As anti-gunners rush to exploit the massacre in Las Vegas, Clark County Sheriff Joseph Lombardo told reporters during a press briefing that he didn’t know “how it could have been prevented,” a remark in a story published by CBS News.
He had company in that opinion in the form of national gun rights advocate Alan Gottlieb, founder and executive vice president of the Second Amendment Foundation. Only hours before the mass shooting that left 58 dead so far and more than 500 injured, Gottlieb had wrapped up the 32nd annual Gun Rights Policy Conference in Dallas, Texas.
Lombardo’s remarks were published by the CBS affiliate in Philadelphia.
“This individual was described as a lone wolf,” the sheriff said. “I don’t know how it could have been prevented. We didn’t have any prior knowledge to this individual. It wasn’t evident that he had any weapons in his room. We have determined that there has been employees going to and fro to his room and nothing nefarious was noticed at this point.”
Will this presidential election be the most important in American history?
The alleged killer, identified as 64-year-old Stephen Paddock, apparently did not have any criminal record. He owned several guns and with a clean record, he could have passed a background check.
The shooting has brought out the worst from anti-gunners. Fox News reported that a CBS attorney was fired after posting a message on Facebook that said she was not sympathetic for the victims “bc (sic) country music fans often are Republican gun toters.”
Mark Kelly, husband of former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords reportedly has called for more gun control and complained that Congress has done nothing due to the “polarization of our politics.” It was not clear whether he was alluding to the polarization practiced by the gun prohibition lobby, or just the conflict between conservatives and liberals.
Sheriff Lombardo has been very cooperative with the press, holding regular briefings and updates.
The suspected killer does not fit the typical profile of a mass shooter. It has been reported that he has been gambling heavily over the past few months.
Fox News reported that he had at least 30 firearms. Authorities recovered at least ten guns in the hotel room at Mandalay Bay where Paddock apparently killed himself.
Reporters have interviewed Paddock’s brother, who said the dead man had not expressed political views and there is no apparent motive for the massive attack.
