Las Vegas Shooting

[katie01]

I care who he was, because - unimaginable as it seems - this man could have been our husband, our lover, our father, our grandfather, our brother or our son. So I want to know what he was thinking. I want to know what his justifications were. I want to know what went so terribly wrong in his mind, in his character, in his whole moral compass. I want to know if there's anything that can be done to identify people at risk of doing what he did, and keep it from happening again.

Maybe there's no clear answer, but I don't think that means we should stop asking.

Thank you Magpie, this is what I was trying to say as well. They say everyone grieves in different ways, and I think everyone copes with fear in different ways as well. I feel helpless when these things happen, so trying to piece together HOW someone could do this, gives me some semblance, however misguided, of a sense that we can all do something to look for potential signs and maybe prevent something else

 

[wenrob]

There are so many people at the blood banks (they started lining up immediately once news broke) that they are saying that if more people want to donate they should come back Thursday. Stacks and stacks of cases of water and snacks outside them and the hospitals. People have this impression that we’re nothing but gambling and excess but we’re a community and we come together.

They did not close classes at UNLV. The kids can see the window from there. My DD has called me twice crying. She stopped and talked to some of the clergy on campus and said it made her feel better even though she’s not religious at all. The school district also called and said extra counselors are available for the students and for us if we need it.

 

[JaxDad]

Well listen, I’m not going to play semantics or Google fu with you. The people in Paradise (as well as Spring Valley, Lone Mountain etc.) consider themselves Las Vegans and if you send them a letter you’re going to have to address it to “Las Vegas, NV.” This tragedy happened in the Las Vegas Valley of which we all consider ourselves a part of. To suggest that the Mayor is responding for any other reason but that tragedy is absolutely tasteless. “The worst US Mass Shooting in History” 58 people dead, over 500 wounded and you want to debate on whether or not the mayor should respond to it.

I just wanted to say I liked that term "Google Fu." I actually was inspired to make up another one..."Wiki Kwan Do" (or "Wiki Jitsu").

 

[nd5056]

http://www.cnn.com/2017/10/02/us/las-vegas-shooter/index.html

...The official said initial reports suggest at least one rifle was altered to function as an automatic weapon.

I guess that the modification to turn semi into fully automated machine gun may cost as little as $50.

You may see it here:

It’s just mind boggling…

 

[DopeyDame]

We can donate blood, donate money/supplies, donate time (I saw they're looking for volunteer crisis counselors in Nevada, for example), contact our elected officials, etc.

Thoughts & prayers have yet to have any actual effect or create any meaningful change. It certainly isn't helping Puerto Rico & it won't help Las Vegas. Those people need more than lip service.

One of my all time favorite sayings is "When you pray, move your feet"
If you sincerely believe in the power of prayer, then presumably you also sincerely believe that we are God (Allah/Budah/whoever)'s hands here on Earth.

 

[erin1715]

One of my all time favorite sayings is "When you pray, move your feet"
If you sincerely believe in the power of prayer, then presumably you also sincerely believe that we are God (Allah/Budah/whoever)'s hands here on Earth.

Yes, which is why you have seen that in the recent hurricane rescue and recovery efforts, many of the faith-based groups led the response. As it should be. We can pray AND give. Prayer doesn't take a back seat to doing, IMO.

 

[Mirielle]

Removed. I was being snide.

 

[Marchand63]

And we have our first idiot!!

http://variety.com/2017/tv/news/cbs-fires-legal-exec-las-vegas-1202578075/

 

[PollyannaMom]

First victim identified.https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/brea...d-in-las-vegas-shooting/ar-AAsNWqb?li=BBnbkly I'm just trying to take in the fact that with the death toll already at 58, there are 58 more stories like this, 58 people who were loved and leave behind grieving families and friends. The amount of victims just increases exponentially when you realize that all the loved ones of the deceased are victims too. And with 400+ people injured? No telling what physical toll that has taken on them, not to mention the fact that there will be emotional repurcussions for each and every one of them.

So true. I couldn't bring myself to hit "like" on such a sad a thing, but you're definitely right.

 

[Parker Clan]

Pray for Las Vegas and this horribly scary world we live in today

 

[erin1715]

And we have our first idiot!!

http://variety.com/2017/tv/news/cbs-fires-legal-exec-las-vegas-1202578075/

She's not exactly wrong about the first part of her statement being that since nothing changed after the mass murder of children, nothing is likely to be done this time. However, the last part of her statement probably pushed her over the edge and was pretty disgusting to say she has no sympathy because most country music fans are gun toting republicans.

 

[IAHFTPT]

 

[HarperLeigh]

https://mobile.nytimes.com/2017/10/...times&smtyp=cur&referer=http://m.facebook.com

20 guns in hotel room, 2 on tripods at window, hundreds of rounds of ammunition.

 

[MrsDuck]

So unspeakably sad. My MIL, FIL, BIL, and niece live in Vegas. We were very worried when we saw headlines this morning - my father in law does contract work for the hotels (tech for conferences, etc) and is normally at Mandalay Bay. He's at the ARIA this week thankfully. My heart breaks for all involved.

