Las Vegas Shooting Rocks the Nation

America found itself in shock and horror once again after a gunman shot and killed 59 and wounded almost 500 at a concert in Las Vegas last weekend. The Shooter has been identified as Steven Paddock and police are still puzzled as to why he did it.

Staff here at GHS are troubled by the massacre.

“Well, it’s a tremendous tragedy that makes no sense. A senseless, stupid, tragedy,” art teacher Pam Merkel said.

Students that attend GHS are also saddened by the event that took place.

“I am just sad that anything can go from someone’s best night, to changing into the worse within seconds,” senior Dani Hamilton said. “ But when events like this happen, it shows the unity that there is between the us citizens because people across the country grieve together, but also want to help those in need,” Hamilton said.

Paddock opened fire while country singer Jason Aldean took the stage around 9:45 p.m. Shots rang out from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Resort directly toward the crowd. The flying bullets lasted for about 7-11 straight minutes.  

Police also found about four dozen other guns throughout Paddock’s hotel room, along with ammonium nitrate, which is a substance to make bombs. Many people thought that the shooter was targeting the country singer.

“Tonight has been beyond horrific. I still don’t know what to say, but wanted to let everyone know that me and my crew are safe,” Country singer Jason Aldean said on instagram. “My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone involved tonight. It hurts my heart that this would happen to anyone who was just coming out to enjoy what should have been a fun night.”

Paddock had no criminal record and no military experience, but when his house was investigated, police found over 33 guns that he supposedly bought in the last 12 months. Some guns also seemed to have been modified.

This massacre is being called the largest massacre in U.S history and now many citizens are now questioning the country’s gun control laws.

“I’m personally not a fan of concealed weapons. I think there needs to be restrictions on the type of weapons people own,” Merkel said.

GHS students also have their opinions on gun control.

“People shouldn’t be able to own anything other than a handgun. You should need a certification to be able to buy a handgun and the only other type of gun someone should be able to buy is a bolt action hunting rifle,” sophomore Owen Schenzel said. “ And if you want to get one of those you need to go through the hunter safety course as well and be trained in that weapon,” Schenzel said.

Events like these cause many people to worry about traveling or just going to a simple concert.

“This event does make me nervous to travel now because you never know when it could happen in places you would never would think it could happen,”  junior Mya Miller said.

Others know that these things can happen anywhere.

“I would say that I am not nervous to travel.  We can not let these events scare us so much for not living our lives the way we want to. We might have to be more cautious and think of a plan on what to do if something were to happen,” senior Dani Hamilton said. “But like I said there’s so much to live for and so much to be done that we can not waste our lives being scared”, Hamilton said.