It was carried out by a self-radicalized American-born and raised terrorist that declared allegiance to three separate terrorist groups at war with each other (Al-Qaeda, ISIS, and Hezbollah). It is also suspected that he was a closeted gay man, who had patronized the club multiple times over the last 3 years. It was an act carried out by an ignorant, abusive, marginalized security guard that apparently lacked strong religious convictions.
Another shooter, who violated the permissive, unspoken social compact that is practiced not only at Pulse, but LGBTQ establishments throughout the country. A similar social compact of broad acceptance that was practiced and exploited at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church. Environments like this exist throughout our nation. Abandoning this ideal of acceptance would be distinctly un-American, which means that we must search elsewhere for our solutions.
Meanwhile, the left has redoubled their efforts to step up gun control, calling for bans on everything from assault rifles to high capacity magazines. Previous half-hearted attempts have spurned our gun-obsessed culture to buy assault rifles in record numbers. They’ve also created a system, which has allowed 91% of individuals on the FBI’s Terrorism Watchlist to purchase handguns even after a background check. A 9% batting average on catching terrorism suspects in gun purchase attempts is a national embarrassment.
So we stand at an impasse where the status quo exacerbates the problem. Gun sales remain at near-record levels and the exact Sig-Sauer model used in the Orlando attack can be purchased by anybody over the age of 18 at a Field and Stream store near you. In October, I proposed five gun control alternatives, but it is becoming apparent that gun control is essential.
Our existing institutions are inadequate and our localities too unprepared for these circumstances. What community is it going to affect before we institute change? We’ve seen gun violence affect elementary, middle, and high school students, college campuses, LGBTQ clubs, black churches, white churches, community centers, and more. If we allow this and our pattern of inaction continues, this violence will inevitably creep into all of our communities. Will this be the time we rise to action or will we just shrug our collective shoulders and kick the can?
Alex Schaffer 