Early this morning [Saturday, June 11] it was reported former The Voice singer and contestant Christina Grimmie was shot dead at her own concert late last night in Orlando, Florida.
Naturally, this tragic passing has weighed heavy on the hearts of many, and fans of the late Grimmie have already begun to call for the banning of guns following this disturbing event.
In the United States, the Constitution’s second amendment states, “The right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” As of late, these words have proven to become more controversial with each passing day and each passing senseless act of violence.
I am so angry that we've lost another innocent soul to gun violence! When will we wake up & BAN guns! #RIPChristinaGrimmie ?
— Pia Toscano (@PiaToscano) June 11, 2016
Tired of guns. Rest in peace, Christina Grimmie.
— DALES. (@brianlogandales) June 11, 2016
Christina's untimely death will serve as a reminder that no one is truly safe when guns are allowed to be owned by anyone #RIPChristina
— azalea (@rosedhes) June 11, 2016
Grimmie’s untimely death has only added fuel to the long-burning debate on our nation’s gun laws, with guns accounting for more 11,200 murders in 2013, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
The debate began to take major precedence following 2012’s mass shooting of Sandy Hook Elementary when 20 children lost their lives at the hands of a single gunman. Yet, not much has changed on the topic, bringing the debate all the way to 2016’s presidential campaign in which Democrat Hillary Clinton has promised to oppose the United States gun lobby, while Republican Donald Trump has vowed to “cherish the Second Amendment” if elected.
These calls to ban guns following Christina’s death come only one week after many came together to wear orange in support of National Gun Violence Awareness Day [June 2], calling for those to wear the color in honor of those who lost their lives to gun violence.
Just yesterday [June 10, 2016], The National Black Political Convention wrapped up its second day of gathering, a day where the topics of gun and police violence took center stage.
“It keeps me up that we’re burying generations of kids,” said Kayla Hicks, the director of African-American and community outreach for the Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence, as spoke to a justice and reform panel moderated by Gary, Indiana’s Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson. “We are watching this tragedy unfold while there are people building generations of wealth with these guns and we are burying generations of kids.”
