But could we possibly do away with the handguns and pistols and assault rifles? Unless you're hunting for food or sport, in designated areas, why the fuck does anyone need to own a gun? Why are people allowed to own a pistol or shotgun or AK47? I'd love to know.

I am devastated that a little girl and five others are dead, a congresswoman and thirteen others clinging to life, because someone who was deemed too unstable to join the military or attend community college was apparently stable enough to purchase and carry a gun. He brought it into his school and actually caused fellow students to fear for their lives.

Discussions of political violent rhetoric aside, the question of why people are able to purchase guns and carry them, concealed, is paramount. I know the issue intimately; in 2006, a man walked into a college in my city and opened fire on the students. An 18 year-old woman was shot and killed because she went to class that day, a woman some of my friends went to school with and knew well. The murderer used a semi-automatic weapon to injure 19 other people before turning the gun on himself. It was later discovered he owned not one but several guns.

Why did he have access to assault rifles and shotguns? That's a good fucking question!

We need to rid of the guns. When we see for ourselves the damage they inflict on people, on entire cities of people, on an entire nation, we must call for action together. It starts with changing the system so that one cannot simply walk into a Wal-Mart and buy a gun and bullets with little to no background check. It starts with asking why people want and/or need guns in the first place. Why do people feel so unsafe?

We are essentially handing people the tools to hurt others. It's fucked up. It's completely ludicrous, and something needs to be done about it!

Four years ago I was living in an apartment in the city with two of my friends and working Monday to Friday, 9 to 5, at a Subway restaurant about ten blocks from my apartment. I had decided to take a year off to work out what I wanted to do with my life after high school because I'd spent the previous year in a college program I pretty much hated.

There's a lot I don't remember about September 13th, 2006. But there's a lot I do.

It was a Wednesday morning. I woke up at about 9 am, showered, and got dressed for work. I went into the kitchen to make myself some breakfast, and I noticed one of my roommates, and my best friend, Chara, wasn't out of bed yet. I knew her class started at 10, and I thought maybe she overslept, so I knocked on the door to check. I distinctly remember that I stuck my head around the swinging door, and that she told me she wasn't feeling well but she was going to try to make it to her class at 1:00pm.

I left for work.

I don't remember my morning shift at all.

( Read the rest under the cut. )

An Open Letter to Chris Brown:


So, I just found this article that explained that you, Chris Brown, have taken a plea to your somehow still existent fanbase, asking for their help in getting your music back on the radio. I, for one, was quite happy when my local radio station boycotted your music in support of Rihanna, and I would not like to see that decision reversed.

Look, dude. You beat Rihanna. Not just once. This wasn't an on-the-whim slap across the face or a shove (both of which would be unacceptable as well, in my opinion); you punched her multiple times, bit her, attempted to strangle her before she was able to escape, and left her stranded on the side of the road, beaten and bloody with no way to get help. I seriously don't see how anyone could possibly want to listen to your music knowing all that; I feel physically sick to my stomach when I hear your voice and/or see your face. You gave one emotionless, long-after-the-fact apology, did not own up to what you did, came away from the trial with community fucking service, and now here you are, barely a year later, begging your fans to get your music back on the airwaves.

Listen up, moron. You have millions of dollars. What the fuck are you whining about? Go away! Disappear for five, maybe ten years. You're only 21 years old! People are still mad at you, and they haven't forgotten what you did. It's going to take more than a measly 12 months and too little too late apology to undo what you did, and frankly, the way you're handling all of this gives me the distinct impression that you are not really overly sorry about what you did to Rihanna except for the fact that you singlehandedly killed your career that night.

So, please. I am going to ask you nicely. Could you please go away?

And, because I don't feel like asking nicely, FUCK THE FUCK OFF!

-

And to the ridiculously ignorant Chris Brown fans who say:

-Oh, but he really is sorry, let's forgive and forget!
-Hey, Rihanna must have done something to provoke the attack...
-Chris Brown makes good music!
-Rihanna deserved what she got; she had it coming to her.

FOR THE GOOD OF HUMANKIND, DO NOT REPRODUCE AND SHUT THE FUCK UP.

Here's what I have to say to those bullshit comments:

-Chris Brown is not truly sorry for what he did to Rihanna. He is certainly not sorry enough. If he were, he wouldn't be worrying about his fucking music career. He'd be making up for what he's done by going around to high schools and talking to students about what he did and how negatively abuse effects relationships and people, and you know what? He'd go to fucking jail and do the time he should have done!
-LISTEN UP! It is NEVER OKAY to repeatedly punch and try to kill your boyfriend/girlfriend/spouse/significant other. Or ANYONE, for fuck's sake. Violence is never, ever acceptable. Do not support violence by supporting people who condone violence with their actions. Hold these people accountable for their behaviour.
-Being a good artist does not give you the right or privilege to hurt other people. It does not give you immunity to be a complete fucking asshole, or worse, a CRIMINAL. Come on. Don't be a fuck-up.
-If you believe that anyone deserves what Chris Brown did to Rihanna, you seriously need help. I will not even provide that bullshit with an argument. In North America we practice freedom of speech, but just because you CAN say something, doesn't mean you SHOULD. If you seriously believe that any individual in an abusive relationship deserves to be abused and has it coming to them, you are evil to the core.

Please don't support violence.



Sincerely,
Nikki