October 18, 2017 While it’s easy to understand the horror he inflicted, truly comprehending the motivations of Stephen Paddock (the Las Vegas shooter), let alone empathizing with his outlook, is a very long reach.
From news reports, it seems clear he was intent on having his actions publicly recognized. But to what end? Timothy McVeigh, the Oklahoma Federal Building bomber, wrote that you need a high body count if you want to get publicity.
Paddock certainly achieved that. Although he frightened many people, he isn’t labeled a terrorist because that term is usually reserved for actors who seek to advance some political cause.
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