Gilbert R. Cisneros: “like many people on Sunday, I went to church. I went to church and prayed for the victims at my alma mater, Brown…”

“like many people on Sunday, I went to church. I went to church and prayed for the victims at my alma mater, Brown University. Eleven kids were studying for their economics final exam and dreaming about going home to their families for the holidays when a gunman entered the room and started shooting. I prayed for the families and those who were shot and wounded, and I hope they all have a speedy recovery. I also prayed for Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov and Ella Cook, who both lost their lives to the unimaginable, senseless shooting. They were cherished members of the Brown community and had years of life and bright futures ahead of them. In one moment, it was all taken. I prayed for them on Sunday, and I will continue to pray for them, but it is not enough. It will never be enough. We have a problem with gun violence and mass shootings in this country. Twenty-six years ago, at Columbine High School in Colorado, 13 people were shot dead and 20 others injured. Thirteen years ago, at Sandy Hook Elementary in Connecticut, 26 were fatally wounded. In 2018, 17 were killed and 18 were wounded at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida. These are just some of the more high-profile shootings over the last 26 years. There have been countless others at schools, movie theaters, parades, shopping centers, and even a concert in Las Vegas, where a family friend lost his daughter.”