Mass Shooting In Vegas: What Total Freedom Looks Like
Back to Las Vegas where more than 50 people died as a result of a mass shooting. The number of wounded has already exceeded 500. The puzzling question here is why Vegas?
The answers lies on the surface. It's the place that regularly hosts mass events like the country music festival whose visitors were shot at by Stephen Paddock. And in general, the so-called Sin City is rarely empty. Or rather, never.
For example, in 2016 it was visited by almost 50 million people. It was a record. However, a new record is expected to be set by this December. The reasons for a visit barely need reminding. First, all the casinos. Second, some of the best bars and restaurants in the US, as well as spa salons, night clubs, and other attractions, including open-air concerts.
However, the safety of the place with so many visitors as shown by the recent events, leaves a lot to be desired. How could the shooter bring not just one, but several automatic rifles into the hotel? Let's hear from Anastasia Efimova.
- Hello Anastasia!
- Hi!
- Is the atmosphere there so relaxed?
- It's more the atmosphere of a festive inebriation which, sadly, always brings on a horrible hangover. The total 19 weapons, as most recently reported by ABC. It means that the hotel room where Stephen Paddock checked into last Thursday, contained a whole arsenal which the gunman had brought to Las Vegas and sneaked into the hotel. And nobody had noticed it prior to the tragedy.
Mikhail Sinelnikov-Orishak, Political Scientist: "It's easy. I lived in that hotel. I lived in other hotels, too. I cannot say that they have a strict procedure of security check. And when you arrive before the weekend, there are all these lines. Sometimes, you can easily spend an hour waiting at the reception desk for check-in. And all this time, people would come in, come out, play".
Las Vegas has the same liberal policy on guns. For example, Nevada— which is where Paddock lived— is one of the friendliest states for gun lovers. The bullets can be bought in a regular grocery store on par with bread and milk.
Anastasia Mudryak, Blogger: "Everybody knows that carrying guns here is legal. You have every right to do that. I want to make a correction. There are two scenarios in which you are allowed to have a gun. First — you own that gun but you have to show it to everyone. The fact that you are armed should be obvious. Second, if you want to conceal it, you need to get a special permit, to complete a study course. Your driving license will then have a mark that you are carrying a gun".
Actually, the easy attitude towards guns is not the main reason for why Las Vegas is almost officially called Sin City. The main reason is gambling. Even Paddock, as reported by his neighbors, was a casino regular. He used to go to Las Vegas all the time. Almost an addict.
People like him get everything they need— round-the-clock fun that makes you forget about reality and erases borders which are so easy to step over anyway.
Ivan Kudryavtsev, Chief Editor of FilmPro: "It's the American cinema and pop culture that emphasizes the romantic and uncorrupted image of Las Vegas. Just look yourself. If you think of the most popular movies about Las Vegas, like The Hangover, for example, you'll see a harmless city, not a gloomy city. It's a city that's almost always shown to us without its backside".
Las Vegas strives to hide this backside and even tries to fight it, although in a rather funny way. Those who had too much alcohol can go the Hangover Heaven bus. The nurses inside will help the unreserved drinker to get back in shape. Drug use is also treated quite unusually. Any taxi driver can tell you where to buy some. Meanwhile, public officials want to install clean needle dispensers.
Las Vegas in its essence is overindulgence made into a virtue. And the recent tragedy, sadly, is not likely to change anything.
Jason Batish, Photographer: "There are psychos everywhere. There were shootings in San Francisco, in LA, in other states. There were shootings in Carolina. Psychos can be found everywhere. But people won't stop living there or traveling because of that. I don't think that there will be drastic changes. Las Vegas has been the center of fun and it will stay that way".
The official website of the hotel from where Paddock was shooting at the crowd has published a message today. The hotel suggests its guests to talk to a psychological trauma expert who can provide support and give advice. So far not a single word on increasing the security measures.
Various leaflets are still handed around, like this one, "The Sin City Bucket List: 40 Things To Do In Vegas Before You Die". It seems, Stephen Paddock has done them all.
Anastasia Efimova on the backside of Las Vegas.