By now, everyone has heard of the Pulse Night Club Shooting.

A man by the name of Omar Mateen called 911, pledged allegiance to ISIS, entered a gay dance club and proceeded to kill 50 people and injure many more by using firearms.

The Church issued the following statement on the event.

“With the rest of the nation, we mourn the tragic loss of life and serious injuries that occurred in Orlando this morning. We pray for the families and loved ones of the victims of this senseless shooting and pray they will be comforted and cared for as they seek to heal. Our prayers and support are also with community leaders and law enforcement officials as they continue to investigate this shocking crime.”

It’s been an awful couple of days and the arguments have gotten ugly already.

The left is looking to ban guns.

The right is looking to come down harder on Muslims.

Now I’m going to say this first and foremost.

The most important thing to do is mourn with the families that have lost their loved ones.

That’s our job as Latter-day Saints, to mourn with those who mourn and to comfort those that that stand in need of comfort.

The second thing we have to do is look for how we can fix the issue so it doesn’t happen again.

Below are three thoughts I have on the issue.

1. Discrimination Based on Religion is Not an Option

Remember how one of Donald Drumpf’s main political policies deals with a temporary ban of Muslims entering the US?

Well the church made it abundantly clear that they weren’t OK with that.

“The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is neutral in regard to party politics and election campaigns. However, it is not neutral in relation to religious freedom. The following statements by Joseph Smith from 1841 and 1843 are consistent with the Church’s position today:”

“If it has been demonstrated that I have been willing to die for a ‘Mormon,’ I am bold to declare before Heaven that I am just as ready to die in defending the rights of a Presbyterian, a Baptist, or a good man of any denomination; for the same principle which would trample upon the rights of the Latter-day Saints would trample upon the rights of the Roman Catholics, or of any other denomination who may be unpopular and too weak to defend themselves. It is a love of liberty which inspires my soul — civil and religious liberty to the whole of the human race.”

“Be it ordained by the City Council of the City of Nauvoo, that the Catholics, Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists, Latter-day Saints, Quakers, Episcopals, Universalists, Unitarians, Mohammedans [Muslims], and all other religious sects and denominations whatever, shall have free toleration, and equal privileges in this city…”

Besides, the idea of blaming all Muslims for the actions of a few is like blaming all Mormons for the actions of a few.

I will not blame a religion. I will not blame an inanimate object. I will not blame those who hold certain social values.

I will blame individuals.

And I will hope that we give the people in Orlando time to breathe, think, and heal.

2. Gun Control Won’t Fix The Problem

We have speed limits but people still speed.

We have drug laws but people at BYU still make meth.

The fact is, just because we ban something doesn’t mean the problem goes away.

That being said, we don’t need to prove legislation will get rid of a problem.

The only litmus test for good legislation is that the benefits outweigh the costs.

We need to stop asking “how do we stop X,” and instead ask “how do we reduce X.”

3. There Might be LDS Justification For Gun Regulations

Remember President Hinckley?

Did you know he was for certain restrictions on gun rights?

“A way must be found to keep the mentally ill from senseless acts of violence,” President Hinckley said as reported by the Deseret News. “You cannot have an indiscriminate allowance of firearms without abuses. All of us cannot be held hostage by a few whose minds are sick and who lack judgment and reason. We cannot live and work in a bunker mentality. The very nature of our lives is based on our freedom to go and come while doing our work.”

Also, for all of those conservative members who mock the idea of gun free zones, may I point you to the church handbook?

“Churches are dedicated for the worship of God and as havens from the cares and concerns of the world. The carrying of lethal weapons, concealed or otherwise, within their walls is inappropriate except as required by officers of the law.”

That’s section 21.2.4 of Handbook 2: Administering the Church.

So before anyone screams, “MUH GUNS AND MUH FREEDOM,” just remember that the Prophet spoke out against unrestricted gun access and it is Church policy that guns are not allowed on LDS property.

Like I said, no gun control law will completely get rid of gun violence. But that doesn’t mean that reasonable restrictions such as background checks and mental health evaluations aren’t worth looking into.