#vb strong

[chrismho]

went indoor climbing the other day 

[wolvesandleylines]

Something horrible happened in my city yesterday, and not so far from my house.🖤

[microcroft]

a lot of things have been said already on gun control and america in general by people more directly impacted or people with a much more eloquent way with words than me but in the wake of another horrifying mass shooting, nearly two months later, there is something I want to let out. 

I don’t live in Virginia Beach, but I live about 15 minutes away (less than that but this is the average time i calculated it taking me to get from my house to the Virginia Beach Tidewater Community College campus), half of my family including my sister live there about 20 minutes away. I live and have grown up in the Chesapeake, next to, or rather beneath, Virginia Beach. 

The tragedy that occured at the end of May opened my eyes to something.  I have to say that I feel like the perception and information you get surrounding mass shootings is entirely different based upon where you live. This is different for everyone of course, but to me the further away you live from the location, the more likely you are to know more about the mass shooting than the average people closer to it.

The day of the shooting I was on youtube, I saw in the “Breaking News” box “Virginia Beach” and “Shooting.” I read the titles of the live videos, It was actually very soon after they had gone live. I took in that information but... I didn’t really take it in. I had that sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach and I just scrolled past it.

With every other mass shooting since MSD I stayed up to date on the information because I am interested politics, current events, and psychology, but I have never read a single article about Virginia Beach. I have had countless front page articles directly in front of me and I never consumed one, I have learned about it through local news and headlines, but the most I ever learned about it was on trips out of the Tidewater region and the local news coverage of it there, where you can tell the lack of relationship they have to Virginia Beach. It is honestly upsetting to go somewhere else and hear them talk about a place 33 minutes from your home, that you have seen multiple times and can visualize in your memory. They don’t know how to pronounce Nimmo parkway, but my mother who grew up in Princess Anne isn’t completely certain either. They don’t know how beautiful the city buildings are, all the old brickwork buildings are a refreshing change of pace from all the newer shopping centers, apartment complexes and shopping centers as you drive down Princess Anne rd to North landing rd. 

Your state’s name is never something you want to see as the subject of news, we here in Virginia have learned this very well the past year. The absolute worst thing you can see is a mass shooting. Then you realize it can happen anywhere.

[lissaslunacy]

Yesterday was a horrible day for my city and fellow city employees. I was lucky enough to get to come home to my kids. 12 others were not. This is madness. 💔

[electrifyinglaw]

It is two days after the horrific mass shooting. I still can’t wrap my mind around what happened. When you hear about these things occur in other cities you of course have the families and friends of the victims as well as the victims in your thoughts and prayers. However, you then go about your business the next day because the incident was far from you or anyone you care about. However, when it happens in your city you are forever changed. You are shook to your very core. It doesn’t matter if you knew anyone involved it still happened in YOUR city. 

This is not how I want the city that I have lived in since I was 8 years old to be remembered. I want it to be known for it’s beach and over priced pet hermit crabs that are sold along the strip. I want it to be known for a hill that is called Mt Trashmore because it was once a landfill that was safely turned into a city park and the highest point in the city. Above all else it should be known for a great, fun and safe place to raise a family.

My thoughts and prayers will forever be given to those, my fellow Virginia Beach residents, that had their lives changed by such a senseless act. 

It will take time, but we will heal from this even, together. We are VB Strong!

[cinnamonho]

Omg you’re in VA beach hope it’s been okay there after the shooting please be well!!!

thank you, anon. It’s scary when something like that happens in your hometown. Almost the entire world is fucked up, and so many bad things are happening all over.

[caseyd1a]

Virginia Beach Shooting

Hey! So I haven’t seen anything on Tumblr about it but, tomorrow you can wear blue in solidarity with the shooting victims and their families. Virginia Beach is where I grew up. My parents house is very close to where the shooting happened. I just thought I’d share this information in case anyone wanted to participate.