It does not take much to shake the security of the nation. Ever since terrorism first sprouted in America, the fears of shattered citizens resurface swiftly when other acts of violence occur.
On Sept. 16, only five days after the 12th anniversary of the day terrorism struck our families and nation, there was another mass shooting in Washington, D.C.
More than six were killed and several wounded. Violence struck again. Terrorism was revived. Americans became fearful once more.
Patricia Ward, a witness, told USA Today she heard three consecutive gunshots, then, after a lapse of 30 seconds, she heard four more shots.
The shooter and a police officer had a confrontation with each other, resulting in the death of the shooter and injuries to the officer, according to Cathy Lanier, the Washington Metropolitan police chief.
Although the Washington, D.C. shooting was not declared terrorism, and was not as deadly as 9/11, it happened in the capitol of the United States just two miles from the White House at the Navy Ship Yard.
It was another in a long line of shootings. Since the beginning of 2012, numerous incidents of violence happened throughout the nation.
On July 20, 2012, James Holmes, 24, entered a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado and, according to ABC News, shot fathers, mothers and children enjoying the movie “The Dark Knight Rises.” Twelve people lost their lives and dozens lost their loved ones.
Nearly five months later on Dec. 14, the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy happened in Newtown, Connecticut. Adam Lanza, 20, openly terrorized a school and psychologically scarred hundreds of young children.
According to CNN, 20 students and six adults were shot and killed by this man after he forcefully barged in through the locked door of the school.
CNN reporting indicated Lanza targeted kindergarteners and first graders, and shot any faculty who got in his way trying to save children.
On April 1 of this year two bombs ignited at the Boston Marathon. The suspects were Tamerlan Tsarnaev, who was killed during the aftermath, and his 19-year-old brother Dzhokhar.
CNN says the bombs exploded near the finish line, instantly transforming an exciting, happy event into a bloody, fearful place of ruin.
At least 140 people were hospitalized, 25 in serious condition. At least 10 of the wounded victims had limbs amputated, according to CNN, and as a result their lives were drastically altered.
Beyond these mass tragedies that unfold far too often, we are still faced with violence on a regular basis.
Even children who are not victims of these tragic events are exposed to violence daily — in video games, phone applications, and sports such as wrestling and football. Society is constantly telling our children violence is acceptable.
Children are the future. The experiences they face while they are young could influence them, positively and/or negatively. Yet members of society continually impinge upon the future, our security, and the well being of our children.
America does not want terrorism, violence, or mass murder. Yet we do not negotiate on gun control laws. Yet, we allow our children to watch violent movies and TV shows and to play violent video games. Yet we watch as the next generation is regularly exposed to violence, and we hope that they won’t make that violence a reality someday.