Imagine preparing for and going through the motions of what is supposed to be one of the happiest and best nights of your life—meanwhile, unbeknownst to you, a person you have no connection to is preparing to come and take your life.
When Christina Grimmie was excitedly preparing for her show with the group, Before You Exit, the thought of being fatally shot inside the concert venue was probably the last thing she could ever imagine happening—but it did.
In 2009, Christina Grimmie began posting videos of herself singing covers of songs to YouTube, and quickly rose to YouTube stardom. Not only was she recognized for her incredible and unique singing talent, but also her bubbly, charming, optimistic, care-free personality. In 2011, she released her EP, "Find Me," and finally in 2014 she came in third place on the hit TV show, "The Voice," but was still promised a record deal by mentor, Adam Levine, with Lil Wayne also offering her a deal. Grimmie ultimately signed with Islands Records, but was later dropped from the label in March 2015—however she pushed through and promised to continue to make music, releasing her second EP, "Side A," in 2016. No matter how big of a name she became, she was always unapologetically herself, and always remained the video game loving scene kid all of her fans knew her to be.
After many highs and lows in her career, and many bumps in the road along the way, Grimmie's last performance was on June 10, 2016 in Orlando, Florida. She had just wrapped up her show with Before You Exit, and being the humble and gracious person she always was, decided to go sign some autographs for fans at a merchandise table. While doing a simple act she has done so many times, an armed 27-year-old man walked up to her and shot her three times. Grimmie's brother, Mark, tackled the gunman to the ground before he had the chance to harm anyone else, when the assailant then turned the gun on himself and ended his life.
Grimmie was immediately rushed to the hospital and was declared to be in critical condition. On the morning of June 11, 2016, it was announced that Christina had succumbed to her wounds and was pronounced dead.
Following the announcement of Grimmie's passing, friends, fans and fellow Youtubers and musical artists alike shared an outpouring of love and devastation under the hashtag #RIPChristina on Twitter, when just the night before #PrayForChristina was the number one worldwide trend.
There have been countless articles highlighting everyone's reactions to this tragedy over social media—but this isn't about a hashtag, or other celebrities showing their love and support. This is about a young woman whose life was taken too soon because a significant portion of the U.S. Government has yet to learn that people's lives are more important than the right to own a dangerous weapon.
Yes, this horrific incident can be blamed on lax security at the concert venue, but what it all comes down to is that there was a mentally ill person, with access to dangerous and fatal weapons, who could've, and based on his actions, would've carried out this act on someone else.
What is it going to take for the U.S. government to realize that we need stricter gun control laws? At what point will enough be enough? Fame and notoriety aside, no one should be in the position where their life is at risk just by stepping foot outside of their home. If Mark Grimmie did not take action, then more lives probably would've been taken. And even though the man who carried out the shooting did a horrific thing, he should not be viewed as a monster, because he too is a victim—a victim of his own mind, and a victim of the government's failures.
It has been time for a while now that people be protected from the dangers of themselves and others. It is time that the U.S. government washes the blood off of their hands once and for all.
If you're still not convinced, then I will leave you with this:
