Route 91 Performer Caleb Keeter Flips Position On Gun Control

After witnessing the Las Vegas attack firsthand, Caleb Keeter, a performer at the Route 91 Harvest festival, has completely changed his mind on gun control.

Caleb Keeter is the guitarist in the Josh Abbott Band.

The Josh Abbott Band, a Texas-based country band, were one of the many performers who took the stage at Route 91 before the Las Vegas shooting occurred.

After the shooting, Josh Abbot himself tweeted about the experience.

From the official band Twitter account, Josh writes, “I’ll never unhear those gunshots; and our band & crew will never forget how that moment made them feel. Our hearts are with all the victims”

Caleb Keeter, the guitar player for the Josh Abbott Band, had more to say, particularly about gun control.

Caleb’s statement said in part: “I’ve been a proponent of the 2nd amendment my entire life. Until the events of last night. I cannot express how wrong I was. We actually have members of our crew with [concealed handgun licenses,] and legal firearms on the bus. They were useless. We couldn’t touch them for fear police might think we were part of the massacre and shoot us… Enough is enough… Writing my parents and the love of my life a goodbye last night and a living will because I felt like I wasn’t going to live through the night was enough for me to realize that this is completely out of hand. … We need gun control RIGHT. NOW. …”

For somebody who is a star in the country music world, it’s pretty brave to take a pro-gun control stance.

A lack of gun control is a uniquely American issue. There are 6 times as many gun-related deaths in America as there are in Canada.  America not only has the most gun-related deaths per capita, but also America owns about 88 guns for every 100 people, which is MORE THAN TWICE as many guns as number 2 on the list, Switzerland.

When similar events happened in other countries, gun control came swift and fast. In 1996, a gunman in Port Arthur, Tasmania, killed 35 and wounded 23. Twelve days later, Australia’s conservative Prime Minister at the time passed sweeping gun control legislation that’s prevented another mass shooting from occurring in Australia.

As far as gun control goes, Washington DC pushes for fewer restrictions.

One bill currently in the House of Representatives would ease restrictions on silencers, which make it harder to detect where gunfire is coming from. Another bill allows gun owners to carry concealed weapons out of state.

And gun control seems unlikely with the current White House. President Trump told the National Rifle Association in April, “You came through big for me, and I am going to come through for you,”

What do you think though? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter at @WhatsTrending.