Until two nights ago, I had never heard of singer Christina Grimmie. I didn’t know that she had been on "The Voice" or that she had a successful YouTube channel. The first time that I heard of Christina Grimmie was in several tweets expressing prayers for her. I then learned that she was in critical condition after being shot at her own concert in Orlando and later that she had not survived.
Then, just one day after this tragic occurrence, 50 people were killed in an act of Terrorism at a club in the same city. Gun control has always been a controversial topic in the United States. While many do support stricter laws surrounding who can purchase a gun, there are also those who believe in gun ownership rights and do not want those rights infringed upon.
Authorities report that Omar Mateen, the Orlando nightclub shooter, used an assault rifle and handgun to commit the crime, which he had had purchased within the last 12 days. Mateen was able to purchase both guns legally. Gun control might be controversial, but if the last 48 hours have proven anything, it is that something has to change.
But this issue does not just span the last 48 hours. For years, the United States, in particular, has been plagued with bouts of violence. All who tune into the news will remember the day when two students pulled guns at Columbine High School killing twelve students and one teacher nor will they forget the day when a gun was pulled at a movie theater in Aurora Colorado killing twelve.
And let us not forget the day just weeks ago when two died at The University of California Los Angeles campus after shots were fired or the day when twenty-seven were killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School, many of the victims being students. Too many times in recent years have the headlines of every major news outlet been laced with another tragic shooting.
Countries like France, Germany and Italy have restrictions in place such as requiring applicants to undergo a psychiatric evaluation and present a valid reason to purchase a firearm. These laws will never be able to stop gun violence entirely and the fact remains that guns do not kill people, people kill people, but they can help stop irresponsible and dangerous people from obtaining a gun in the first place.
With Christina Grimmie’s death, the world lost a wonderful artist and a family lost a daughter and sister. With the club shooting, countless people lost family members and friends to senseless violence. The fact that two men were able to get their hands on guns and use those guns to take innocent people’s lives means something needs to change to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.
