On February 14, 2018 another tragedy took place at the hand of a psychopath with a gun. 14 students, on the cusp of life, and 3 teachers were brutally gunned down at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, in Landmark, FL, during school hours. Before the funerals could even take place, insensitive idiots on both sides of the gun control debate began running their mouths. Gun control is obviously a touchy and complicated issue; hence the reason that it has not been solved yet. One would hope, however, that pundits would one day learn to use a little discretion during the aftermath of destruction.

Before the sad day of February 14th commenced, Chelsea Handler, an actress, comedian and liberal, took to twitter to rant and rave about how Republicans have blood on their hands. The same day that parents received word that their precious child was a victim of horrific violence, Handler tweeted about political candidates. While some may say that she is concerned about children’s safety, she has been actively seeking to “flip” congressional seats for some time; for example, she has been participating heavily in a special House election, in District 18, in Pennsylvania. Like her friend Kathy Griffin, Handler despises Trump and has used this opportunity to speak cruelly and profanely to the President and his fellow Republicans. Now is not the time to use tragedy to your personal or political advantage.

Republicans are disillusioned as well. The recurring theme after each gun-involved tragedy is “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families,” “Now is not the time to discuss gun control,” and “Let’s not have a knee-jerk reaction”. Since the latest school shooting, there have been multiple conversations regarding the sanctity of the 2nd Amendment. It is disgusting to witness what truly matters in the face of tragedy…. Their own wants and desires. People are so terrified that they are going to get their guns taken away that they cannot simply try to find some life-saving solutions. What about the hundreds of innocent lives lost each year? What about the holes in hundreds of families’ lives that will never again be filled? Now is not the time to buy guns, buy bullets or debate your right to own them.

Nikolas Cruz broke laws in order to commit his heinous crime. He was not supposed to be at the school, and guns are not permitted on school property. School shootings over the past decades have all been done illegally. Murder is illegal, but people still do it. Additionally, there are more people that die because of drunk driving than school shootings. Drunk driving is illegal. According to the drugabuse.gov website, more than 64,000 Americans died, in 2016, of drug overdose, and drug abuse is illegal. The answer to gun violence is not necessarily more laws, hurtful language or empty/nonexistent prayers. The answer to gun violence is to work together to find a true non-partisan solution to save the lives of our children. Gun violence can be stopped or thwarted; it is sad that no one really cares enough to truly try.