Mass Shooting in the US — Will Even This Not Be Regulated?

How many times will a disaster like this repeat itself? The depth of the disease rooted in the gun culture of the United States is astonishing.

In Las Vegas, Nevada, the world’s pre-eminent entertainment city, a man fired a gun from a high-rise hotel into an outdoor concert area. More than 50 people died and more than 500 were injured. The media reported that this was this worst sporadic shooting in U.S. history.

The suspect committed suicide at the scene. The white male shooter was living in the same state and is considered to be the sole perpetrator. The extremist organization Islamic State sent a declaration saying that the suspect was its soldier, but the authenticity of the declaration is questionable, and it is unknown whether this was a politically motivated act of terror. There is a possibility that this mass murder plot emerged from a unique thought the shooter had or his hatred for society.

The surprising thing is that this suspect possessed a large amount of guns and ammunition. At the hotel and his house, authorities discovered ammunition for more than 40 guns and explosives.

Mass shootings have occurred again and again in the United States, leading up this incident. Every time, people raise their voices in a call for strengthening gun control, but effective regulations have not been implemented.

The Second Amendment of the Constitution establishes the right of the people to bear arms.* Even in civil society, defending oneself with guns is a deeply rooted mindset. Another big factor is that the gun industry is a powerful lobby which opposes Congress introducing gun control regulations. The Republican Party especially opposes gun control regulations completely.

However, while these tragedies keep repeating themselves, Congress does not introduce any true gun control. No matter how one looks at it, this is irrational. From other countries’ view, this is completely incomprehensible.

Trump has displayed a cautious stance toward gun control since the presidential election. The White House press secretary declared that it would be premature to talk about gun control after the Las Vegas shooting. President Trump has repeatedly shifted the responsibility for the deterioration of public order onto groups such as immigrants living in the U.S. without legal permission and terrorist organizations. Using this incident as a moment of decision, we must face the risk-filled society of a gun-laden America straight on, and we must set effective regulation in place. A country where innocent people are continuously deprived of life cannot be a country of greatness.

*Editor’s note: The Second Amendment provides: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”