The shooting that took place inside of a suburban Maryland mall yesterday is part of a growing number of similar incidents that have been happening all over the United States, and they all seem to follow a similar pattern: The shooter has been relatively young–usually a teenager–they took place in either a mall or a school, and police have a hard time determining what the actual motive is.

Back in 1999 when the tragic events unfolded at Columbine High School, and 13 people where shot and killed, it was huge news and most people couldn’t believe this kind of shooting could happen in an area not usually associated with crime.

Scared to go to school? Scared to go to the mall? Scared to go to the movies? Me too. When will there be ACTUAL change? How many more?!

— Katy Perry (@katyperry) January 25, 2014

Today, things are different, as a new story of a mass shooting seems to be popping up on the news weekly, almost to the point where many of us have become extremely desensitized to the acts.

Scared to go to school? Scared to go to the mall? Scared to go to the movies? Me too. When will there be ACTUAL change? How many more?!

— Katy Perry (@katyperry) January 25, 2014

And one celebrity who’s noticing that, and choosing to speak out about it is Katy Perry, as the pop star took to her Twitter page yesterday and asked her followers this question: “Is anyone else really sad about the constant stream of shootings and how normal it’s becoming to see these headlines on a weekly basis?” she wrote. “Scared to go to the mall? Scared to go to the movies? Me too. When will there be actual change? How many more?”

You and I both know this is getting embarrassing…My heart goes out to ALL the victims & their families this week. I pray for change.

— Katy Perry (@katyperry) January 25, 2014

Perry also tweeted a kind word to the victims, as well as their loved ones, and said the shootings are a true embarrassment for her. Although she didn’t specify exactly what she was embarrassed about, it’s pretty easy to gather she was talking about the U.S. and its politics surrounding gun control. “You and I both know this is getting embarrassing,” she tweeted. “My heart goes out to all the victims and their families this week. I pray for change.”

Image via Wikimedia Commons