In these ever-changing current times, it seems that there are more and more tragic events occurring. Shootings, fires, and hurricanes seem the norm nowadays, and life as we know it has changed drastically in the past few years. We might pray, hope for the best, and strive to achieve peace. But the question remains, what’s the reasoning behind all of this? Why are there so many more tragic events that are occurring now, and what can we do to stop it, or at least decrease these events from happening in the future? We all must ask ourselves, do we even have enough power as individuals to do something to end these tragic events.
Beginning with the terrible fires that occurred in California several weeks ago, the reality is that many people who lived in the area had their homes destroyed and their lives changed forever. According to published reports, rampant fires burst through the areas of Sonoma and Napa counties, essentially, California wine country which is located in Northern California. These quick-burning and powerful fires then migrated all the way down to the Southern California area, which included the cities of Anaheim Hills, Orange, and Corona. For a while, it started to seem that these terrible fires would never end. And, it was frightening to say the least. Thankfully, the fires were put out after some time. But, not without damage to numerous acres of land and people’s homes and properties. But the question still remains, what can we do to prevent this from happening again? What can we do as citizens to make this world a better and more peaceful place? Sadly, we still don’t know why the fires started in the first place. Some reports exclaim that the fires started due to the harsh wind in the area coupled with the dry climate, while other reports mention that these terrible fires could have been started by an individual, either by accident or on purpose. Either way, the outcome of these fires is very sad to say the least, and extremely heartbreaking. Dozens of people died, animals perished, and life for many people was changed in just an instant. The sadness of this event has affected some of these families for years and years to come. As quoted in New Yorker magazine, the fires “charred nearly a quarter of a million acres of land, destroyed an estimated fifty-seven hundred structures, and killed more than forty people”. Calling this event a tragedy would be an understatement.
Next, the recent shooting in Texas was disturbing, brutal, and devastating. As reports claim, a gunman with a history of mental health issues entered a small church on November 5th 2017 in Sutherland Springs, Texas and killed 25 people with a rifle. The gunman’s name was Devin Kelley. As stated in several reports, Devin Kelley committed the deadliest mass shooting in Texas in recent history. According to CNN, Devin had previously escaped from a mental health facility in 2012. And, he also had previous domestic violence charges from when he abused his first wife, as well as several sexaul assault accusations noted on his record. Additionally, he was accused of having an obsession with guns and mass shootings, posting photos of his beloved guns on social media. He was also known for sending threatening text messages several people, including his mother-in-law, and even engaged in animal cruelty. All in all, Devin Kelley was not the type of man to mess with, and definitely not a stable or safe individual. As police noted, there were two handguns found in Devin Kelley’s car, and reports claim that Devin Kelley was denied a gun license previously. This heartless man was described by co-workers at one of his previous jobs where he was working as a security guard as a quiet, but polite man. And when co-workers that Devin worked with in the past learned of this terrible news, they were absolutely stunned. According to The Washington Post, Devin Kelley “targeted the small church outside San Antonio with a purpose and a mission”. It was reported that he shot at churchgoers who were trying to leave, and then shot at those who were cowering on the floor. He was described as cold, heartless, and psychopathic to say the least. There was no empathy, emotion, or feeling in Devin Kelley’s heart that day. It is still unclear how many shots Devin Kelley fired that day, or how long he was in the church firing for. Many details pertaining to this tragic event are still yet unknown to detectives. And, some say that he must have emptied at least 15 different magazines, and reloaded several times, which would have resulted in hundreds of shots. All in all, this event was incredibly tragic and heartbreaking.
With all of these recent events occurring, some individuals might become incredibly disheartened. It’s too easy to become fearful, and even hateful with all these events. The world is changing rapidly, and people are starting to realize that we are in a time of chaos. But, what can we do? Firstly, we must stay diligent, but positive. We must remember to stay empathetic, loving, and kind. And, we must not let these events dictate how we treat one another, or make us hardened to the world. We must show love to the people around us, and stay aware of the evil, hate, and chaos that is occurring in the world today. This country has seen many changes as of late, and none of us know what will happen next, if anything. That is why we must stay positive, but smart.