I Hate That We Can’t Talk About Guns

"You're a radio DJ, no one cares what you have to say about politics!"

Awesome. Because this isn't about politics.

It's been about a week since the school shooting in Parkland, Florida, where 17 people were killed, and 14 more injured when a lone gunman walked onto campus with an AR-15 rifle. He was a former student who planned the shooting out ahead of time.

After the news was all over television and social media, I, like everyone else in America, didn't know how to react. It's scary to think that we're almost used to stories like these, and it comes as no surprise when they pop up in our news feed. I do know this: I want kids to stop getting murdered. There's no reason a child should be murdered, let alone at a place where they're supposed to feel safe and protected.

The reason I had to wait to write this is, I'm just as mad about the fact that we can't even talk about what to do next. You haven't seen the worst of the internet until you've seen a gun control debate. Just a few things I've seen people write, on public forums mind you:

• Liberal snowflake
• Redneck
• Alt-right nazi
• Libtard
• Fake news
• Sheeple

I can go on. My point is this: Our children are being murdered and so many people are more concerned with name calling and finger pointing. We can't even have a semi-civil discussion about what to do next without screaming at each other and pounding our keyboards. It boils my blood to know that people are more concerned about pushing their agenda (on all sides) and proving themselves right than about what to do to stop children from being shot and killed on American soil.

Maybe we should arm school staff with firearms and train them in defense courses. Maybe we should ban AR-15's and similar type weapons. Maybe we should install metal detectors in every school. Maybe we should start a gun buyback program. Maybe all schools should have armed guards. Maybe we should ban all guns.

I honestly do not know what the answer is. I'm "just a radio DJ," right? However, I do know this: Until we can talk to each other, not at each other, nothing will change. The more we fight and yell and name call, the more kids will be murdered. If that doesn't infuriate you, then nothing will.

I have friends and family on both sides of this debate, be it gun enthusiasts and folks who are very pro-gun control. I always listen to their side, regardless of how I feel. I would encourage you to do the same. Be you a business owner, a lawyer, a farmer, a salesperson, or even a radio DJ. We need to talk, and we need to listen. Maybe we'll all learn something in the process.

We're all Americans. We're all parents or aunts or uncles or brothers or sisters. We all deserve the right to live and to watch our kids grow up.

We need to talk.