Other stuff you’ll love:

A GIF review of the Diva Cup [The Frisky]

6 ways to have an awesome New Year’s Eve without spending a lot of money [Global Grind]

Resolutions even YOU are capable of keeping [HuffPost Teen]

An open letter to couples who use pet names [College Candy]

Why losing weight is the hardest New Year’s resolution to keep [Buzzfeed]

Is Britney Spears going to get fired from The X-Factor? [Crushable]

The post-breakup social media survival guide [Your Tango]

What was the biggest couple scandal of 2012? [Hollywire]

Why your hookup won’t commit to being your boyfriend [HerCampus]

7 of the most ridic TV/movie face swaps [Teen]

The 10 most influential cats of 2012 [Smosh]

Learn how to do a marble manicure!

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter

The NRA thinks images like this are an argument against gun control–and that they lead to horrific school shootings like the one in Newtown. | Source: ShutterStock

The National Rifle Association (NRA) was pretty quiet following the horrific school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut that left 20 innocent children and six adults dead. But now that they’re talking, what they’re saying doesn’t make much sense.

It’s easy for everyone to look for reasons why something like this could happen. It helps if we can try to make sense out of something so unexplainable and scary, because it lets us think of ways we can prevent it from happening again. It’s a normal human reaction. But the NRA is looking in all the wrong places to pin blame. The NRA released its first statement since the tragedy today, and they’re trying to point fingers at video games. Dude, WTF?

Here’s the NRA rep’s direct quote: “There exists in this country, sadly, a callous, corrupt and corrupting shadow industry that sells and stows violence against its own people, through vicious, violent video games with names like Bulletstorm, Grand Theft Auto, Mortal Kombat, and Splatterhouse.”

Here’s the problem with this argument: Lots of people play video games. Most of those people have never murdered anyone. You’ve probably played a bunch of those video games that were listed, and we doubt that they inspired you to buy an automatic firearm and shoot anyone.

It may be true that people with violent tendencies are drawn to violent video games, but using that as a point in an anti-video game debate is pretty dumb. That’s sort of like saying a lot of criminals like ice cream, so ice cream probably causes crime. That’s kind of stupid, isn’t it? Adam Lanza played a lot of Starcraft. So do a lot of other people, many of whom play professionally in tournaments. So far, none of them is known to have launched a killing spree. He also played Dance Dance Revolution. How do you explain that, NRA?

The fact is,numerous studies have shown that video games don’t really have an influence nor an effect on violence, so using video games as a scapegoat is pretty ignorant. No one will really know why Adam Lanza committed what may be the most horrifying mass murder ever on U.S. soil, because he’s not around anymore to explain himself. Regardless of your stance on gun control–and there are plenty of reasons to be on either sides of that issue–we can all agree, if we do enough research, that Call of Duty didn’t cause any school shootings. And we won’t figure out what does cause gun violence if we’re too busy investigating toys.

Do you think video games have an effect on gun violence? Do you agree with the NRA that video games are more to blame than guns for violence? Do you enjoy violent video games? Why do you think the NRA took so long to respond to the Newtown shootings? Tell us in the comments!

Need help coping with the Newtown tragedy? Find it here.

And don’t forget to follow us on Twitter!

It’s normal to be scared. | Source: Shutterstock

I wish I could just blink my eyes and make all the terrible shootings of this year (I think there were seven mass shootings this year alone) go away. Obviously, I can’t do that, but I can share a few little things I do to calm myself down when I get scared. I’m not a therapist or anything, but these things help me and hopefully they’ll help you, too.

1. Call someone you love
I talked to my mom when I heard about the shooting, and hearing her voice was really comforting. Of course everyone is grieving for this horrible loss–but sometimes grief and fear is easier to deal with when you talk it out with someone close to you. Don’t be afraid to seem weak or vulnerable. It’s really okay. When something like this happens, it’s only normal to feel shaken.

2. Remember to breathe
If you feel kind of panicked and tense–sit down, breathe in through your nose for a count of six, then breathe out through your nose for a count of six. Breathe in again through your nose for a count of seven, breathe out through your nose again for a count of seven. Do about five of these, and you should feel a little calmer.

3. Don’t feel guilty for having fun
The school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School is so horrible and sad, and a lot of innocent lives were lost, but it doesn’t mean that your life isn’t continuing. If someone invites you to a party this weekend, or if you see something funny on Tumblr tonight, don’t feel guilty about smiling! Life is precious and something to be enjoyed as much as possible.

4. Get help if you need to
If you’re losing sleep over today’s shooting or are scared to be at school, talk to your parents, a teacher, or a guidance counselor about it. There are counselors who can help you get through this and learn to move on in the best way you can.

How are you feeling after the Sandy Hook Shootings? Let’s get a conversation going in the comments.

This Girl Wants To Talk Gun Control

Follow Us On Twitter

Our thoughts are with everyone affected. | Source: Flickr

That said, all of us at Gurl are also deeply troubled by all the shootings happening in our country. It’s happening over and over and so many lives are being lost in the most senseless way imaginable. It’s like the most terrible Groundhog Day ever.

Yes, we know the issue of gun control is controversial, and I know a lot of people think that it might be a good idea to protect themselves with weapons since all these shootings are going on–but it’s a fact in the past eight years, there hasn’t been even one example of a concerned citizen with a concealed weapon being able to stop a mass shooting. It’s time to put down the guns and put up a real fight against violence. The lives of our loved ones are at stake.

How are you feeling about all the shootings? Are you scared? Angry? Tell us in the comments.

How To Deal When All You Feel Is Loss

Follow Us On Twitter