I Refuse To Accept Apathy

When I woke up in the middle of the night and saw that there had been a shooting in Las Vegas, I rolled over and went back to sleep. I learned in the morning just how bad it was. I watched the video of Jason Aldean running offstage after the gunshots started. I learned that this was the worst mass shooting in the nation’s history, although the last “worst mass shootings in the nation’s history” came less than a year and a half ago. I learned the shooter’s name.

But I rolled over and went back to sleep that night. I hate that. I hate that mass shootings have become so much a part of the lexicon of this country that they no longer make me bolt out of bed and turn on the news. I remember being a freshman in high school on the day of the Sandy Hook shooting. I remember sitting in my living room, glued to the breaking news reports that interrupted Ellen and reading any article I could find online. I remember thinking this was the worst act of terror that would happen in my lifetime. I hate that I was wrong.

I’ve seen a tweet going around this week, from @DPJHodges, which reads “In retrospect Sandy Hook marked the end of the US gun control debate. Once America decided killing children was bearable, it was over.”

I understand that. I think I might even have retweeted that. But it’s really been on my mind lately, and while I understand it, I can’t choose to accept it.

Sandy Hook should have been the end of the nation’s gun control debate. Legislation should have been taken care of then. But I refuse to accept that, because it didn’t happen then, it’s too late now. I refuse to accept apathy.

Instead, I’m looking forward. I’m calling my senators. I am telling them that enough is enough. And if they don’t listen, I’m voting for someone else. I’m sharing my beliefs. I’m donating to groups and legislators who are for common-sense gun legislation. And if I have to run for office to get the bill through, I’ll go door to door and beg for your vote. I refuse to accept the idea that it’s too late. I’m just getting started.I hope you will too.