Dear America,
How can you carry on? How can you face another day when the world seems to burn brighter with every shot fired at our innocent citizens? I can’t do it anymore. I wish I had your resilience, or perhaps your blissful ignorance, or maybe a mix of both, but I no longer possess that strength.
Each time a hateful individual points a gun at a black man, a police officer, a concert-goer, a student, or a family in church, I picture who they see through their sights:
- I envision my neighbor laughing and playing “Tag” with his joyful little girl at the park.
- I picture my partner, sleepily getting ready in the early morning, preparing for another workday.
- I see my teenage daughter, excitedly picking out her outfit and meticulously styling her hair for a night out with friends.
Then I imagine them getting into their vehicles, buckling up for safety, blissfully unaware that at that moment, someone is methodically assembling a weapon, consumed by fear, hatred, and misplaced blame.
In a dark twist of logic, my neighbor, my partner, my child, become scapegoats for a stranger’s anguish. They are seen as enemies, and the gun becomes a tool of war. One by one, innocent lives are extinguished in a cold spray of violence.
A little girl’s world shatters as she witnesses her father’s blood pooling beneath him. A spouse is left shattered by the news that their beloved partner lies lifeless in the morgue. A mother gasps as she learns about the tragedy at a nightclub, concert, or church on a quiet Sunday.
Yet, as a nation, we seem to do nothing for these broken lives, other than send thoughts and prayers and engage in heated online debates about gun control, only to move on as if it’s just another day in America.
I implore you: Start taking these shootings to heart.
For every bullet that finds its mark, the likelihood of your own life being shattered grows. Does that scare you enough to take action? If so, America, please: DO SOMETHING.
Your thoughts and prayers are no longer sufficient. The endless online arguments won’t cut it. Stop moving through your day as if this isn’t a crisis. Take just ten minutes—step away from work or your errands—and do something to protect your neighbor, partner, or child from the impersonal hatred of a gunman.
Here are some actions you can take:
- Make a Call.
Reach out to your local representatives and demand they support sensible measures to curb gun violence, like universal background checks and preventing gun sales to individuals on terror watchlists. - Send an Email.
Use this opportunity to communicate with your representatives about your thoughts on gun control. A few sentences can make a difference, so instead of tweeting, put your voice into an email. - Vote with Intention.
When you head to the polls, ask yourself: Is the candidate willing to challenge the gun lobby and work to limit access to assault weapons? Understand where campaign contributions are coming from and how they affect policy.
Please, take one of these actions before you continue with your life. Because the safety of all our lives depends on you.
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In summary, it’s essential to confront the reality of gun violence in America and take decisive action to protect our communities. We can no longer afford to remain passive; our lives depend on it.