After the tragedy in Las Vegas, I’ve found it hard to express the sadness I feel for the country. It’s difficult to fathom why we haven’t passed better gun legislation, given all of the mass killings the US has suffered in the last 10 years alone. It’s common sense.
Jimmy Kimmel said it so well in his monologue. It isn’t about gun legislation. IT’S COMMON SENSE.
No one is coming for my uncle’s hunting rifle or the hand gun my wife keeps by the bed. That’s not the problem. The problem – aside from the incredible disrespect people have for human life – is that we’ve made it the norm, even encouraged, for gun enthusiasts to buy assault rifles and modifiers that allow those rifles to mimic machine guns.
I’m SO SICK of hearing people defend guns. Was it the individual’s fault? Absolutely. Is it okay for any civilian to own 49 weapons?! NO. How about thousands of rounds of ammunition and 12 rifles rigged for rapid fire. FUCK NO.
It’s the immediate fault of the terrorist, but we – as a society – make it relatively easy for these fuckers to get their hands on guns with the capacity to kill 59 and injure 500+ in just 11 minutes. That’s not a handgun for protection or a rifle for deer hunting.
So let’s act. Take some time today to write your Representatives and Senators to demand COMMON SENSE gun legislation. Here’s a few common sense ideas:
- Require universal background checks. Did you know you can order a gun online or purchase one at a show without a background check?
- Impose a limit on the amount of guns and ammunition one can purchase in a certain time period. No one needs 49 rifles and thousands of round of ammo for deer season.
- Restrict the mentally ill and those convicted of abuse from buying guns. If you’re beating your wife or have schizophrenia… probably don’t need a gun.
- Raise the age to buy a gun to 21. I don’t know about you, but at 18 I could’ve done a lot less damage with a beer than I could have with a gun.
- Ban assault rifles and bump-fire stock. You’re not in combat in Afghanistan. You don’t need that shit.
- Make it harder to get a gun than an abortion. Seriously ya’ll. I thought these mo fos were pro life?!
These are basic, common sense protections I hope all reasonable people can all agree on. It won’t be a magic cure, but it’s a start. It’s better than nothing, which is what we’ve done in the past.
[Tweet “It isn’t about gun legislation. IT’S COMMON SENSE. #gunsense”]
I don’t really feel like doing this today, but let’s pretend the world hasn’t lost its mind and have a normal-ish #WIAW party. Check out my day of eats below, and be sure to link up to Jenn’s WIAW baby at the bottom.
Breakfast:
As per usual, Vegas brought me coffee to bed. After checking some email, I come downstairs to make our morning cocktails.
Breakfast was an old favorite: Sweet Potato Chia Pudding. It legit tastes like pie filling.
Here’s how you do it:
- 1/4 large sweet potato, baked
- 1 T chia seeds
- 1 scoop vanilla pea protein powder
- 1/2 C unsweetened coconut milk (or other liquid)
- 2 tsp tahini
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/8 tsp ginger
- 2-3 drops vanilla stevia
- Shake of salt
- Pinch cloves
In a bowl, mash up the sweet potato until it’s smooth-ish. Mix in the other ingredients and refrigerate at least 1 hour (or overnight). If it’s too thick, add more milk or water as needed.
FYI: This also works well with pumpkin.
Lunch:
I spent the morning cooking, so I used what I was making: eggplant “bacon” and zucchini hummus. (Recipes to come later.) Plus a bunch of veggies and La Croix.
Snack:
A quickie before the gym: fresh fig with tahini. I’m on a tahini bender.
I posted the workout and a sweet booty move on Instagram. (Sweet because it ends in a kissy face.)
Dinner:
Before dinner I had a smoothie bowl, but that was less interesting. Dinner was a homemade veggie burger and a GIANT salad. It was tasty. If I can motivate to take pics, that recipe may get posted soon-ish!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BZxPiMLnFhU/
[Tweet “Check out the #WIAW link up!”]
***
Let’s also not forget about Puerto Rico. There are now 34 dead and 95% of the island is still without power.
Did you notice anything weird (for me) about my day of eats?
