Recent tragedy punctuates life’s brevity

Jason Brian Dalton, a man who before today was an undistinguished figure to society, has been charged with the murder of six people and injuring two others over the duration of seven hours in an unwarranted shooting. Dalton was a driver for the company, Uber, and reportedly picked up customers, drove them to their destination, and then shot them in cold blood; and even opened fire on a group in a restaurant parking lot. Between the reported shootings he picked up normal fares and delivered them without incident; this pattern continued over the course of seven hours, during which time six people were killed and two wounded.

According to reports Dalton was “even tempered,” calm even, and had no motive or cause to kill the victims, leaving us to assume that he murdered them just because he could. The prosecutor reported, “These were very deliberate killings. This wasn’t hurried in any way, shape or form…they were intentional, deliberate, and…coldly done.” This causes a lot of concern surrounding Uber and gun control, as Dalton had no mental health history that would raise alarm and prevent him from employment or gaining access to a weapon. Uber, before allowing someone to work for them, conducts a background check to ensure the safety of its customers; however, someone like this managed to slip through the cracks and has now inflicted insufferable damage on individuals and their families.

My heart goes out to the families and community that is affected by this travesty, and gives cause to remember that people have the capacity to be horrifying. This incident is another reminder that any day, any moment could be your last, and to ensure that those who are in your life now are loved and appreciated, lest they get into a cab home and never come back.