As many people know, on Oct. 1, the nation went into shock due to the most horrific shooting in United States history. Many were looking for a reason for all this madness and who should take the blame. Could this whole tragedy have been avoided by something that could have and should have been implemented this whole time?  

The real question here is this: what precautions would be best to ensure people’s safety?

Many believe adding security to concerts would detract from the music and get in the way of what people came to see. Besides, most think any kind of attack or disaster will never happen in the concert that they’re at.

Would you really want to take that chance? There are so many ways to make concert venues safer, but they need to be put into regular use.  

One thing that would drastically improve security conditions would be to monitor any spots near outdoor concerts that someone could easily shoot from, like a balcony or doorway, thereby impeding any attempt at a far away attack that could be far more catastrophic than an attempt from a closer spot.

Another strategy might be stricter security. That doesn’t mean they should turn the entire concert upside down searching for threats, but just being extra aware of the fact that large gatherings like concert venues are sometimes targets for attacks and crime. Always putting safety first would help to make sure that there are no concert-goers with hidden agendas. Taking simple and easy measures such as these can have incredible effects.

One argument against tightening security is, ‘will it really help?’ To be honest, it may not, but on the other hand, what if it does? If there’s even the slightest chance that lives could be saved, that’s worth any price, even if your concert isn’t quite what you wanted.

Although I am mainly addressing concert venues, many other large gatherings are big targets for attacks. Using these strategies in any event will assure a safer and, as a result, better event.   

To conclude, lives are far more important than any annoyance of security precaution that anybody could possibly cook up. The top priority at any kind of event should always be the safety and security of the people there, giving everyone who attended great memories that they can remember for years to come.