Another day, another horrific mass shooting to wake up to that makes you question everything we’re doing as a nation. Last night, a lone gunman opened fire on an outdoor concert in Las Vegas, killing 50 people and injuring 400. The shooter, Stephen Paddock, died of self-inflicted gunshot wounds before police could apprehend him.
So yeah, here we are again. And since we obviously can’t count on the president during times like this, we’re all going to have to step up. Here are some ways you can help the victims in Las Vegas that do not involve tweeting the words “Thoughts and prayers”:
1. If you are in the Las Vegas area, United Blood Services will be taking donations at two locations: 6930 W. Charleston in Las Vegas and 601 Whitney Ranch Drive in Henderson. The United Medical Hospital will also be hosting a blood drive at its Delta Point Building at 901 Rancho Lane, time TBD.
2. If you’re not in the area, you can donate to the Southern Nevada chapter of the American Red Cross, or the National Compassion Fund, which distributes donations to victims of mass crime.
3. If you want to use your money towards making sure these types of tragedies stop happening all the time, consider donating to Everytown, the Coalition To Stop Gun Violence, the Brady Campaign, or another anti-gun violence organization.
4. If you are a human in the United States and are horrified by what took place yesterday, make your voice heard. Call your representatives and demand common sense gun legislation. It is the only way to truly stop these massacres from happening. Open carry, concealed weapons, and machine guns are all legal in Nevada, and gun owners do not need a license or a permit to carry. Maybe let’s start with fixing that?
You can reach The House of Representatives switchboard at 202-224-3121. As we speak, the House is considering legislation to ease rules on gun silencers, which law enforcement officers believe would make it harder to identify where gunfire is coming from during a mass shooting.
Take some time today to call your representative and nicely (or not nicely) let them know why that’s bullshit.
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