EDGEWATER, Fla. -- One always thinks tragedy won’t strike anywhere near, but the terrorist attack in Orlando by a "lone wolf" gunman who shot and killed 49 people and wounding 53 more in a gay nightclub proves to those of us here in Central Florida how wrong an assumption that is.
And just hours before that early Sunday massacre, Christina Grimmie, the 22-year-old star singer from NBC's "The Voice," was gunned down by a man with a gun after a concert Saturday night in Orlando as well. Though Grimes' killing was not terrorist-related, it was nonetheless, an act of violence by a gunman who committed murder and then killed himself.
If there was any doubt before, it is clear now that the days of feeling safe from violence and terrorism here in the USA are so over.
If there was any doubt before, it is clear now that the days of feeling safe from violence and terrorism here in the USA are so over.
We are no longer able to fool ourselves that we are immune -- that all that stuff happens mostly overseas.
Since 9/11, which was the largest loss of life in our peaceful history, it seems daily when you turn on the television or get on social media there have been escalating school shootings, murder-suicides, gang violence and so much more evil that it can no longer be ignored.
The sad thing to me besides the loss of precious lives is that this country reacts but does not act. Since airplanes hit the World Trade Center towers nearly 15 years ago, so-called security has been a ridiculous mess at airports around our nation. Someone gets on with a shoe bomb, we start removing shoes.
The next person tries to use liquids to bomb a plane and then we make strict restrictions on types and amounts of liquids we can carry on, etc. Why isn’t someone trying to get ahead of the terrorists as they are doing every minute of every day? That would be "acting" and not merely "reacting" and maybe we could come up with a better way to make airplanes and the passengers safe.
The sad thing to me besides the loss of precious lives is that this country reacts but does not act. Since airplanes hit the World Trade Center towers nearly 15 years ago, so-called security has been a ridiculous mess at airports around our nation. Someone (Richard Reid) gets on with a shoe bomb, we start removing shoes. The next person tries to use liquids to bomb a plane and then we make strict restrictions on types and amounts of liquids we can carry on, etc.
Why isn’t someone trying to get ahead of the terrorists as they are doing every minute of every day? That would be "acting" and not merely "reacting" and maybe we could come up with a better way to make airplanes and the passengers safe.
The next big thing now is renewing the debate about taking away our guns. I am not for that and don’t believe getting rid of all our guns will stop such things as happened in Orlando.
If a few people in that club had guns and shot the perpetrator as soon as he opened fire, he wouldn’t have been able to take hostages and more lives might have have been saved.
The next big thing now is renewing the debate about taking away our guns (like the assault rifle used in theOrlando massacre). I am not for that and don’t believe getting rid of all our guns will stop such things as happened in Orlando.
If a few people in that club had guns and shot the perpetrator as soon as he opened fire, he wouldn’t have been able to take hostages and more lives might have have been saved.
If all these terrorists, thieves, home invaders and such knew everyone was armed they would think twice before trying anything stupid like putting their life on the line to feed their habit or ideology or whatever reason they use as an excuse for doing the things they do. That’s just my opinion and it is why this column is called "Musings." I muse about things and then write about them.
Pray for the victims and families of the dead and injured as well as for this country and the world, which seems to be rapidly going to hell in a hand basket. Stay safe out there.