Mass shootings

The events that have plagued this nation too many times, from California to Colorado and South Carolina to Sandy Hook, have now become normalized in our minds. It’s sad that we’ve become so accustomed to such tragic and heart-wrenching events that the Lafayette shooting doesn’t even seem to intrude on the thoughts of the public.

My biggest fear is that the person sitting next to me or standing across the room might be the next mass shooter.

I live in a state where eight mass shootings have occurred in the last two years, from Tallahassee to South Florida. I’ve been to each and every city that a mass shooting has taken place in this state.

I’m not calling for gun law reform nor mental health reform. I don’t ask for new legislation to take place right now. What I ask for first is national self-reflection and for every American to ask themselves the question: Do I want to live in a nation where this kind of thing is normal?

This story was originally published July 28, 2015 at 8:18 PM with the headline "Mass shootings."