The massacre that happened in Las Vegas was horrific. Over 50 people dead, more than 500 injured. All across the country people are mourning the victims and sending their thoughts and prayers. But thoughts and prayers are not enough. The fact of the matter is more than 50 people are dead and the number will likely rise. Thoughts and prayers are sent out after every single mass shooting and they have not prevented a single one. 

You can all see where I am going with this: gun control. And many of you will say something along the lines of “now is not the time to politicize a tragedy!” In fact, Kentucky’s own governor tweeted, “To all those political opportunists who are seizing on the tragedy in Las Vegas to call for more gun regs [regulations]…You can’t regulate evil…” Excuse me?

Ignoring the fact that guns are the problem is in fact, politicizing the tragedy. Taking the National Rifle Association’s money and letting them dictate your positions on gun control is politicizing a tragedy. Trying to prevent the next tragedy? Nope, that’s ACTUALLY doing something.

As for being unable to regulate evil…we already do that. Last time I checked, crimes like murder, rape, assault, etc. are prosecuted as illegal. The rest of the world already does what we are unable to – regulate evil in the form of gun control. Britain enacted heavy gun control after the Dunblane Massacre, in which 16 school-aged children were killed. Australia implemented their gun control laws after the Port Arthur Massacre, in which 35 people were killed at a popular tourist destination. Yet, America was unable to do so after the heart-wrenching deaths of 20 first graders at Sandy Hook.

So I ask not only Governor Bevin, but to all those who are against us so-called “political opportunists,” when is the right time to talk about gun control? When is it the right time to the figure out a plan to prevent this senseless and brutal loss of life? What will it take to finally bring our congressmen to their senses? The slaughter of 20 six and seven years old was not enough, apparently, so what will it take? The majority of Americans are in favor of some sort of gun control, yet their representatives do not care. If nothing gets done, another tragedy will happen soon, and thoughts and prayers will not prevent that.