Just last week, the nation was rocked once again with another mass shooting that happened in a small community. In Roseburg, Oregon, nine people were killed at Umpqua Community College.

President Obama addressed the nation with what appeared to be disappointment and anger. As he spoke, his message was clear: as a nation we seem to be numb to mass shootings and people losing their lives because of it.

Then a week after the mass shooting in Oregon and President Obama's address to the country, two shootings occurred at two college campuses within the same day. One was at Northern Arizona University and the other at Texas Southern University. Both resulted in at least one death.

So within a one week period, we have had three shootings at college campuses, all with young shooters who had guns available to them. If this doesn't spark a conversation on gun control, what will? If parents having to bury their children won't spark change on gun control, really what will?

Studying media and journalism, it has occurred to me that we are constantly exposed to tragedies like this. When you pick up the paper, turn on the news, check out Twitter, whatever you choose, you will be exposed to the reporting of tragedies.

Within our society, having that constant exposure to media has absolutely numbed us to what is really happening. Reading about nine people dying on a college campus is scary, but you read about it and most likely move on with your day because it didn't happen to you. Our media reports and tells you what's happening; what you choose to do with that information is a different story.

It's hard with the media and journalists to express how urgent this topic may be. The media, as a platform, needs to make more strides. This past week, the Editorial Director of People Magazine, Jess Cagle, used his Editor's Letter to address the frequency of the mass shooting happening in America.

First of all, this is completely unlike People Magazine. An entertainment-based form of media utilizing their platform to address what seems to be an epidemic happening within America is exactly what more platforms of media need to do.

What is even more admirable about People's editorial letter is the challenge it presented to readers. Cagle provided contact information for all 535 voting members of the House of Representatives and the Senate. Cagle says it simply as he provides the information in his letter, "Let's make sure they know that from now on, 'routine' responses just won't cut it."

Gun control is a serious, urgent topic right now and we need to start talking about it. It should not become the norm for me to turn on the news, log onto Twitter and see that another shooting has occurred on a college campus, in a movie theater or anywhere for that matter.

It is our job as a society to push topics we consider important to higher powers. Without speaking out, protesting, fighting for what we believe in, we will make no progress. I really appreciated People Magazine's use of their platform and I think that people everywhere need to be more pressing on this issue. Clearly, things need to change. No more innocent lives should be lost due to a failing system. It is our responsibility as a nation and as human beings to help be the change we want to see.