing operationally different between an assault rifle and a hunting rifle that my brother uses to hunt deer in the fall.
I've also heard A LOT of people say that "no one needs a weapon like that." The purpose of the Second Amendment was for self-defense. and to keep the government in check. If you're waiting on the government to protect you or for police to arrive on the scene, you will probably already be dead. It's a harsh understanding and one of the biggest reasons why I am a supporter for people to defend themselves. I want to live in a world where gay couples won't be afraid to hold hands in public, and certainly not when they are out having fun. I just wish someone there would have been equipped to deal with that situation. Can you imagine if the gunman had been taken out by an off-duty police officer who used his gun to stop 50 people from being killed? I want that to be a reality. Gun-free zones are extremely dangerous, and are targets for people like Omar Mateen. They don't follow rules. They never will. Regardless of the fact that he was on an FBI watch list, he was still able to purchase a gun legally because we live in a democracy, and the government can't watch every citizen 24 hours a day, even though they try very hard to.
I wish that we could keep guns out of every single bad person's hands, or every person that is "on edge" but it would be nearly impossible. Stripping away the rights, whether that be Second Amendment or Fourth Amendment, of a law abiding citizen is wrong. Playing on people's emotions after a national tragedy because you think more government legislation is going to solve a complex problem, is incredibly stupid and irresponsible. I don't want to live in a country that does this.
These are tough times. Let's love one another. Teach acceptance. Learn about diversity of different religions, sexual orientations, backgrounds, etc. Use this as a teaching tool for those who don't understand. Raise awareness for LGBT issues. Practice kindness. Let's not create more political divide in this country.
Because frankly, this is exactly what's happening.
