WMNews: Orlando Nightclub Shooting
Never has a single gunman taken so many lives in the U.S., and not since September 11th has there been a worse example of terrorism on American soil. Welcome to WatchMojo News, the weekly series from WatchMojo.com where we break down news stories that might be on your radar. In this instalment, we're counting down 10 crucial facts you should know about the Orlando nightclub shooting.
Top 10 Orlando Nightclub Shooting Facts
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Never has a single gunman taken so many lives in the U.S., and not since September 11th has there been a worse example of terrorism on American soil. Welcome to WatchMojo News, the weekly series from WatchMojo.com where we break down news stories that might be on your radar. In this instalment, we’re counting down 10 crucial facts you should know about the Orlando nightclub shooting.
#10: What Was the Orlando Nightclub Shooting? The Tragedy
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On June 12th, 2016, a gunman killed 49 people at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida. The first shots were fired at around 2:00AM, before a 3-hour standoff and hostage situation unfolded. At 2:09AM, the club posted on its Facebook page; “Everyone get out of Pulse and keep running”. The assailant, 29-year old Omar Mateen, was eventually killed around 5:00AM, shot by SWAT officers who entered the building with an armored vehicle. The attack is the deadliest against the LGBT community in United States history, the country’s deadliest mass shooting by a lone gunman, and the worst terrorist attack in America since 9/11.
#9: Who Was the Shooter? His Motivation
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Omar Mateen was allegedly linked to terrorist groups, and there is mounting speculation that he was secretly homosexual. Mateen was on a terrorist watch list in 2013, after making inflammatory statements to co-workers citing connections to Al-Qaeda and Hezbollah. In 2014, he was also linked to Moner Mohammad Abu Salha, who had carried out a suicide bombing in Syria. During the Orlando shooting, Mateen reportedly called 911 and News 13 to pledge allegiance to ISIL, however, which is an enemy of Hezbollah’s. He had also posted on Facebook before the shooting, saying; “In the next few days you will see attacks from the Islamic State in the usa.” Mateen’s sexuality has also been analysed by experts looking for motivation. Patrons of Pulse have reported seeing Mateen at the club before, as well as having contacted him on gay dating apps. Mateen’s ex-wife has since said that doubts over his sexuality are not surprising, while the gunman’s father says that he didn’t think his son was gay. Meanwhile, on June 16th, the New York Times reported that FBI was sceptical of claims concerning Mateen’s alleged secret homosexuality.
#8: Who Were the Victims? The Innocent
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On the night of the attack, Pulse had been hosting a Latin event, reportedly drawing a largely Hispanic crowd. Over 300 people were inside the bar at the time of the shooting and standoff; 49 were killed and at least 53 were injured. The ages of the victims range from 18 to 50, three Mexican citizens were killed, while three Colombians and two Canadians were among the injured. Many others were treated in nearby medical facilities for shock and trauma. Text messages sent by 30-year old victim Eddie Justice show the scale of terror. He messaged his mother urging her to call the police, but minutes later he wrote, “He’s coming” and “I’m gonna die.”
#7: What Was the Left Wing’s Reaction? A Call to Reform
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In a speech, Barrack Obama described the attack as an “act of hate” and an “act of terror”. Obama travelled to Orlando to meet grieving families and injured survivors, and he and Vice President Joe Biden thanked local law enforcement officials for their response to the attack. Speaking after the meetings, Obama highlighted the grief, saying “those who defend the easy accessibility of assault weapons should meet these families”. The President also underlined the need for change, saying “we’re going to have to take different steps in order to prevent something like this from happening.” However, Obama was unable to offer any clear answers to the problem; “Unfortunately, our politics have conspired to make it as easy as possible for a terrorist or just a disturbed individual… to buy extraordinarily powerful weapons and they can do so legally," he said.
#6: What Was the Right Wing’s Reaction? The Constitution
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Florida senator and Republican Marco Rubio said he is “grieving for those who lost their lives and praying for those who were injured in this senseless act of hatred, violence and terror.” The right wing has criticised the left for directly linking American gun rights to terrorism however, insisting that the problem remains with the perpetrators’ mentalities rather than the availability of weapons. Ted Cruz directed his comments at the Democrats when he said, “show real courage and stand up against the vicious ideology that has targeted our fellow Americans for murder”, while Senator John McCain blamed the attack on the current administration’s ineffectiveness of combatting terrorism overseas. Donald Trump’s disapproval ratings reached new highs on June 15th, after posting seemingly self-promoting comments on social media after the attack. “Appreciate the congrats for being right on radical Islamic terrorism,” he tweeted, “I don’t want congrats, I want toughness & vigilance. We must be smart!”
