Another day, another mass shooting in the United States. This time, it happened at a Sweet 16 birthday party in Dadeville, Alabama, leaving four dead and as many as 20 injured. Most of the victims were teenagers.
This tragedy is yet another reminder of the gun violence epidemic that plagues our country. Unfortunately, mass shootings have become a regular occurrence in the U.S., a reality that no other developed country faces.
The shooting comes just months after Governor Kay Ivey signed a permitless carry bill into law, making it easier for people to carry guns in public without a permit. It’s difficult to comprehend why anyone would think that more guns will make us safer when we see stories like this unfold on a regular basis.
The Tallapoosa County Superintendent has confirmed that some local students were at the party, but there is no additional information available at this time. As always, thoughts and prayers are not enough. We need real action to address the root causes of gun violence in our society.
We must demand that our elected officials pass common-sense gun control measures to keep guns out of the wrong hands. The Republicans who continue to take money from the NRA need to stop prioritizing their campaign contributions over the lives of their constituents.
It’s time for a change. We can’t continue to live in a country where mass shootings are a regular occurrence, and where kids can’t even have birthday parties without the threat of gun violence. Enough is enough.
