Monday morning the nation woke up to America's history being made, and not in a good way. The worst mass shooting had occurred the night before, the highest number of casualties growing as the day progressed. When I woke up that morning I didn't expect to read what I did. I woke up, got ready, and ate breakfast before opening my phone to see the countless news articles and reports of what had happened. I had seen a few hashtags going around to pray for Las Vegas, but I never thought that it was what had happened, maybe another vehicle driving into a crowd, or natural disaster, not the worst mass shooting in U.S. history.
America continues to break her own records, again in the worst way possible. A mass shooting is defined by four or more victims, Las Vegas totaled to 59 victims, with over 500 others injured. I still cannot completely wrap my head around how a seemingly "normal" individual decides to open fire on a crowd of innocent people. In past mass shootings such as the Pulse Nightclub shooting, the shooter was homophobic; in Sandy Hook the shooter was mentally ill, had become obsessed with violence, among other motives. These actions are by no means justified by these characteristics, it just makes it slightly easier to wrap your head around. I still am struggling to understand how and why.
What motivates one to open fire on a crowd of thousands of people that are completely innocent strangers? I don't have the answer. It is simple to understand how Paddock, the shooter, managed to bring all 19 weapons into his room; it is a hotel, hotels expect guests to bring suitcases into the building, not thinking they will be filled with weapons instead of clothing and toiletries. Those working at the check in desk don't monitor how many times an individual walks by with the amount of suitcases they walk in with. Will this become the new normal? Will there be a new policy of checking baggage as you check into a hotel to insure this doesn't happen again? The answer is unknown. However, it is devastating that this is even a possibility in the future. Although it is understandable how he did so, it is still mind blowing to think about how this man managed to bring all the weapons in. It is also mind blowing to think about how he converted the semi-automatic weapons into automatic weapons, which have been illegal in the US for decades now. One individual should not have this much power in their hands. From what I have read, Paddock purchased each gun legally, passing all the background checks that were necessary.
Concerts are supposed to be a safe place, somewhere people can go to enjoy their favorite artist(s). I remember going to a concert when I was a freshman in high school with my younger sister, without an adult there with us. This was because there wasn't a thought or concern that something like this would happen. As a birthday present for my sister this year, I bought her concert tickets. I am a freshman in college now, and an adult accompanied us to this concert because I was too afraid of what could happen, especially at an outdoor venue. Concerts should not be places that people fear they will never leave from. I have a feeling that from now on, this anxiety will fill a lot of people as they stand at a concert, hoping that they will make it out alive.
I am shocked and devastated by what happened in Las Vegas. My heart goes out to everyone who was attending the event, to those who have died, to the families of those who have been affected, to those who are recovering; to everyone affected by this horrific event. Although I am in shock, I am also in awe with the way that the nation has come together. It is awful under the circumstances, however, it is truly wonderful. The strangers who risked their lives to save others at the concert, the first responders and their efforts to protect and save as many as they could, the thousands of people who lined to donate blood to those who needed, and everyone in between. America comes together and stands united even in the darkest times. Hopefully, the nation will not have to do this for much longer, I hope that there will be changes so that this doesn't happen, whatever those changes may need to be.
