Incidences of mass killings have become the norm in the current world and are orchestrated by individuals or groups that have different intentions and targets. Most of them are observed to be based on political grounds, religious differences or racial discrimination. On the contrary, other forms of terror attacks have unclear basis especially when the people responsible, have no different political, religious or ethnic affiliations. Well referred to as homegrown or domestic terrorism, is the act of targeting fellow citizens and killing them with a defined goal that includes threatening the authorities or differing with the political or religious state of the nation. The most intriguing question one may ask is as to why a citizen would go rogue and kill his fellow civilians who are innocent, just on what sort of grounds would they decide to take people’s lives.
As for the case of the Las Vegas killings, the news spread like fire through social media. From the images taken to some victims alerting family and friends on what was taking place and the News highlights on television to word of mouth, the information passed through computer technology almost crashed the networks. With the issues arising concerning as to what led Stephen Paddock to kill the people who attended the concert, different versions of the story make it hard to agree or believe what is being discussed and spread by friends, other citizens even the family. According to the interviews and statements got from the shooter’s brothers, girlfriend and neighbors, he showed no signs of ‘a bad guy.’ Ironically, he was identified as a very quiet and antisocial individual. Despite, him being recognized as not so close to people, investigators found out that Paddock spent most of his time gambling and that is where most of his wealth came from in addition to the real estate business. With all the propaganda going around, I believe that it is essential that the government and the FBI to dig deeper on who was Stephen Paddock.
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On a personal view, I gage this incidence has neither political nor religious connection about the information analyzed and published. Looking back on Paddock’s background, he was brought by a single mother who lied to them about their father. For many years they knew their father was dead as informed by their mother, but all along he was imprisoned for bank robbery and escaping from prison one time. As highlighted by Grinberg (2017), Stephen Paddock’s siblings affirm that he was the calmest child of them all and that his actions are still a shock to them. His social life was not hyped and never kept many close friends neither was he observed to have any religious practices. Stephen Paddock could have been an individual whose issues since childhood was deeply buried in his heart but could not be contained anymore.
Due to the lack of sufficient information and inability to associate this incidence with any political or religious threats, Stephen Paddock’s actions were not hate crime. On the other hand, there was no sign he was working with a group of individuals who were against the government regime, the religious beliefs of the concert attendees or racial indifference. On the contrary, his actions qualify as a terror attack since civilians are now threatened to freely attend parties or involve themselves in full concerts like the one in Las Vegas. Moreover, the government and the homeland security are shaken to be more vigilant on issues that may lead to deaths and injuries of many citizens and destruction of properties.
As investigators have analyzed the situation, Paddock’s hotel apartment was found to have twenty-three rifles and bulky ammunition. He is an anomaly primarily because he worked alone despite the possession of the deadly guns and many bullets. In typical situations, individuals whose apartments were raided by police and weapons found were either working with a murderous gang or collaborated with other individuals. Stephen Paddock’s case was different and unusual since he was all alone, had no criminal background or record of a felony and the investigators could not find anything that hooked him to a criminal gang or terrorist group. For this same reason, the massacre orchestrated by Stephen Paddock has been treated differently from attacks associated to Islam terrorist group.
In support of this, Joey Millar (2017) reports that the police and FBI dismissed the claim that ISIS was responsible for the massacre because they could find nothing to prove that Paddock was a member of ISIS. As a result, the incident has been treated differently as compared to past terror attacks orchestrated by Islamic nations. For instance, most of the times when Islamic states are suspected to have committed a massacre in the land of America, all airports are shut and scrutinized to identify any outgoing suspect. The home and family of Stephen Paddock would have been raided and taken in for questioning. Anyone who was associated to Paddock would not only be questioned, but their moves and contacts would be closely be monitored. On the other hand, the government in most cases when Islamic state attacks would declare a strategy on how to fight back among different tactics. All this has not been the case with the massacre of Stephen Paddock. His death which was self - inflicted has left the nation with no answers to the lingering question as to his intentions and connections.
From the events, ‘lone wolf’ can be seen in the characters of Stephen Paddock since childhood to his death indicated that he was an individual who enjoyed his own company. One of his brothers admitted that they had not been in contact for close to twenty years. Both his two marriages lasted not more than five years. The police found it strange that with all the weapons found in his apartment, he had no one who helped or partnered with him Homegrown Terrorism. As for the title of a radical, Paddock’s unexpected plan and action caught everyone including his own family and neighbors unawares. His actions were thorough and severe to its victims. As a lone wolf and radical attacker, Stephen Paddock’s actions have left the country in a state of insecurity and mistrust towards its people.
Conclusion
Continuous killings through unexpected attacks, bombings, and shootings of people in a crowd have heightened the insecurity within our communities. While in the past, the enemy was viewed to be an individual or group who had different views, religious interests or from another country, currently the enemy is from within and does not consider his fellow citizens. The reasons as to why domestic terrorists are increasing by day are still unknown to both the government and the rest of the citizens. The common, causes of domestic terrorisms include different political perspectives, religion, and racism. On the contrary, like in the case of Stephen Paddock, his action of the massacre is still not clear. It is at such incidences that the government is forced to impose vigilant legislations that will ensure security is heightened around the country. Some activities end up depreciating since fear is instilled in people. Many of the victims of attacks like the one which took place in Las Vegas end up in traumatized moments that hinder them from attending such concerts or being in a crowded area due to fear of the unknown.
References
Bui, L., Zapotosky, M., Barrett, D., & Berman, M. (2017, October 2). At least 59 killed in Las Vegas shooting rampage, more than 500 others injured . Retrieved October 10, 2017, from Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2017/10/02/police-shut-down-part-of-las-vegas-strip-due-to-shooting/?utm_term=.53d55f2db450
Grinberg, E. (2017, October 6). Something went 'incredibly wrong' with Las Vegas gunman, brother says . Retrieved October 10, 2017, from CNN: http://edition.cnn.com/2017/10/02/us/las-vegas-attack-stephen-paddock-trnd/index.html
Millar, J. (2017, October 3). What was Stephen Paddock's MOTIVE: From ISIS to gambling debt -Las Vegas shooting theories . Retrieved October 10, 2017, from Express: http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/861670/las-vegas-shooting-why-did-stephen-paddock-shoot-motive-terror-gambling
Perliger, A. (2017, April 6). Homegrown Terrorism and why the Threat of Right-Wing Extremism is Rising in America . Retrieved October 10, 2017, from Newsweek: http://www.newsweek.com/homegrown-terrorism-rising-threat-right-wing-extremism-619724