#5: How Has the Public Reacted? The Outcry
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An immediate public reaction from the shooting involved a massive drive to donate blood. As people sought to offer any help they could, blood banks in Orlando were inundated and queues spilled out onto the streets. OneBlood experienced such an unprecedented response that their website crashed for a short time. Efforts were partially marred by FDA guideline that state gay men must be celibate for a year before they can donate – rules that are seen as a de facto ban on homosexual donors. The gay community itself rallied together as vigils and demonstrations of unity were staged worldwide. In Orlando, on the weekend following the attack, nightclubs experienced dramatically fewer numbers - but those that did go out did so with defiance. Speaking to the New York Times, one club-goer vowed, “I’m not going to let something like that mess up my routine.”
#4: How Does the Attack Compare to Gun Violence Around the World? The Contrast
In the wake of the Orlando attack, some news agencies, including CNN, reported that more mass shootings occur in the US than in any other nation in the world – with nearly a third taking place in America between the years 1966 and 2012. While exact statistics vary depending on the definition of a ‘mass shooting’, the apparent normalness of the crime is a worrying reality. Gun crime does happen in other countries though, with a high profile case occurring in the UK shortly after events in Orlando. On June 16th, Jo Cox, a 41-year old Labour MP died after being shot and stabbed in West Yorkshire by an attacker who reportedly shouted, “put Britain first” – seemingly relating to the UK’s upcoming EU referendum.
#3: How Do Mass Shootings Relate to Gun Violence Throughout the United States? The Epidemic
The three deadliest mass shootings in US history have occurred since 2007, indicating that the problem is worsening. The rampage at Pulse is the worst, followed by the Virginia Tech massacre in 2007 where 32 were killed, and then the 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School that saw 27 die. While the number of background checks for gun sales does tend to surge following high-profile shootings, citizens in the US still own upwards of 270 million guns, more than people in any other country. According to the NY Times, although the rate of gun violence in America is not the highest in the world, the US is an outlier among developed democracies. There were 8,124 gunshot homicides in America in 2014, according to FBI statistics, and the Times reports the US death rate from gun violence is around 31 per million people – which is equivalent to 27 people being shot dead every day of the year. However, mass shootings actually represent a relatively small portion of the gun deaths in the United States every year, with the rest being a mix of other types of homicides, suicides, accidents, police actions and undetermined incidents.
#2: What Is the Current Debate on Policy? Gun Control vs Anti-Terrorism
The debate over American gun control is ongoing and one of the most divisive issues in the country. During his time in office, President Obama has regularly highlighted a continuing problem and a continuing theme, as the threat of terrorism is matched with gun crime. Speaking in October 2015, after the Umpqua Community College shooting, Obama asked news agencies to “tally up the number of Americans who’ve been killed through terrorist attacks over the last decade and the number of Americans who’ve been killed by gun violence”. While the agencies’ responses did differ depending upon their criteria, the huge gap between gun-related homicide (which ranged between 150,000-400,000) and deaths by terrorism (of which there were around between 1,000-3,000) was impossible to ignore.
#1: What Effect Will This Attack Have on the US Political Spectrum? The Future
The Orlando nightclub shooting has brought both problems – gun control and terrorism – under huge scrutiny. In the midst of an election year, it’s sure to feature in party campaigns, and influence the minds of some voters. Donald Trump continues to play on public fear regarding the threat of radical Islam, and has argued that the attack on Pulse would’ve played out differently if those inside the club were armed as well. However, Hillary Clinton says that “not one of Donald Trump’s reckless ideas would’ve saved a single life in Orlando” and “we stand together because we are stronger together.” While the attack is sure to shape the rhetoric of both parties, it certainly won’t be forgotten by the American public, the LGBT community or international society as a whole. Did these facts get you thinking? To vote for which news story is covered next head over to WatchMojo.com/suggest, and be sure to hit that subscribe button for more newsworthy top tens published every week!
