Can I Be Frank? Just say "No More!"

The recent shooting at a Texas elementary school has gotten me, along with so many others, fired up as to why this type of event is still even possible. The answer is because fair and reasonable gun laws have not been established on the federal level. The other question I have is why those elected to power have not put into action laws that protect citizens from this type of event, using the second amendment as justification? The. second amendment was adopted as part of the Bill of Rights in 1791, in an effort to promote peace, protecting one’s life and property, creating a balanced system, protecting citizens from a tyrannical government, not terrorists with automatic weapons.

There are several arguments regarding gun laws. Let’s be clear. I’m not suggesting total reform. I’m addressing the convenience, ease, and availability of military-grade weapons for citizens to purchase. The hunter does not use an automatic weapon to kill Bambi. The single mother does not tuck an AR-15 in her purse for protection. Collectors argue it is their right to collect weapons of their choice. Be a collector, or a hoarder of things. Collect coins, baseball cards, or even stamps! If you love guns, collect antique guns. But a gun “collector” who collects automatic weapons is a terrorist and should be treated as such. Calling him or herself a “gun collector” is justification for building a personal arsenal. There is no scenario where a citizen should own even one automatic weapon. Newsflash: this isn’t the zombie apocalypse. And this certainly isn’t a video game with endless “lives” to return to the game. This is real life…and very real, senseless, death.

The death of this 18-year-old shooter was just as pointless as his crime. He too, was a kid. A kid, that, due to the liberal gun laws, was able to purchase an automatic weapon on his 18th birthday. If you haven’t interacted with an 18-year-old lately, I suggest you do, and it will quickly become apparent why we shouldn’t expect teenagers to be responsible for sound life and death decisions. So, he too, was a victim to our lack of laws to protect and keep us safe.
But even one senseless death, at the hands of an automatic weapon, is one too many. So why haven’t lawmakers, on all sides, found a solution? There are no civil rights at risk here, but there are human lives at stake.

The solution is a simple one. First of all, any lawmaker that is in the pocket of the NRA, needs to get out of their pockets, or get out of office. Voters choose. Second, it should be illegal for citizens to purchase or own automatic weapons. Establish a program that involves the military, to collect and reimburse those gun owners of automatic weapons. The military and law enforcement can repurpose these weapons, and the previous owners get compensated. And the third part of this solution is to treat any mass shooting as a terrorist act, no different than the horrific 9/11 tragedy. Whether the weapon is an airplane, or an automatic weapon that discharges 600 rounds per minute, terrorism, of any kind, will not be tolerated. We will no longer participate, supply, or sit idly by, as this type of terrorist terrorizes our children, our people of faith, our food shoppers, and anyone in between. That is the simple solution.

Let this recent event be the last. No apology needed. No prayers necessary. Action is required.
Throughout history, the United States has developed the reputation for coming to the aid of defenseless countries, refugees, and victims. We are the heroes, not the villains of our story.

So let us be heroes. Let the innocent 6-year-old go to school without fear. Let the elder attend his house of worship, without worry. And please let the mother go grocery shopping without angst. No solution is foolproof. But we start here. And in doing so, we make it easier for parents to send their babies off to school without worry.