On Sunday June 1 the world woke up to sombering news. A Florida resident, Omar Mateen, gunned down 49 people and injured dozens more. The shooting took place at a gay nightclub, Pulse, in Orlando. This event is the United States most deadly shooting and the worst attack on American soil since 9/11.

There are politicians, experts, victims, witnesses, and so many more speaking about Orlando. There are vigils in Paris, and filters on Facebook, and so much more.

We at TeenView have been quiet. With issues like this, people are quick to leap to one side of the political spectrum or another. The country as whole can agree that this act was horrific and saddening to behold but can’t agree on what to do about it. People find it easy to point fingers and declare blame but not as easy to accept the opinions of their peers. Although the content that follows is from young people, does not make what it includes irrelevant. These adolescents have witnessed this type of carnage on televisions, newspapers, and in real life from a very young age.

This is not a finger-pointing. These are not beliefs held by every member of the TeenView family. This is simply what young people in Wichita, Kansas have to say about 49 human beings being murdered in Orlando, Florida.

(The following content has not been prompted, edited, or cut. This is the opinion and feelings of 10 teens when told to sit at a blank computer screen and write their take on the shooting in Orlando, Florida.)

Ke’Auna, 14

I feel like the people at the bar were targeted by the shooter because of their sexual preferences, so it was more of a hate crime. People don’t deserve to be shot and killed because of who they are. A AR-15 assault rifle was used in the shooting. People are saying that people should not be allowed to carry types of guns like that in a civilization. That type of gun is for war and I agree. People are also saying that the attack was from ISIS. I believe that it was a hate crime against LBGTQ’s. You can tell it wasn’t just a regular club shooting because 50 innocent lives were taken.This wasn’t just a shooting, those people were targeted and that isn’t right.

Jordan, 15

My opinion on the subject of the Orlando shooting is that people are being ugly to each other now more than ever. We need to unify and start worrying about the problems that actually matter sexuality is not a problem. World hunger, terrorism, and pollution are problems.

Ataya, 14

My view on what happened in Orlando is that the world is becoming outrageous, and that we need to pray for not only Orlando but the our generation and country as a whole. People shouldn’t settle their differences with violence. It is 2016, and people should be able to voice their opinions. People shouldn’t have to lose there lives because of their beliefs.

Risia, 15

On Saturday around 50 people died. Everyone is confused about why it happened. People are saying it was ISIS and he was supposed to be watched. Maybe because he was in ISIS and had been homophobic.

Joenius, 15

So the person that came into the club he must have something gay people. People though the gay people technically have done  nothing wrong some people have issues with them, why? It’s kind of concerning how people can take the life of an innocent person because of religion or sexual preferences. I believe a possible cure to this epidemic would be to give everyone guns, that way when somebody decides to go shoot somebody the people being attacked may defend themselves.

Sacoria, 15

The Orlando shooting that took place on Saturday June 11th makes me feel frightened for America. I believe America needs to as a nation have one steady gun law and enforce it in all 50 states. The reason why i believe America needs one steady gun law is for when another issue like this occurs we can come together as one and manage it. The second thing I believe should happen is strengthen security all around. The reason why I feel like we should strengthen our security is it could help prevent future events like this from happening again.   

Ka’sean, 14

From my point of view i think most of the reason people are so sad and hurt about this situation is because of the amount of people killed, but the reason it’s so big in social media is most of the people that were killed because of their sexuality. If it was another club it would be just as terrible but not as socially famous.

Blessing, 15

Sunday morning at 2:00 am Omar Mateen felt the need to go into a gay nightclub and decided to shoot and kill 49 innocent people. This made me feel melancholy and heavy-hearted. I believe that gun laws should be enforced more and security should be more regulated. Innocent lives have been taken because our laws are not enforced and taken seriously.

Mirahjae, 14

Well I feel like whoever the person is/was probably didn’t have anything else to do if he decided to take the time out of his day to go to a club or whatever and actually kill 50 people.

Cradaychius, 15

49 people were killed at club at 2 a.m. on Sunday. I think we need to come together as a community and make a change because 49 people is a lot. People can’t even go out and enjoy themselves because they don’t know what could happen to them.