The rates of violence in various parts of the world have increased in the 21st century. The ill has had adverse effects on families, the society and the nation (Dickinson, " Leming, 2010). The United States of America has experienced the highest number of mass shootings compared to any other country across the globe. A research conducted on the mass shootings that took place between 1966 and 2012 across the globe identifies that nearly one-third of the mass shootings took place in America (Metzl, " MacLeish, 2015). Mass shooting is an act of violence in which a gunman kills a minimum of four victims. The definition excludes acts of domestic violence, killing or terrorism. The illegal act has been present within America despite the massive amount of funds and resources allocated to ensure public safety. Most of the perpetrators are usually males, and research identifies that they could attack as a group or individually. The individuals either commit suicide, get restrained or get killed by law enforcers. Factors promoting mass shootings include higher accessibility and ownership of guns, mental illness, the desire to seek revenge and weak security systems. This work focuses on analyzing death and grief resulting from mass killings in the United States.
The 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting that took place in October 2017 is one of the deadliest shooting that has ever happened in the history of the United States. Fifty-eight people were killed while 851 of the attendants at the concert were injured. Police investigations into the case identified that Stephen Paddock of Mesquite, Nevada was the perpetrator. He fired more than 1,100 rounds from his suite on the 32nd floor nearby the Mandalay Bay hotel. One hour after committing the heinous act, he was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Paddock was a former auditor and real estate businessman and had no children. His father, Benjamin Paddock was a bank robber and on the FBI’s most wanted list between 1969 and 1977. Paddock reportedly kept to himself, he loved gambling and was a heavy drinker. Reports from an investigation on the mass shooting identify that the police found 24 firearms, high capacity magazines, and ammunition in his suite. Further investigations into the case identify that the mass murderer had legally purchased the weapons in Nevada, California, Utah, and Texas. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) Criminal Investigative Report given by Sheriff Joe Lombardo indicated that the intentions of the 64-year-old remain to be a mystery.
Victims of the Las Vegas Shootings
The Family and Friends of Hannah Ahlers
Hannah Ahlers of 35 years old was a wife and a mother of three. According to the Los Angeles Times, a close friend of the deceased identified that “she was a devoted mother and wife.” The death of Hannah created a hard time with her husband of 16 years, her friends, and colleagues. The situation was even worse for her children.
The Family and Friends of Sonny Melton
Melton was a nurse aged 29 from Tennessee who saved the life of his wife before losing his own. His wife, Heather Melton described to the USA Today that “he grabbed me from behind and started running when I felt him get shot in the back.” The situation traumatized Heather, and she identified at one point that remembering the incident brings her great sorrow and grief. Close friends and co-workers to the Melton family identified that the couple had a strong relationship that was bound by a great affection for each other.
The Family and Friends of Dorene Anderson
Dorene Anderson of Alaska was one of the “most amazing wife, mother, and person this world has ever had,” according to her family members. She had traveled to Las Vegas with her husband John and her daughters; Jessika and Stefanie. Stefanie posted a picture of her family at the event with the sorrowful caption; “this is one of the last family photos we will take. Sadly, my mom was one of the victims that did not make it.” Dorene was the only one shot among the family members.
The Family and Friends of Carrie Barnette
The deceased was celebrating a friend’s 30th birthday in Las Vegas when she got shot. Her mother, Marvis Barnette, recalled that she died before reaching the hospital. Further, Marvis identified that she was the oldest of the three children and that family was her priority. Also, she had worked with Disneyland for 11 years and had touched the lives of many customers with her exemplary services. Carrie was also close to her grandparents. On her Facebook wall, friends and family members posted messages as they celebrated her life.
The Family and Friends of Steve Berger
Steve, aged 44, was a single father of three and an award-winning financial planner. His friends identify that his presence brought comfort and created happy memories. He had previously talked to his father over the phone from a casino on the Saturday before the shooting.
