Dear Readers,

If you are a regular reader of my blog, you will know I typically shy away from the subjects that are volatile such as gun control or other politically charged topics but I have been thinking about what to write since Sunday and I have to write about this.

My heart aches for the people who were killed because of hate. It’s as simple and as complex as that. I hate that it’s possible, and even becoming commonplace. Like so many things in society, when it happens over and over the sad thing is that we become inured to the horror that something like this can happen. It is happening over and over again.

We all love the people we love for whatever reason we love them, should that really be a reason to lose your life?  I don’t want to put the spotlight on the person who killed those 49 innocent people so I am not publishing his name or anything else about him. I will however post the names of those people who are dead because someone decided they didn’t like their lifestyle and opted to play GOD. While you mourn, please remember that the names on this list could just as easily be you or me, or your wife, or your husband or your partner and the city could be your city. Let’s all remember to be kind to each other and ask questions when we don’t understand something. I think the opportunity to understand each other and love each other is there every day and sometimes it takes a senseless tragedy like this to make us realize it.

Stanley Almodovar III, 23 years old

Amanda Alvear, 25 years old

Oscar A Aracena-Montero, 26 years old

Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala, 33 years old

Antonio Davon Brown, 29 years old

Darryl Roman Burt II, 29 years old

Angel L. Candelario-Padro, 28 years old

Juan Chevez-Martinez, 25 years old

Luis Daniel Conde, 39 years old

Cory James Connell, 21 years old

Tevin Eugene Crosby, 25 years old

Deonka Deidra Drayton, 32 years old

Simon Adrian Carrillo Fernandez, 31 years old

Leroy Valentin Fernandez, 25 years old

Mercedez Marisol Flores, 26 years old

Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz, 22 years old

Juan Ramon Guerrero, 22 years old

Paul Terrell Henry, 41 years old

Frank Hernandez, 27 years old

Miguel Angel Honorato, 30 years old

Javier Jorge-Reyes, 40 years old

Jason Benjamin Josaphat, 19 years old

Eddie Jamoldroy Justice, 30 years old

Anthony Luis Laureanodisla, 25 years old

Christopher Andrew Leinonen, 32 years old

Alejandro Barrios Martinez, 21 years old

Brenda Lee Marquez McCool, 49 years old

Gilberto Ramon Silva Menendez, 25 years old

Kimberly Morris, 37 years old

Akyra Monet Murray, 18 years old

Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, 20 years old

Geraldo A. Ortiz-Jimenez, 25 years old

Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, 36 years old

Joel Rayon Paniagua, 32 years old

Jean Carlos Mendez Perez, 35 years old

Enrique L. Rios, Jr., 25 years old

Jean C. Nives Rodriguez, 27 years old

Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado, 35 years old

Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz, 24 years old

Yilmary Rodriguez Solivan, 24 years old

Edward Sotomayor Jr., 34 years old

Shane Evan Tomlinson, 33 years old

Martin Benitez Torres, 33 years old

Jonathan Antonio Camuy Vega, 24 years old

Juan P. Rivera Velazquez, 37 years old

Luis S. Vielma, 22 years old

Franky Jimmy Dejesus Velazquez, 50 years old

Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon, 37 years old

Jerald Arthur Wright, 31 years old

THINK ABOUT IT.

I can’t speak for you, but as for me, I am going to do some research and see what I can do about becoming involved in greater restrictions on guns or if there is anything else I can do. Thinking about it, is no longer enough for me. Is it enough for you?