One group focuses on gun control. They believe that with smart gun laws, criminals would be less likely to get high powered weapons. This group also believes that people on the no fly list should automatically be denied the right to purchase certain kinds of guns.
Another group focuses on mental health issues. They believe that better mental health screenings and treatment there would be fewer acts of gun violence. They focus on the belief that mental health is an issue for the majority of the shooters.
Still another group believes that if we just use the words 'Radical Islamic', that would solve the problem of terrorist attacks. This group often views all Muslims as potential terrorists and want to find ways to monitor all Muslims.
But another group believes that the solution to gun violence and terrorism is more guns. They support open carry laws and are staunch supporters of the NRA and the second ammendment. Their logic is that no one would pull out a gun if they new that everyone else was armed, too.
What all of these groups have forgotten is that the number of victims is not just a number. There are mothers and fathers, grandparents and children. They are working to support families and they are in college chasing their dreams. They are doctors and chefs, teachers and musicians. They are us and the ones we love.
It's time for us to see the humanity, again. It's time to feel the righteous indignation at the fact that someone would dare to take the life of another. Let's put the agendas aside and decide that we need to work together to stop gun violence and terrorism. If we don't, we are contributing to the problem.