The Effect of the Shooting on Survivors, Families, and Friends
The shootings had a massive effect on survivors, friends and family members. Firstly, the impact of the shootings on survivors is much intense. David Bugenske, who was at the Route 91 concert with his girlfriend told the BBC that; “for the first two days I drank” to stop thinking about the incident. Dealing with the tragedy is complicated, especially since individuals keep on having recurring memories of the fateful day (Albom, 2009). Even though Bugenske came out of the place alive together with his lover, he felt that sharing time with other survivors was therapeutic. Psychologists identify that survivors are likely to experience nightmares frequently that disrupt sleep and the overall mental health of an individual (Dickinson, " Leming, 2010). Further, experiencing shootings can directly trigger Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Researchers explain the condition by identifying that rather than the human brain returning to a calm state individuals experience five stages of grief as established by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross. The Swiss-American psychiatrist identified that individuals experience denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance (Dickinson, " Leming, 2010). Some of the effects may subside, while others may last for much longer.
Among the family members, research identifies that children are the most affected. Childhood trauma has more lifelong and pervasive effects on young developing psyches as they have less developed psychological and physiological systems to handle stress (DeSpelder, " Strickland, 2016). As a result, children experience increased nightmares, intrusive thoughts and emotional changes as compared to adults. Consequently, the development of children is impaired, and it affects their lives immensely such as their academic performance. The mass shootings also have a significant effect on life partners and friends. The impact of mass shootings among adults is however influenced by the level of affection between an individual and the deceased (Albom, 2009). A bereaved life partner experiences more depression as compared to a distant friend. Research identifies that the traumatizing condition could lead to the development of health problems such as sleep disruption, chronic pain, memory lapses, digestive issues, etc (Dickinson, " Leming, 2010). Further, organizations are affected in that they lose employees that are essential to their operations. The mass shootings raise fear of insecurity in America and have had an enormous effect on the economic development of the nation. The nation needs to develop better policies to prevent a repetition of the incident.
Dealing with the Loss of a Loved One
It is essential that all the individuals that lose their loved ones, or those that survived the incident engage in the right treatment programs. Several ways have been identified as crucial to the healing process of an affected individual. Talking about the feeling, participating in support groups, and spending time with family members and friends are effective methods of dealing with bereavement and death (DeSpelder, " Strickland, 2016). Further, therapies such as Somatic Psychotherapy and Cognitive Behavior Therapy have been identified as effective therapies as they utilize a methodology that focuses on identifying the feeling and the experience of an individual. Each of the intervention methods should be designed in a manner that meets the treatment needs of family members, friends, and survivors (Dickinson, " Leming, 2010). For instance, children should be approached differently as compared to adults. Children at a tender age may find it challenging to understand death and its cause. Further, donations made to the families of the victims of the shootings can be used to facilitate a healing process for survivors, family members, and friends. The funds can also be essential in providing finance in cases where the deceased were the primary income source. Consistency and follow-ups in the application of the intervention methods would ensure that individuals, the society, and the nation deals with the loss of loved ones.
In conclusion, mass shootings in America have led to the loss of many innocent lives. The act has caused immense pain to affected family members and friends. Survivors also suffer from depression. The right therapies and association with friends and family members are effective methods of dealing with the loss of a loved one. America never seems to learn from previous attacks. It is the high time that all resources are pulled together to prevent more mass shootings.
References
Albom, M. (2009). Tuesdays with Morrie: An old man, a young man, and life's greatest lesson. Hachette UK.
BBC News: Las Vegas shooting survivors talk about trauma and flashbacks by Georgina Rannard, Published on 5th November 2017.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-41792276 (Accessed on August 5, 2018).
DeSpelder, L. A., " Strickland, A. L. (2016). The last dance: Encountering death and dying. McGraw-Hill Higher Education
Dickinson, G. E., " Leming, M. R. (2010). Annual editions: Dying, death, and bereavement. McGraw-Hill/Dushkin.
Metzl, J. M., " MacLeish, K. T. (2015). Mental illness, mass shootings, and the politics of American firearms. American journal of public health, 105(2), 240-249.
The Los Angeles Times: Las Vegas shooting victims: Portraits of the fallen Published on 6th
October 2017.
http://www.latimes.com/projects/la-na-las-vegas-shootings-victims-list-20171002/# (Accessed on August 5, 2018).