 

[olliesmom]

We are scheduled to fly to Las Vegas in a couple of weeks and right now I'm hesitating as to whether to go or cancel/reschedule. I know that logically it is still likely as safe (or unsafe) as any other vacation destination, but I feel so uneasy and unsettled and am having a really hard time imagining vacationing in a location where so many have gone through such unspeakable trauma and lost their lives or had them altered forever. It seems wrong to be planning restaurant reservations and purchasing show tickets at a time like this. Every time I check the news my stomach sinks, what a horrifying day and it brings me to tears to think of what those hundreds and thousands of people went through last night.

 

[Kitty 34]

So sad; so didn't need to happen.

 

[Happyinwonerland]

We are scheduled to fly to Las Vegas in a couple of weeks and right now I'm hesitating as to whether to go or cancel/reschedule. I know that logically it is still likely as safe (or unsafe) as any other vacation destination, but I feel so uneasy and unsettled and am having a really hard time imagining vacationing in a location where so many have gone through such unspeakable trauma and lost their lives or had them altered forever. It seems wrong to be planning restaurant reservations and purchasing show tickets at a time like this. Every time I check the news my stomach sinks, what a horrifying day and it brings me to tears to think of what those hundreds and thousands of people went through last night.

We were in Orlando for 2 weeks last summer during the time that the Christina Grimme/Pulse Nightclub/ Lane Graves tragedies occured. I remember feeling sad, overwhelmed, guilty, and thankful that it wasn't me and my family on the news. It was a heavy time in Orlando. The talks on the monorail, discussions in line, seeing the police at the resorts when they responded to the tragedy, it all reminded me how fragile life is and how we are but a split second from our lives turning upside down.

But I also saw beauty. I saw a city stand together, electronic bilboards showing support for Orlando the next morning. I saw CMs waking up, coming to work, and continuing with life. Because ultimately, what many victims of tragedies long for, is normalcy. They want life to go on without the constant reminder of pain and suffering. Not that anyone shoud forget the victims and do their best to honor their lives, but we also must continue living our best lives.

Ultimately, what any terrorist, whether domestic or foreign, wants is for us live in fear, anger, and pain. By refusing to let that fear control us, we win, we hold the control.

So I say go on your trip, have the time of your life. Pause a moment to remember those whose lives were cut short, and dedicate your life to living and loving and making memories when others never got the chance.

I hope you have an amazing trip!

 

[bcla]

We are scheduled to fly to Las Vegas in a couple of weeks and right now I'm hesitating as to whether to go or cancel/reschedule. I know that logically it is still likely as safe (or unsafe) as any other vacation destination, but I feel so uneasy and unsettled and am having a really hard time imagining vacationing in a location where so many have gone through such unspeakable trauma and lost their lives or had them altered forever. It seems wrong to be planning restaurant reservations and purchasing show tickets at a time like this. Every time I check the news my stomach sinks, what a horrifying day and it brings me to tears to think of what those hundreds and thousands of people went through last night.

People there have jobs and I'm sure will still welcome visitors. There's certainly nothing wrong with feeling bad for them for enduring such a tragedy. However, I'm sure they'd rather have people show how they feel by supporting them with dollars rather than staying away thinking that it's wrong to be entertained.

 

[Party.Of.4-NY>>>FL]

We are scheduled to fly to Las Vegas in a couple of weeks and right now I'm hesitating as to whether to go or cancel/reschedule. I know that logically it is still likely as safe (or unsafe) as any other vacation destination, but I feel so uneasy and unsettled and am having a really hard time imagining vacationing in a location where so many have gone through such unspeakable trauma and lost their lives or had them altered forever. It seems wrong to be planning restaurant reservations and purchasing show tickets at a time like this. Every time I check the news my stomach sinks, what a horrifying day and it brings me to tears to think of what those hundreds and thousands of people went through last night.

Your feelings are completely understandable.

Like @Happyinwonerland, I would encourage you to go. Yes, the tragedy will still be evident. But just like here in NY in the weeks/months that followed 9/11, you will be surrounded by people that are more courteous, more kind, and more willing to help a stranger......any stranger. No matter what they look like, what language they speak, or what economic bracket they appear to be in. I have no doubt you will witness a city standing together....and it will be beautiful.

 

[RedAngie]

Most of what we think of as the most popular and "glamorous" part of "Las Vegas" isn't even in Las Vegas, it's actually Paradise, NV.

Paradise - about 4-5 miles outside the city limits of Las Vegas. I remember playing blackjack once at one of the big casino/hotels, and I was saying to the pit boss that I heard we weren't actually in the city of Las Vegas, and he said that was true. I think The Stratosphere is the only big hotel/casino on The Strip that's actually in the city of Las Vegas.

Yes, the city limits of Las Vegas end at Sahara Avenue. 95% of the "Las Vegas Strip", where the Mandalay Bay is located, is outside the city limits.

Even though the massacre occurred outside the city limits, what's wrong with the mayor of Las Vegas making a comment?

(There IS no mayor of Paradise to make a statement. It's an unincorporated part of Clark County.)