How did we let this happen?

This past Sunday evening, the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history took place at a concert in Las Vegas, Nevada. Many are still in shock by the tragic event which left 59 people dead and over 500 injured. As we mourn and unify in solidarity against this evil criminal attack on Americans, we must ask ourselves: when will this stop? It was just last year when Americans witnessed the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history at the time in the Orlando night club shooting. These atrocities are becoming more and more common but the issue of gun control continues to be suppressed and forgotten. Only in the most advanced nation in the world do we see these kinds of vile attacks being staged without repercussions or serious changes in the positions that lawmakers take on gun control. In the efforts to "protect" our second amendment right to own fire arms, we've allowed killers and lunatics get their hands on weapons that are solely made to destroy. 

Stephen C. Paddock camped out in his hotel room with 23 guns for the weekend and set up cameras throughout the room and hallway before his attack on concertgoers Sunday night. Some of the rifles in his possession were "outfitted with a bump stock" (Medina) which is a generally legal and affordable device that allows a gun to fire more rounds per minute like that of a machine gun. This allowed the murderer to transform semi-automatic rifles into fully-automatic ones. His attack which began around 10pm only lasted about 10 minutes before he took his own life but by then the damage was done. Amongst the victims were law enforcement, a veteran and heroes who gave up their lives to help others escape during the rain of bullets. The Islamic state terrorist group claimed the attack in their name and also claimed that Paddock joined their group before this event. The dumbfounded family members of the shooter were shocked by the events and claimed that Paddock had no religious affiliations, was a regular hunter and owned many guns. Paddock was also wealthy and had no prior criminal record. Unlike the shooter in the Orlando night club tragedy, Paddock was a white American man in his 60s. This has made reporting on this tragedy a bit odd and even difficult for some. 

Immediately after this event the Trump administration sent their condolences and offered help but did not touch on gun control law right away. Many in the media also attempted to dodge the issue using the excuse that it's too soon to politicize such a tragic event or that this is a time to mourn and come together as Americans rather than debate the law. When will it be time to have the conversation about gun control laws then? After the next deadliest mass shooting in American history? Americans have to stand up to the NRA and to the senators that want less background checks and think it’s our God-given right to own assault weapons capable of mowing down hundreds. The NRA has the support of its members and of politicians which has enabled gun culture in America to flourish. I can’t say I’m ready to take away a way of life for some people but I can say that those people need to take a look at what their way of life has allowed. I understand the second amendment right to own a gun but I don’t understand how the preservation of that amendment can undermine the preservation of American lives.

Medina, Jennifer, Perez-Pena, Richard, Goldman, Adam, “Meticulous Planning by Las Vegas Gunman Before He Opened Fire,” The New York Times, Arthur Ochs Sulzberger, Jr., October 3^rd 2017, web, October 4^th 2017