The Orlando shooting is NOT about the gun.

I am not someone who likes to post about "hot topics" on social media. It creates too much drama, and I try to dodge enough of that in my "real life," I don't need it on the interwebs. But there has been a lot of talk about gun control after the Orlando shooting.

First, let me say how deeply grieved I am that precious lives were lost, and that my heart is hurting for the friends and family of those victims-- I cannot imagine the pain and the fear that they may be feeling right now. And I want to say that I am so sorry. There are no words that can undo what has happened and the lives that were lost. Nothing that will take this pain away. This was an act of injustice and a cruelty beyond measure. There is absolutely NO way to justify this shooting,as there never is for any shooting. This world needs a lot more love to go around, and a lot less hate and terrorism.

Secondly, I want to offer the LGBTQ community an apology on behalf of the Christians. I
am sorry for how you have been treated. For the words that have been said to you. And the disapproving looks you have received. We have been in the wrong. And I am sorry for that same people who have passed these judgments and given you those glares in the past are #prayingforOrlando now. We should offer you love at all times. And pray for you at all times. Not just when there is deep hurt and deep loss happening.

I serve a God of love and grace and forgiveness and mercy. He always welcomes home a wayward son. He wants to meet you with open arms. And while the Bible teaches against what you believe and live does not mean that I am not commanded and led to show you that same love and grace and forgiveness and mercy that my Father gives to me. The Bible gives Christians two commandments that are above all else--- to love God and to love others. To love God AND to love OTHERS. It does not say "to love others, unless..." It simply says to love them. And the Bible is not talking about just some plain love-- the kind of love that you refer to when you are saying how much you love pizza or doughnuts-- it is talking about Christ- like love-- agape love. An unconditional love. A love that does not have ANY prerequisites or standards.

The church may have hurt you deeply in any number of ways. But they may have thrown the "sin" card in your face (and while sin is an important thing to be aware of and to repent of it is not the first thing we should tell someone to draw them into love. You were not "scared" into salvation, if you were I am sorry. I was shown love and grace and then learned about sin and repentance not long after). Anyhow, if the church has hurt you, I am so sorry. As a Christian I am appalled that Christians throw shade before showering you with love, because I know that I need the love and grace of Jesus just as much, if not more, than you do.

Lastly, these are the words that I fear are going to get a lot of bad "mojo" sent my way... there has been a lot of talk about gun rights and restricting those rights, etc...

But... a gun is a gun, just as a pen is a pen. Both objects can be used to hurt and kill others, but neither one of those things will hurt or kill others without someone picking it up and using it for that manner.

I am a gun owner and I have a permit to conceal and carry. My gun has never hurt anyone, and it never will unless I pick it up because I feel as if my life is in immediate and serious danger. And I feel as if I have the right to own that gun.

It pains me to know that guns have been used to kill innocent people. To commit horrific acts of terrorism. Guns should be used for very few things in life-- to hunt, the protect yourself if your person is in immediate and serious danger, and the occasional shooting at the range to train and brushen up your skills.

Do I believe that background checks should be done to buy a firearm? ABSOLUTELY. Do I think that an EXTENSIVE background check should be done? YES, YES, YES! Am I for those who are one terrorist watch list should not be allowed to purchase a firearm? That's where it gets tricky--- the terrorist watch list consists of first and last names. I know people who have he same first and last name . Several of them actually. And so if someone has the same name as a person on the terrorist watch list they cannot buy a gun.

In example, if my law-abiding, permit-owning, friend, Sarah Smith wants to buy a firearm for self defense (because she was raped, assaulted, she feels a threat of that sort, or she just wants to be cautious), but Sarah Smith three states over is on the terrorist watch list, my friend cannot purchase that firearm for self defense.

In Pennsylvania you are required to have an ID that has your name, picture, birthday, and a few other details to even undergo background checks to purchase a firearm (I an unfamiliar with other state policies). Why can't the terrorist watch list include a birth-date, a social, something to decrease the denial of rights to law abiding Sarah Smith, but restrict those rights of suspected terrorist Sarah Smith?

The Orlando shooting is NOT about the gun. Not even by the skin of the teeth. It was an act of violence, of hate, of fear, of terrorism. An injustice done. It is about grieving those precious, precious lives and souls of those victims. About tending to those wounds and showing love-- lots and lots of love during this trying time for friends and families of those lost. Let's come together as a community, no matter how diverse in belief or appearance, come together and grieve together.

Give hugs and dry tears. Affirm pain and just show up for those in the LGBTQ community-- no matter where you are.