| The politics of the gun | There's nothing like a horrifying tragedy to put everything into perspective.
The massacre at Orlando's Pulse nightclub early Sunday morning killed 49 innocent people. Many were gay, and they were exercising their right to live out and proud in the land of the free.
If there's one thing I've learnt in all my years as a foreign correspondent, it's that 3am phone calls never bring good news.
As the events unfolded on Sunday morning, I sat in my office watching a live TV feed of the police operation around the nightclub. It was later in the morning, when I was at the airport, that the news flashed, 50 dead, including the gunman.
It's a sad fact in today's world that the next question instantly becomes, who is he, and what is his religious affiliation? Personally, when that news dropped, I felt sick.
That the shooter was a Muslim, of Afghan origin, speaks to the most deep-seated of American fears. The fact that he was also apparently a rabid homophobe who perpetrated the worst of hate crimes also cuts deeply.
In the middle of a highly divisive presidential campaign, thick with debate about race and bigotry, could it be any worse?
Take a deep breath and hold back the tears people, here's your weekly wrap.
WINNERS
I just can't think of any this week. Sorry.
LOSERS
So many people have lost loved ones this week. Too many to list.
HE SAID
SHE SAID
IN THEIR OWN WORDS
Angel Colon, survivor:
"He's shooting everyone who's already dead on the floor, making sure they're dead. I was able to peek over and I was able to see him shooting at everyone. I can hear the shots, the shotgun getting closer, and I look over and he shoots the girl next to me and I think I'm next, I'm dead, so I don't know how but by the grace of God he shoots towards my head but it hits my hand and then he shoots me again and it hits the side of my hip."
Patience Carter, survivor, wrote this poem:
"The guilt of feeling grateful to be alive is heavy,
"Wanting to smile about surviving, but not sure if the people around you are ready.
"It's like being rushed to the hospital and told you're going to make it,
"When you laid beside individuals whose lives were brutally taken.
"The guilt of being alive is heavy."
THE POLITICS OF THE GUN
America is sadly accustomed to gun massacres. From Virginia Tech to Columbine to Sandy Hook, this is a country that is used to burying its children.
This week's Orlando massacre is the worst in modern American history.
As the news reverberated around the world, the question asked so many times before was shouted again, why can't the United States fix this?
Democratic senators took the floor with a 15-hour filibuster, demanding changes to gun laws to allow tighter background checks and to prevent those on no-fly lists from getting guns - during which 48 people were shot.
Donald Trump repeated his call for America to "suspend immigration from areas of the world when there is a proven history of terrorism against the United States, Europe or our allies, until we understand how to end these threats".
He then arranged a meeting with the NRA calling for similar gun reforms. In doing so, he was at odds with other Republicans who blocked similar measures after the San Bernardino terror attack last year.
The National Rifle Association responded that it already has a policy that the FBI should investigate those with terror links before they are allowed to buy guns.
In this instance, the shooter (who I won't name again here to avoid giving him infamy) was not on any watch list despite being twice investigated by authorities due to concerns that he may be leaning towards Islamic extremism.
At this point, there is still no evidence that he was directly linked to any terrorist organisation, but it seems likely he was at least influenced by online Islamic State propaganda. While his father has declared he was a homophobe who was angered when he saw two men kissing, it's also alleged that he had previously frequented Pulse and used gay dating apps. His ex-wife also claimed he was bipolar.
Given that he wasn't on any watch list, the sorts of law changes above wouldn't have prevented the perpetrator of this vicious mass murder from buying a gun anyway. The shooter had two gun licences and bought his weapons legally.
That brings us to another key question - who needs an AR-15, which is basically the civilian equivalent of an M16, if they're not in the military or police force?
Americans are very attached to their gun rights as I'm sure you're aware. The NRA's response to any kind of ban is unsurprising.
So what now?
Is the worst gun massacre in modern American history enough to bring about change? Based on previous peaks in this debate after other shootings, it seems intractable.
I'd like to give a shout out to my colleagues this week. With me in Orlando were Roscoe Whalan, Stephanie March, Michael Vincent, Brad Fulton, Sam Beattie and Dan Sweetapple.
We were ably backed up in DC by Brooke Wylie and Lisa Millar.
It was our privilege to tell the stories of those killed and injured in Orlando, and to spend time with their families and friends. #OrlandoStrong
Editor's note: Zoe is taking a short break. She'll be back wrapping America's news for you in a fortnight.
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