Five years ago, I dodged my own bullets

Like most of you, I woke up to shock, anger and every other emotion of disgust when learning about what happened in Las Vegas this morning.

But honestly, it wasn’t that long ago I dodged my own bullets in Fresno.

It was November of 2012. Rick Ross was performing at the Save Mart Center and I had shown interest in going. I also had some late invites and chances to attend the concert.

Most hip-hop fans are well-aware of who “Rozay” is, plus his arrival to the 559 was during the time he had reached his pinnacle as one of the more distinguished lyricists in rap music. He had grown to be as popular or more popular than Drake, Lil ‘Wayne and dominated the music charts before a young Compton MC named Kendrick Lamar rose to fame. But Ross also arrived with controversy in tow – as he emerged on the Gangster Disciples’ bounty list for his references to Larry Hoover (founder of GD) without using their permission or without having any affiliation to Hoover himself.

Still, I had interest in going because I happened to like his music…but I couldn’t get out of work that night and wound up missing the concert.

Well...I come home around 10 p.m. to find out that someone was shot outside of the SMC right after the concert. After tweeting out what happened, ABC 30 swooped up the story and reported the incident.

I had some guardian angels that night. God reminded me of that, so did anyone else who avoided any magazine clips getting unloaded their way on that night.

Now, what happened at the Route 91 concert is clearly worse and more appalling than what occurred in Fresno that night. But still, it’s the unfortunate proof that senseless acts of violence can happen anywhere – from school grounds, to movie theaters all the way to musical venues.

It’s been said no place is safe. While that may be true, we can still make places safe for the ones we love. Regardless if it’s a simple get together at someone’s house, a lunch outing or sitting inside a stadium, we can let the people next to us know we’ll be protective of them at all costs. It doesn’t take a lot to build safe havens for someone.

My other hope is this: An act of terror like this shouldn’t prevent us from attending concerts in the future. Not only are concerts meant to be enjoyed, but attending means that evil once again took one big fat ‘L’. I don’t know when the next Jason Aldean concert is, but I truly hope it’s sold out to show that evil once again failed and that people can get back to enjoying themselves as music flows through their veins.

Looking back, I’m glad I didn’t go to that concert back in 2012…otherwise I wouldn’t be sharing this. And I pray that we can put aside our differences and help heal Sin City.

I’ll end by sharing 2 Kings 20:5, which states: