If this weekend was any indication, the world has been having a rough time.

We could write a thousand stories about it.

We could stand on a thousand street corners and hold a myriad of signs.

We could send a thousand letters to our representatives.

We could promise a thousand prayers.

We could send out a thousand tweets expelling our indignation about the frenzy of the world. There’s lots we could “do” – but very little we can actually do, right?

With the details streaming in on the senseless Las Vegas attack Sunday and a generally toxic national discourse at the forefront of several Americans’ minds, we wanted to remind everyone to breathe.

The attack that took place was insensible and devastating. Consider this editorial our attempt to step in the right direction — the direction of progressivism, egalitarianism and justice.

It is too easy to buy assault weapons in this country. Period. It is too easy to acquire weapons and modify them into something much more dangerous. That’s what the Las Vegas shooter did. He acquired 17 guns. Let that sink in. A single person was given the ability to massacre over 50 innocent people. At a concert — an event meant to unite people.

So why are we reeling at yet another senseless shooting? This isn’t the first violent attack and it won’t be the last.

We as a country need to take a look in the mirror. Part of this problem can be attributed to a lack of mental health care, but an even bigger part is the easy access to firearms. We implore our officials to look into stricter gun policies in order to protect our citizens.

We cannot sit by and allow this to happen any longer.

Before we begin to take that step, first we need to take a moment — and breathe. We can’t fix the world, but we can use our collective voices and demand change.

This will not be the end of the world nor the end of peace.

Decent people still inhabit this world, and as long as they remain we will thrive and push through this tragedy.