If one is paying attention to the world and the United States today, they might wonder if the end is near – it may just be.

As I awakened Sunday I was confronted with the news of another mass shooting in our country. More than 50 innocent people were killed and another 50 plus seriously injured from gun violence in an American city that is home to what is referred to as “the happiest place on earth.” Was this an act of terrorism by Omar Mateen due to his faith, ideological beliefs, personal bias, pure evil, hatred, or radicalization by ISIS? Were the guns he used legally purchased or do we even know from where he got them? These are questions that are yet to be answered, but since Mateen is dead, will we ever really know?

When acts of violence such as this happen we shake our heads, look for answers, Tweet, and post on Facebook our disapproval, but little is done to make a positive change about gun violence in America. Fighting ISIS and other terrorist groups and the “lone wolves” is a part of the problem, too many guns is another.

The Orlando shooting is one thing, but what about the children and young people who are shot every day in Chicago? Has the taking of life become such common practice that we are becoming immune to killings when they happen to one or two people, such as in cities like Chicago, but surprised when it is more? Is gun violence something that is now measured by the numbers shot and killed rather than the number of guns used?

This is not about the 2nd Amendment, it is not about taking away guns from responsible gun owners, it’s about the number and types of guns available. In the state of Florida there is a law being considered to allow for open carry of guns in public places; and Florida is not the only state considering this. We need better security, yes, but we also need reasonable and enforceable gun laws.

GOP Presidential “presumptive” nominee, Donald Trump, believes there should be fewer laws to include “no more gun free zones.” Trump has gone on record of saying; “The gun-free zones are target practice for the sickos and for the mentally ill. They look for gun-free zones I think gun-free zones are a catastrophe. They’re a feeding frenzy for sick people.”

Trump says Hillary Clinton wants to do away with the 2nd Amendment, when in fact she doesn’t. Clinton has been clear on her position. She said, “As President, I’ll take on the gun lobby and fight for commonsense reforms to keep guns away from terrorists, domestic abusers, and other violent criminals including comprehensive background checks and closing loopholes that allow guns to fall into the wrong hands. I know we are a smart enough nation to figure out how you protect responsible gun owners’ rights and get guns out of the hands of people who shouldn’t have them”

But it is more than gun control. We need to find a way to keep our country and citizens safe; that includes protecting us against terrorist groups such as ISIS. We can’t do that with hate filled rhetoric, and we can’t do it by refusing to call it what it is.

Trump said, “Let me tell you what I would do. I would, they have great money because they have oil. They have much oil. I would, every place where they have oil, I would knock the hell out of them and I would put boots on the ground in those areas. I would take the oil. What you’re doing is you’re cutting off a big portion of their money source. The other part of their money source, by the way, happens to be banks. Money is flowing in through banks in Saudi Arabia and other places. You have to cut that off. But, I would knock out the source of their wealth. The primary source of their wealth which is oil. And in order to do that, you would have to put boots – I would knock the hell out of them, but I would put a ring around it and take the oil for our country. I would just take the oil.”

Taking the oil sounds logical, but what about boots on the ground? Are we ready for another war in the Middle East?

While Hillary might have a problem calling ISIS what it is – radical Islamists, she has a real plan. Hillary told ABC News, “Bluster and bigotry are not credentials for becoming commander-in-chief.” She has called for the leaders of Silicon Valley to “take an active role in the dismantling of the terrorist network’s communication operation.” She has said she will take the fight to ISIS and defeat them at their very core of operations.

As I see it, we have two issues: (1) too many guns with fewer enforceable gun laws, and (2) Identifying and keeping vulnerable individuals from joining ISIS and screening visa applicants traveling to or communicating with individuals who had been to an Islamic State-controlled area in the last five years. These may seem like simplistic answers, but they would be a start.

Whether the most recent mass killing was a product of lax gun regulation or ISIS radicalization or by a lone wolf, it was a terrorist attack on vulnerable and innocent Americans. We need to allow the FBI and local law enforcement to do their jobs. The manner in which this violent act is dealt with matters; it matters to the victims, the perpetrator, the country and the world. While we should not rush to judgment, we should do everything possible to ensure justice. Our leaders, and those campaigning to become our President must not become complicit nor complacent – this scourge on our country, realistic gun laws must be in place and enforced, ISIS, must be defeated, or it will surely destroy our communities, our country and the world, else the evil it has imposed on the innocent is truly a harbinger of what will be our future.

Pray for the innocents.

Have a great day.

Vicki Westling is a Dunkirk resident. Send comments to editorial@observertoday.com