If you've opened a paper, watched the news, or even logged into Facebook, you're most likely aware of the tragic event that happened in Orlando, Florida during the morning hours on Sunday.
50 innocent people lost their lives and many more were injured in what is allegedly the largest mass shooting to have happened in the history of the United States. The details have been recounted in numerous news articles and discussions among friends, at least in my life. It has certainly been a big topic of discussion, among things like the Stanford rape case. But lately I just can't get what happened in the nightclub in Orlando off my mind, and that's due to one nagging question I just can't seem to shake: Why have we not done anything about gun laws in our country?
According to the New York Times, Omar Mateen had been investigated by the FBI on two separate occasions - one investigation lasting a duration of 10 months. The first investigation had to do with comments he made to a co-worker about his involvement with terrorism, the second regarding his connection to a US citizen who performed a suicide bombing attack in Syria.
My political opinions might come into play here, but I am a firm believer in the fact that something has to be done to tighten our gun laws in this country. It seems that after each shooting, each massacre, each live lost due to a gun — purchased legally or illegally — almost everyone is saying the same thing. But when will be the last shooing where something is actually done about it? How many lives will be taken before something is done to stop gun violence in this country?
In Sunday's events, these questions and arguments ring even more true in my mind: How can someone, who has been under investigation by the FBI for terrorism-related reasons twice, go into a store and legally purchase two assault weapons? I'll admit, I don't know the legalities behind purchasing a weapon or obtaining a permit, but to me something seems really, really off in that process.
My thoughts and prayers go out to all of the families and loved ones who were affected by the tragedy that took place Sunday. I hope that this is the last incident of this type to happen before something is done.