Gun Violence in Orlando

The gun violence-related tragedies this weekend, both in Orlando, have consumed my thoughts this holiday weekend. As Jews all over the world celebrated the Sabbath which led into the festive, joyous holiday of Shavuot (which celebrates the receiving of the Torah at Mt. Sinai after wandering for 40 years in the desert), my thoughts were with the family of Christina Grimmie, a client of my publicity firm, shot dead by a deranged fan as she signed autographs after a show.

Then my thoughts shifted from this one individual public person, this one 22-year-old gorgeous, talented woman who happened to be part of my work world, to the victims of the largest mass shooting in the history of this country – more victims in what feels like a world spinning out of control.

49 victims dead, and 53 wounded, shot by a man deranged by religious fanaticism. It’s impossible to imagine, yet it happened again. Again.

And already I’m hearing what you are all probably hearing:

“See what religion does?”

Nope.

“See what mental illness does?”

Not really.

“See what gay people bring out?”

Not even.

I see what happens when anyone can own guns and rifles, and lots of them. I see what happens when religious fanaticism appeals to people who want to die for a God only a select few believe in – a God who believes in killing for His great name – and this twists the foundation of love into a love affair with hate.

I see what happens when people who support the right to bear arms turn this tragedy – which only happened because this man could acquire so many guns – God, so many guns – into a reason for more guns. More guns.

Please, for the love of any God: no more guns. No more shootings in clubs. No more shootings in schools. No more shooting children and Jews and gays. No more taking away sons and daughters and husbands and wives and lovers and friends and hope and potential. No more killings like this. No more please.

President Obama asked what kind of country we want. I don’t want this one. I don’t want a country where people are shot all the fucking time. Every day, people are shooting people with guns they shouldn’t have access to. Enough, please.

I’m sick. I’m sick for Christina and I’m sick for the men and women whose names I don’t know and may never know. I’m sick of people refusing to give up their fight for more and more and more and more guns.

It’s like a relationship everyone knows needs to end but one person just can’t let it go. Enough. It’s over.

We’ve lost. And every other Western country is astounded at our stupidity. Over and over and over and over. They see us as what we are: the failed experiment of not having gun control. It’s time to give it up. It. Is. Over.

Gun lovers: I respect your rights, but I also respect the rights of people to live without being gunned down because they are gay, Jewish, black, walking to school, attending a party, dancing at a nightclub, trying to make a life, just trying to live.

What else do we need to see? No more. Please, make this stop. No more.