The attack was the seventh mass killing this year in the U.S., according to a database compiled by The Associated Press, USA TODAY and Northeastern University. The rampage came less than a week after the March 16 shooting that left eight people dead at three Atlanta-area massage businesses. It follows a lull in mass killings during the pandemic in 2020, which had the smallest number of such attacks in more than a decade, according to the database, which tracks mass killings defined as four or more dead, not including the shooter. No doubt this will spark more gun control rhetoric because the shooter used an AR-15 semi automatic rifle purchased six days before the shooting. There is legislation pending in Congress regarding gun control, but it only deals with selling guns to people who have no gotten background checks within the three day waiting period and requiring background checks when sales are between private citizens. Criminal don’t care about background checks, and certainly no background check could have predicted that this disturbed individual intended mayhem. The saying, if you outlaw guns, only outlaws will have them rings true. I read once that the reason why the Japanese never invaded the US was because they were afraid all Americans were armed. This is sounding like a mental health issue based in paranoia, and it is simply tragic, but probably impossible to predict or stop.
Colorado has a grim, recent history of shooting sprees, all within 70 miles of Boulder. The first was a 1999 massacre at Columbine High School. Thirteen people were killed and 21 wounded by gunfire before the perpetrators – a pair of students – took their own lives.
In 2012, a lone gunman opened fire at a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado, during a showing of “The Dark Knight Rises.” The assailant, who was convicted and sentenced to life in prison, used tear gas and multiple guns as he sealed off doors and terrorized 400 people. Twelve died and 58 others suffered gunshot wounds.
And in May 2019, one student was killed and eight others injured in an ambush attack at STEM School Highlands Ranch, a charter school located in Douglas County. As in Columbine, the assailants were students. One pleaded guilty and the other is awaiting trial in May 2021. Unfortunately, the dark side of humanity.