Tony Guadagnino is a marketing consultant. Located in New Jersey, his clients are based across the country, focusing on social media to build their presence on the internet. He studied creative writing in college and is currently working on his first novel on the subject of bullying. He lives with his partner Mark This month Tony writes about yet another mass shooting in America.
As I am writing this, there was ANOTHER MASS SHOOTING in the country. This time, in Nashville, where 3 adults and 3 children (aged 9) were shot dead.
Let me say that again – 3 adults and 3 children, whose lives were cut short at the age of 9. NINE! That means they were Middle Aged at 4 ½.
As of this writing, this was the 130th Mass Shooting in 2023. Let me say that again – 130 Mass Shooting in 2023. That averages to approximately 43 mass shootings a month. FORTY-THREE MASS SHOOTINGS A MONTH (That’s more than 1 a day).
WAKE UP AMERICA! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!
Let me start by saying and STRESSING that I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT GUNS SHOULD BE ILLEGAL. As I have stated previously, my father was a responsible gun owner. We knew he had them; we knew where he kept them; we knew not to touch them. Neither my mother, my brothers, nor I ever picked up and played with any of his guns. There are lots of responsible gun owners in America and I do not believe that all guns should be banned. I have to come out and say that because whenever I rant on this subject, that’s what some people believe I am saying. I am not!
It’s time to stop with the cliché “Thoughts & Prayers” expression because, at this point, it is laughable. We all feel for the families who lost loved ones. We’re all human; we are emotional people. However, saying “thoughts & prayers” does not show compassion for the situation. It’s been overused so much that the meaning behind those words is lost.
WAKE UP AMERICA! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!
The AR-15 rifle seems to be the center of all shootings, and I have to ask — why is this rifle available to the public? It was designed for military use after World War II, not for hunting, not for everyday target practice, and not for the general public of America. Yet, President George Bush allowed the ban on assault rifles to expire during his presidency. (I bet he regrets that decision.) And with the expiration of the ban, and the availability of these weapons, more AR-15 guns are getting into the hands of people who should not own them.
This should not be a Republican/Democrat issue; this should be a human issue about life and death. We should all want to stop these scary incidents from happening. Instead, I am reading articles from members of Congress. I am reading statements of indifference like Tennessee Governor Bill Lee saying “We can’t control what we can’t control” (yet it was important for him to sign bills that banned drag shows in public places and remove health care for transgender minors.)
Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., said that the shooting was “a horrible, horrible situation, and we’re not gonna fix it. Criminals are gonna be criminals.” (That’s an actual quote; look it up.)
Instead, people in government believe that the solution is to arm the teachers or get better security in schools. As someone who works in the school district, I can personally tell you that schools are very well protected. The buildings do not have unlocked doors, nor can people walk through the school building without screenings from both the administration office and security. And giving teachers guns to keep in the classroom — I shouldn’t even need to discuss the ridiculousness of that idea.
Generation Alpha is the first generation of people who will say “I lived during mass shootings when I was in school.” Before the next generation starts, I, really, really hope that we will wake up. It’s time to stop this craziness. We all have to do it – together.
Check out some of Tony’s other blog posts on the BLOG PAGE.
** Sadly since Tony’s article was written, yet more mass shootings have happened.