Time for Change.

Hi guys.

I’m not one to throw out my opinions on politics and our government simply because people are too sensitive to have an educated conversation about any particular topic. Instead of hearing each other out, we automatically start defending our beliefs and turn what could be a great conversation between two people discussing changes that need to be made within our system, into an argument that gets taken extremely too far.

The entire point of these discussions is that something needs to change. No one is right or wrong at this point because we obviously haven’t figured out a system that works well enough to keep us from having THREE HUNDRED AND SEVEN…that’s 307, mass shootings in 311 days.

Let me break this down again.

The United States of America ALONE has had 307 mass shootings in 311 days. That’s less than a year. I don’t care what gun laws you believe in, this is not okay.

“It’s not the gun, it’s the people.”

Weeeelllllllll… when you break down these shootings there’s two factors that are aaalllllwwwaaaayyyysss the same. The guns AND the people. It IS the gun, and it IS the people.

So, instead of jumping down each others throats about whether guns should be banned or not, why can’t we come to a compromise and just simply TRY something new? At this point we have nothing to lose. We’ve already lost so many lives because no one is making a dramatic enough change to get guns under control.

Hello Government (or whoever I need to address this to),

If you are reading this, why can’t we at least try?

We can attempt to get better control over guns in the US by making the laws more strict. There is absolutely no reason why we can’t at least try? If we try and we fail, well at least we freaking gave it a chance. All this country needs is a chance. You have nothing to lose by at least trying. Unless you enjoy the fact that numerous amount of people are being killed each year when they are simply going to (what’s supposed to be) fun events, then there’s absolutely no reason why an attempt to stop the madness of massacres can’t be put into motion.

Could you imagine going to your favorite bar to sing karaoke with your friends and being rudely interrupted by someone shooting up the place? Have you ever fathomed continuing your daily routine of attending school to better yourself and gain an education for your future and then watching your friends take bullets as you sit there just waiting for your turn? No. You must not have ever put yourself in these peoples shoes. Have you ever attended a concert to watch someone who inspires you and takes all of your worries away only to hear gun shots take over the atmosphere?

We sit here and watch the news over and over again of victims telling their stories and remembering their loved ones who didn’t survive, yet are we actually putting ourselves in their shoes? No, are YOU (the Government) putting yourselves in the shoes of these people?

Do something. Not just for us, but for the sanity of our country. For our future. The children. There are mass shooting victims who have experienced a shooting MORE THAN ONCE IN ONE YEAR. Survivors from the Las Vegas shooting were at that bar in Thousand Oaks during the shooting. A shooting that COULD’VE BEEN PREVENTED. That man was already under investigation for having PTSD because he was “irate” and “irrational” seven months prior to the shooting. SEVEN MONTHS. I’m sorry WHAT. Why did this man even have access to a gun? You’re telling me that he had been suspected for suspicious behavior and PTSD for months and nothing was done about this? They were just like, “nah, he’ll be okay, he doesn’t need to be detained whatsoever.” ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! Ridiculous. I’m not saying we can control everyone, but cheese and rice there is so much more that can be done. Mass shooting number 307. In LESS THAN A YEAR. Come on Government, get it together. Wake up, seriously.

Sincerely, an upset Mallory.

To everyone else who is reading this, do your part.

1. Let your voice be heard. Speak up for what you believe in. Nothing is ever going to change with the system that we have now, so until we finally come up with a system that works, it’s up to us to maintain good morals, ethics and positivity among ourselves and our youth.

2. Have CONVERSATIONS. You don’t have to have the same beliefs as someone else. Let me say that again. YOU. DO. NOT. HAVE. TO. HAVE. THE. SAME. BELIEFS. AS. SOMEONE. ELSE. in order to have a conversation, be friends, collaborate, etc. We are not made to believe the same thing and work in unison. The best part about us is that we are diverse. SO JUST LISTEN TO EACH OTHER. If you don’t agree with someone that’s completely, utterly, 100% okay. Have a civil conversation about it. Express each others viewpoints and try to see where the other person is coming from and why their thought process is the way it is. We don’t have to believe in the same things in order to be civil. Honestly, the best ideas form when people of different beliefs and backgrounds come together to understand a common ground.

We need empathy. We need communication. We need love. Be that. Spread that.

3. Be a positive light. The news, billboards, magazines, internet, etc., is all filled with negativity and it’s easy to get wrapped up in the darkness of our society. HOWEVER, there is still an immense amount of positivity and love in the world, it’s just shadowed by this dystopia we’ve created in our minds. We cannot continue to pass on negative thoughts and viewpoints to everyone around us. Manage to find the positive in everything you do, even when it sucks. The world needs to smile.

Don’t be the person on Facebook posting angry statuses because you just found out your neighbor is a religion that you judge even though you know nothing about it. Stop judging other people’s actions because it’s not what you conform to. You don’t know that persons life or what they’ve been through.

It’s so easy to judge and assume. But, it’s also very easy to have a conversation, gain insight and open yourself up to accepting more love, light and laughter. Choose the latter.

That’s all.

Government, change your ways. Whatever you’re doing isn’t working.

Society, believe there’s good and be the good.

Thanks for reading. My rant is over.

Sending all of my love to all of the victims, survivors, loved ones, first responders and anyone who has and continues to be affected by these events. To everyone: If you ever need someone to talk to, please never hesitate to reach out to me. I will listen. I will understand to the best of my ability. Whatever it is, I will be there for you.

Yours truly,

-Mallory-