Dear America,
How do you manage to go about your day when the world seems to ignite with every bullet fired at our innocent citizens? I find myself unable to move on any longer. I envy your strength, or perhaps your willful ignorance, but I simply don’t possess that resilience anymore.
Every time a malicious individual targets a black man, a police officer, a concert-goer, a student, or a family at a place of worship, I envision who they see through the scope of their weapon:
- I picture my neighbor joyfully playing “Tag” with his young daughter at the park.
- I see my partner, smiling sleepily as he prepares for another workday in the quiet morning.
- I visualize my teenage daughter, meticulously choosing her outfit and styling her hair for a fun night out with friends.
And then I watch as they buckle themselves into their cars, blissfully unaware that a man with a gun is methodically assembling his weapon, consumed by hatred and fear. In the warped logic of this individual, my neighbor, my partner, and my child are somehow the source of his resentment. He views them as enemies to be eliminated in this twisted war he believes he is fighting.
With each act of violence, innocent lives are reduced to mere statistics, obliterated in a horrifying wave of bloodshed. A young girl witnesses her father’s life ebbing away. A spouse receives the harrowing news that their loved one is gone. A mother sees the reports of children gunned down at a concert or church service.
And what do we do in response? We offer thoughts and prayers, engage in online debates about gun control for a short while, and then simply move on. It feels as if it’s nothing personal; just another day in America.
I implore you: we must start taking these shootings personally. Each time a bullet strikes a body, the risk to your own life or the lives of those you love increases.
Does that scare you enough to act? Then please, America, it’s time to DO SOMETHING. Our prayers and thoughts are no longer sufficient. The bickering on social media won’t change anything.
Pause for a moment—take a short break from your tasks—and consider what you can do to protect your neighbor, partner, or child from the faceless hatred of a gunman.
- Make a call. Contact your local representatives and urge them to support sensible measures to reduce gun violence, such as background checks for all gun sales and prohibiting sales to those on terror watch lists.
- Write a message. Dedicate the time you might spend arguing online to sending a message to someone who can make a difference. It doesn’t take much; even a brief note can be impactful.
- Follow the money and vote. When casting your ballot, consider whether your candidate is willing to take a stand against the gun lobby and support measures that would limit access to dangerous weapons.
Please, just take one action before you carry on with your day. Our lives depend on it.
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Summary
Gun violence is a personal issue that affects us all. We must recognize the impact of each shooting and take action to prevent further tragedies. It’s time to engage with our representatives, voice our concerns, and make informed decisions at the polls. Our collective action is essential for change.