Have you ever been to Vegas? We stayed right next to the concert venue at the Tropicana a couple weeks ago.
Peace and love, friend! And well said. I’m just praying 2018 turns out better than 2017, because we all really need it, to say the least. And on the food note, I love the flavors you’ve got going on here. Plus, figs are so good! I eat them everyday, usually dried, though. 🙂
Same here… and now half of California is on fire. 🙁
I know exactly what you mean. it’s hard to keep writing like nothing happened when something so horrible, tragic and surreal just occurred. So many people I know where there too for a wedding industry conference which made it hit even closer to home, I still can’t believe the whole thing.
That is so true. How terrible you knew people there! Vegas and I checked on out people there and, thankfully, no one was at the concert. It’s just so unbelievable…
I could not agree MORE!!!! Make it stop!! You would think after the horrific tragedy CT suffered at Sandy Hook there would have been huge changes made but you wouldn’t believe the amount of pro-gun bullshit – – to a fault – – in this state. It’s terrifying, especially so because we have an absolute buffoon in the white house.
When nothing changed after Sandy Hook… I just can’t imagine what it will take for people to wake up. The moron I went to high school with thinks it was a HOAX?! WTF?!
I know this isn’t a popular opinion, but I think all guns should be illegal.
I don’t necessarily disagree!
Very well said! I think all of your points are spot on! Living in Ct and being so close to the sandy hook incident I’m just disgusted more hasn’t been done!
Thanks Patrick! It just doesn’t make sense to me that it’s so easy to get such powerful weaponry as a civilian.
Totally agree. As someone who grew up in Canada and now live in the US I am still shocked at how prevalent the guns are here. I remember being in a Verizon store soon after I moved and seeing a regular citizen in front of me in line with a gun on his belt. Who needs a gun at a Verizon store??? It is shocking to look at the statistics of gun deaths between the two countries. Hopefully the US can start to implement strict legislation but I have a feeling it probably won’t happen with this administration 🙁
It’s insane. I seriously doubt it’ll ever change… but I’m trying to do my part!
I could not agree more! It truly is just common sense. I can’t even imagine what the victims and families affected are going through. It breaks my heart. I also think we have a lack of diagnosing or acknowledging mental health issues.
And no meat or fish, definitely weird for you! I definitely need that sweet potato chia seed pudding, that sounds amazing!
You’re right on the mental health too. The funny thing is… the same people screaming that it’s not the gun’s fault also want to limit healthcare. *eye roll*
You’re the first to notice!!! I’m going vegan for 10 days. The struggle is real!
There aren’t really any words, besides what you’ve said here. It is just bloody common sense, and I for one just don’t understand it. This is all perfectly said, Laura. Thank you as always for being brave and speaking truth.
Thank Cora. It’s just gone too far now. We can’t afford to be silent.
Thank you for this post – I love it, and I couldn’t agree more.
BTW – that fig and tahini is right up my alley – YUM!
Thank you, Marina!
I saw something on Twitter that listed gun regulations for buying a gun as if they were the requirements to get an abortion (like walk through a crowd of people holding signs showing family members who were killed, get permission from 2 other individuals, etc. ) It made me smile, but also showed how ridiculous it is that abortion is so highly regulated and gun purchases are not.
Oh yeah. And Sudafed. Try buying more than one of those! It’s ridiculous.
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts. I found myself nodding along as I read. I feel like every time I turn on the TV or read the news, on some level, it’s, like, “How is this real?”
Thanks Jess. It’s so sad, but it’s becoming the new norm. We have to come together to stop it!
I wanted to text you on Monday, but it was just hard. I think we all just needed to sit back and pray and connect with those that were there. I am SO glad you weren’t there. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. <3
We have to do something this time. This is way out of control… yet people would rather have the right to buy an assault rifle they don’t need than take steps to prevent it.
we had several friends and family call us to make sure we weren’t there. we so easily could have been. I am glad you two weren’t there.
when I can buy a gun easier than I can buy Sudafed, there’s a problem.
thank you for this. I am too raw right now (we know someone who was injured, and someone who did not make it), but as soon as I can compose myself to not sob or scream, I will be making phone calls, you can count on it. as you can see by my words now, I am scattered.
in addition to the items you listed, we need term limits. we need to remove lobbyists – take away their ability to buy politicians agendas. I am fired up and people will hear from me.
