There was surprise and outrage today as a man used an assault rifle and shot dead multiple innocent people.
Bystanders described their shock as actual bullets flew out of the gun’s chamber and did serious harm to real people. Up until this point, guns had been seen as peaceful accessories; largely decorative and in no way intended to cause harm.
Tammy, 48, from Boulder City, commented that she’d heard that ‘guns don’t kill people, people kill people’ , so thought this was probably ‘fake news’.
The gunman, described as a ‘lone wolf with mental problems’; had been the leader of a local community group of gun owners named ‘The Las Vegas responsible gun owner’s club’. Acquaintances had described the gunman as ‘a lovely guy’. “We just didn’t see this coming” said one, of the man who owned 60 different guns and had a garage full of ammunition. “The signs just weren’t there”, said another.
His wife who has been in hiding since the attack described him as a “loving and thoughtful husband.” She said he “just happened to have a hobby Involving military grade weaponry ; adding that she “loved ten pin bowing and there’s not really much difference if you think about it”.
A few weeks before the attack, the gunman had told his gun club friends how much he’d dreamed of ‘using his guns to pop off a few of those damned snowflakes’. ‘We thought nothing of it’ said Randy, 68, ‘he was always saying stuff like that’.
We asked members of the gun club what changes should be made now that it was clear that guns could be dangerous. ‘Well we don’t want people getting hurt, and we need to get some increased protection for the general public. “Perhaps flak jackets?” remarked one.
The attack has brought some unwelcome attention to some other local community clubs. The ‘Hand-grenade Association of Nevada’ declined to comment. We did manage to get a response from the manager of the ‘Las Vegas rocket launcher and anti tank society’: ‘Its about my 2nd amendment rights and if that Korean bloke can have missiles, why can’t I?’. Correcting himself he added “actually he’s not allowed to have them, is he.”
There has been a collective sigh of relief across the road at the ‘Knife and Baton club’. They have believed for years that they’ve been castigated as the bad guys. Owner, Jim 55, said “it’s clear now that at the very worst one of us could only take down a handful of innocent bystanders; it’s so much safer for all involved. We believe every home should have a large hunting knife, or two.”
President Trump promised to look into the question of ‘bump stocks’: ‘I’m a rich man, very rich, and I’ve a a few billion riding on my portfolio - I’m not having my stock bumped, not for any man”.
The NRA issued a statement declaring that the background checks which have been recommended by some commentators are a non starter. “He was a white man with an obsession with firearms and an intense love of the American flag - there were really no indicators that would have marked him out as a possible mass murderer”.
