How many people does it take to realize the importance of preserving an innocent life? With the unfortunate loss of the beloved rising star, Christina Grimmie, and 49 members of the LGBT community, we must begin to reflect on why these heart-wrenching events could have possibly happened.
The 22-year-old began her career by recording covers of pop songs with her mesmerizing voice and keyboard, sharing them on YouTube for the world to see, and soon start to adore. She attracted the attention of millions and eventually gained enough popularity to set a solid audience to support her from "The Voice" season six auditions, all the way to the finale, where she placed third.
Following her performance in Orlando, Florida, she was met by a man in possession of guns and a knife that he used to tragically end her life, taken far too soon. Her sudden demise brought up some valid arguments that are important to highlight: How was this man even allowed through security and into the venue concealing these weapons? Where was security when he found his way to her to open fire? Why are there still no restrictions on the purchasing of guns that would have prevented this incident from occurring in the first place? Have we not learned from previous mistakes?
To pile more on top of the pre-existing sadness from past mass shootings, here we are, less than twenty-four hours after her passing, facing yet another terrible news headline following the increasing number of lost lives of members of the LGBT community. This shooting was recorded to be the worst in modern history.
The act of terrorism caused for 50-plus people to be hospitalized due to wounds. No matter where these devastating incidents take place, we must stop these senseless acts of violence. While mourning the loss of these beautiful souls, we must begin to wonder if life is truly as precious or as sacred as we once thought, seeing as there's nothing being done to spare the lives of the innocent. We are all left to fall victim to a corrupt government and justice system.
People must come together to take a stand and put an end to gun violence once and for all. It needs to be much more difficult to purchase a weapon, and security needs to begin doing thorough examinations to be completely sure no one is able to smuggle any sort of dangerous weapons anywhere. The mental health of the citizens committing these heinous acts must also be taken into account. There’s a possibility that taking the necessary steps to ensure their health is in check is another way of protecting the people of this country. Money seems to be everyone’s priority, but shouldn’t our safety and sanity always come first?
Concerts and nightclubs are meant to be places where we can rejoice and celebrate. For many people, including myself, these places are like safe havens - a place where we can connect with other people and just forget about the world that continues to spin around us. We should not have to feel scared about the possibilities of an attack somewhere you’re supposed to be able to let go. Being able to celebrate our rights and freedoms should cost no more than a few dollars, not the unfinished life of a human.
