I had just gotten in from a walk at Stone Mountain Park yesterday
afternoon when I flipped on the TV. Normally it’s on CW 69 but I was watching
the documentary OJ Simpson: Made in
America the night before. Had it not been for that, I would have missed the
breaking news even though it would end up looping all day long as I am not
known for watching the news. “50 dead [including the shooter] and 53 injured in
Orlando Gay Nightclub shooting.” I dropped to my knees in front the tv in
shock. “What the heck,” I though. What in the world happened? As I stayed in
that position, mostly because I literally could not move, those questions and
more were answered. Apparently a lone gunman, Omar Mateen, went into Pulse
Nightclub in Orlando, Florida and open fire on the occupants. Future reporting called it “the worst mass shooting in modern history”,
“the worst act of terrorism on American
soil since Sept. 11, 2001”, and “the
deadliest attack on a gay target in the nation’s history”.
Listening to President Obama speak on the shooting brought
some comfort but not much as he said the FBI was investigating the matter and
all available resources were being used to get more information about the
shooter/shooting. However it looks like the FBI had already had several run-ins
with Mr. Mateen. News report listed several troubling incidents where the FBI
was investigating Mr. Mateen but dropped their investigation. They also report he exhibited some violence towards his ex-wife. 
I may be wrong but it seems to me like all the individuals
who were responsible for mass shooting all had some sort of run-in with authorities
prior to the fatal day of their crime spree, i.e., Columbine shooters, movie
theater shooter, Boston bombing, etc. Maybe the FBI need to start taking these
“encounters” more seriously and not just dismiss the interest. If an individual popped up on their radar and it is enough for them to investigate them, then maybe they need
to keep some sort of surveillance going until they are 100 percent certain these
individuals do not serve a threat. Apparently their suspicions were not baseless and had they kept then under surveillance they may have been able to prevent these tragedy. Authorities need to try to figure out a way to nip these
type incidents in the bud. I know they can’t know without a shadow of a doubt whether
or not a person serves an immediate threat, but they need to look closer at
potential suspects and do due diligence to deter these type of incidents. I
would prefer they exhaust every resource available to curtail and detain a
suspect than to have to live with the aftermath that not doing that due
diligence brings about.
What is puzzling to me is how the shooter was able to get
through security with his weapons. I’ve only been to clubs here in Georgia, but
it’s been my experience that most club have some sort of security check in
place to catch people who carry weapons on their person. Maybe this club did not have that type
screening in place but it seems that all clubs in the nation need to take a page
from this incident and put in place a screening protocol to ensure this type
incident does not occur. 
We have become a nation of “re-actors” instead of “pro-actors”.
It only takes one tragedy for authorities to take note and make a change. How
many more people have to die before something is done to help deter these type
of incidents? If we were asleep thinking this cannot happen in a club, this is
a wake-up call to everyone to be more vigilant and watch out for not just
yourself but for others around you. Right now we are not safe anywhere. Not our
homes, not in schools, not in churches, not at the movie theaters, and now we
can add nightclubs to that list. The phrase - “I am my brother’s keeper” - is
more relevant now more so than ever. We have to look out for each other and do
what we can to keep each other safe.
My heartfelt prayers and condolences go out to the victims
and their family of the Orlando Nightclub tragedy. I pray that as a nation we come together to devise
a plan to prevent these type of senseless killing. If we don’t, it will only be a matter of time
before it reaches your door. I’m Just Saying. I got issues – what about you?)i(
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