Guns & Pride

Happy Pride month everyone! This is a time where a lot of companies go to try and cash in on pride while not really contributing to LGBTQ+ rights. It's beyond shameful that in 2022 we still have states that would rather fight against teaching about sexuality than to find solutions to the massive amounts of mass shootings that are happening everyday in the USA. We live in a dystopia of contradictions where kids are dying in their classrooms.

It's becoming so constant that, personally, I avoid reading details about the victims and shooters because it's incredibly upsetting that there isn't a solution being talked about nationally it seems. We live in a world that is controlled by companies; if it costs them money, they will rather pick the slaughtering of innocent people and children. It's disgusting. They will take a fine rather than to fix any problems at hand, all for money. Who feels like they can say that they are proud to be an American anymore? I know I can't.

On memorial day, I went camping with my partner and their friends. I was nervous when I realized that they were bringing guns to shoot while camping. I did not grow up around guns, but I have always wanted to learn how to shoot a gun. I think it's important to learn more about the things that scare you. I did get to shoot and I can see why people have shooting their guns as a hobby, there is a lot of power behind the bullet, there is a feeling of badassery. I get it. There are thousands upon thousands of responsible gun owners, it's not just the easy availability of guns, there is a huge mental health problem in the USA.

Along with waiting periods, restricted age limit, and increasing the availability of mental health assistance, we need to fund schools and teachers. We put too much on our teachers, kids can't get the quality education they should be entitled to being in such a rich country. While I don't think that this will help with all of it, I truly believe that this would help reduce the tragedies in our communities. Just yesterday, there was a shut down at a local school due to a possible shooter and my sisters high school had a tragedy involving guns and mental issues collided to end the lives of 5 teenagers. If we had more resources for students when they are struggling, either academically or emotionally, it is my hope that we will begin to heal as a country.

To end on a lighter note, I did have fun camping, though I learned that I am definitely a backpacking person. Camping had this kind of novelty to it. Backpacking gives me something to do and I feel accomplished at the end of the day. The people I went with did some unsavory things during our stay, like cutting down trees in the protected area which I made a stink about, not something that would happen with backpackers. We don't bring chainsaws and axes on our adventures unless we are part of a trail crew to improve the conditions of the trails. That was something that was fun to learn about myself, I am not huge on camping, but love to backpack beyond anything other than writing poetry.

Hope everyone had a decent memorial day and hopefully, if you can afford it, donate to your local schools. They need our help, so let's make it happen!