Opinions are my own

As a reporter, I spend most of my time typing up fact-based reports that would, on occasion, directly quote someone who wants to share his or her opinion.

My reporting  reflects an unbiased account of events or decisions. Even if someone throws in their opinion on the issue at hand, it should not – in any way – point to my own personal stance on a topic. It’s the way of the journalism industry.

When I have to listen and watch CNN’s coverage of the San Bernardino, California massacre (because that’s what’s on in the newsroom), it’s difficult to keep my mouth shut.

I rarely have free time to express my stance on issues.

And that’s why I have this blog.

Do I think it’s OK for someone to wake up one day and decide to kill?

No.

Do I think it’s a global responsibility to fight terrorism as well as massacres like the Colorado Springs shooting and the planned parenthood attack?

Yes.

If you want a closer look at reported shootings in the U.S. from 1984 to 2015, the Los Angeles Times compiled the most deadliest mass shootings in the U.S. and created a timeline on its website.

According to the timeline, 46 notable shootings occurred in the U.S. since 1984. Twenty eight of which happened in the past decade, killing 240 plus people. Eighteen were reported from 1984 to 2003, killing 152.

But there are figure discrepancies coming from media outlets who are recounting past shootings.

To say the least, the U.S. faces threats on two fronts – mass shootings on U.S. soil and a global threat of terrorism, defined as “the use of violence and threats to intimidate or coerce, especially for political purposes; the state of fear and submission produced by terrorism or terrorization; or a terroristic method of governing or of resisting a government.”

I know they say not to fully trust Wikipedia, but I think this accurately shows the size of what the world is dealing with in terms of terrorism.

The post shows 298 global terrorist attacks have occurred from Jan. 1 to Nov. 20. Scroll through and take a look.

Acts of terror, or violence, isn’t new to anyone.

It’s horrific and stomach churning. Yet, I haven’t seen someone step up and make a change.

Instead, I’m seeing politicians pointing fingers calling on states enacting stricter gun laws, which could potentially disarm U.S. citizens and reject their Constitutional right to “keep and bear arms.”

Meanwhile, we have a potential terrorist attack out of California from a claimed radical.

Why blame the one thing that could potentially protect us from these mass murders and terrorist attacks? Why not encourage the right as equally as voting?

These are questions that run through my head every time I watch the news.

Yes. I support the right to own a gun because I believe in patriotism. I’m not saying lets hand out guns to anyone who goes searching for one, but we shouldn’t take that right away from everyone because a select few are afraid.

Call it what you will. I know where I stand, but that doesn’t mean you need to stand with me.

I haven’t seen a benefit in pointing fingers other than at the attackers themselves. I’ve heard the same thing for the past 10 years, and nothing has changed.