I’m glad you guys weren’t there too! It’s just insane… all of it. We’re pro-life, yet you can get guns to kill dozens much easier than more than one pack of Sudafed. It’s asinine.
And YES on the term limits. Thought you know that’ll never happen.
Girl, you know that I am on board with everything you’ve said in this post. I understand that plenty of people own guns that aren’t total nut jobs, but for the good of society we’ve got to start imposing some new rules… otherwise this craziness is going to continue to happen. Don’t you find it ironic that with all of this ‘BUILD THE WALL’ and anti-immigrant rhetoric in politics and society these days, the most deadly mass shooting in our history is from some retired white dude with no record and no known motive? It could be anyone, which is why we need further regulations.
On a lighter note, YAY for. veggie burgers! I haven’t made homemade ones in awhile – need to get on that.
I’m beside myself that there are people who STILL argue against additional regulations. Morons. 😉
I must admit, folks here in Australia are looking at America and yelling the same thing- ‘surely it’s just common sense on how you can fix this?’. Now I didnt grow up with the right to bare arms being so ingrained in society so I know it would be so hard to change but I am so glad to hear folk speaking out, it has to stop!
I think we should do what Australia did and just take them all up!
Oh my goodness. I’ve seen several posts on social media about calling for gun bans and people responded “This is insensitive timing.” If that’s insensitive timing, then was it insensitive timing when they increased airport security immediately after 9.11? Seriously
RIGHT?! It’s insensitive NOT to talk about it now.
No meat. That’s what’s weird for you. You ate vegetarian for the day. 🙂
You’re right!!! 😉
I think what we don’t focus enough on is MENTAL HEALTH. I truly believe PEOPLE KILL PEOPLE… Guns don’t kill people. But maybe that’s just me? Any who. No one in their RIGHT MIND would kill people. Crazy people who need psychological evaulation and help… THEY might! UGH.
Yes, we need better healthcare, but that’s obviously not going to happen these days. Also, people with said mental health issues shouldn’t be allowed to buy guns. And NO ONE should have 49. Jesus.
Preach sister, preach.
Can we also make bullets $7,000 each? That would certainly change things. This was a Chris Rock suggestion long ago and I fully agree.
Another good idea! Or just quit making bullets…
Amen, I don’t see how people can even argue it anymore and say it there right.
When the declaration was written they were loading single shot gun with gun powder,, not crazy semi-automatic weapons.
Nobody needs that!!!
I get so freaking ANGRY!!!
I don’t get it either… but they certainly are vocal right about now.
I think they could see such weaponry existing. What I don’t think they foresaw the world becoming so rapidly industrialized that these weapons could be found outside regulated armies… in the hands of (irresponsible) individuals.
People are allowed to have ONE gun in Switzerland. So far, we haven’t had any incidents like this. Go figure. We might not be the perfect country, but I feel that when we look over to the US, it all feels like these are little kids stuck in a bad action movie, forgetting that this is the real world. As you said, COMMON SENSE.
I don’t understand why people “need” to have so many. It’s senseless. Yet another reason to move to Switzerland. 😉
I was watching the Today Show a couple days after this happened and they had a 15 minute long segment on hotel security. Like, sent a guy “undercover” to show how easy it was to just check into a hotel and not have his bags checked kind of shit. I wanted to throw my coffee mug at the TV I was so mad. How is it “too soon” to talk about guns after something like this, but it’s not at all too soon to round up hotel execs and ask them how they plan to increase their security?! WTF?!
I totally agree with everything you just said. I avoided saying too much about it on my blog because I was so spitting mad I had to erase most of the profanity-ridden rants I’d started to type. Preach on, sister.
LOL! I’ve had more than one profanity-laced rant on Facebook. I just can’t understand people anymore. Gun violence, Puerto Rico, the friggin’ NFL… use some COMMON SENSE!!! Lawd.