Following the tragic and abominable shootings which occurred in Orlando, Florida, one of which is reportedly the biggest and deadliest mass shooting in the nation's history, there is no question that individuals need to be allowed to defend their own lives.

It's time to repeal the "Gun Free Zone" restrictions on sober persons legally qualified to carry pistols in other public places.  (This does not preclude property owners from restricting firearms on their own premises.)

Florida and Michigan law both prohibit Concealed Pistol License holders from carrying their weapons in a variety of venues.  These "Gun-Free Zones" include nightclubs that serve alcohol.  While the Pulse nightclub murders took place in Florida, Michiganders are just as vulnerable.

This is not a time for political mudslinging, but rather a time to grieve the fallen, and change the laws that made a mass shooting of this magnitude possible. Politicians are blaming Islam or the Bill of Rights.  This rhetoric is hurtful, not helpful.

Broadcasters have been sending out a continuous stream of banter on how the killer was able to get his firearm.  The Constitution entitles every American to the presumption of innocence and due process.  It also entitles people to keep and bear arms. While a violation of those rights might have stopped this person, discarding those rights would harm many more.

Islam is one of the worlds largest religions, and acts of terrorism in its name are rare by comparison.  Peaceful people should not be singled out for their faith and traditions, just because a violent person invokes the name of their religion when he commits atrocities.

Gun free zones, however, have become the favorite targets of mass murderers.  This shooter was reportedly able to kill more people then were killed by mass shooters before these "Gun-Free Zone" laws were instituted.  Sometimes these crimes happen quickly and an armed bystander would not have had an opportunity to stop it, but the tragedy at the Orlando Pulse was not one of those times.

People suffered for hours as they helplessly suffered with their injuries and listened to the sounds of fellow patrons being killed... wondering if they would be next.  The killer even had time to make a phone call. 

It would be unfair to say police were responsible for the delay; I honestly feel they did their best to end this tragedy as quickly as possible.  The police simply can't be every place a violent crime is being committed (while the crime is in progress).  There is however, one group of people who will always be present...

The victims.

Allow victims the means to save their lives before a lone-wolf shooter has an opportunity to become a mass murderer.