Two more mass shootings. This time one occurred three blocks from my mother’s job. In the place where I grew up. I held my breath as names of the injured were released. I called my family and friends to make sure everyone was okay.
America, WE HAVE A PROBLEM. Numbers don’t lie. You can lie to yourself. But, the numbers don’t lie. There have been 250 mass shootings in 2019 alone. In one year! According to Wikipedia, The definition of “mass shooting” is an incident in which four or more people, excluding the perpetrator(s), are shot in one location at roughly the same time.
America, WE HAVE A PROBLEM. When terror threatens the land and yet we don’t call it terror. When greed trumps human life and empty rhetoric is offered instead of policy solutions, then WE HAVE A PROBLEM. When the shootings in one year outweigh the number of days in that year, then WE HAVE A PROBLEM!
The number of mass shootings across the U.S. so far in 2019 has outpaced the number of days this year, according to a gun violence research group. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/2019-mass-shootings-there-have-been-more-mass-shootings-than-days-this-year/
Hear me, I am not attacking gun owners. I happen to strongly dislike guns. But, most of the people in my family own a firearm. My dad was never too far from his gun. This is not about attacking anyone’s right to bear arms. This is about addressing an EPIDEMIC! Surely, we can come to some type of compromise regarding gun control that allows those wanting to exercise their 2nd amendment rights with those of us wanting stricter policies and controls on access to military-grade firearms.
Let’s do our part. First, let’s continue to pray for all of those affected by these senseless acts of violence. Then, consider contacting your Senator or House Representative and voicing your deep concern.
You can also join me in actively petitioning.
If you know of other ways we can address this national epidemic, please feel free to share.