A few blocks from my home at the corner of Jones and Robindale in the southwest valley of Las Vegas, a man committed a random act of senseless murder and violence. It could have happened anywhere in the world. But this one was in my neighborhood.
It was 12:30 a.m., a man was sitting in his car in front of a convenience store gas station, and his girlfriend was inside shopping. This lone gunman walked up to the waiting driver and shot and killed him. He then proceeded inside, shooting randomly at both the customers and employees. They were all able to escape. This incident happened on November 4, 2021, and I remember it vividly.
Random Acts of Senseless Murder and Violence
Law enforcement never found a motive, and it appears to be just what it was: a random act of senseless murder and violence. I have omitted the gunman’s name because I don’t believe in making people like this famous. I have also omitted the victim’s name out of respect for him, his family, and friends.
So when someone asks me, “Why do you think you need to carry a gun?”
Well, because of things like this, the random acts of senseless violence seem to be happening all too often in our city, country, and the world. It doesn’t seem to matter where you are because anywhere now you are in a “soft target” area—stores, schools, hell, everywhere, in public.
Adding More Firearms laws
I know many people seem to believe that adding more laws or background checks will either solve or reduce this senselessness, but I don’t. We currently have some 20,000 gun laws in the United States. Some states (California, New York, New Jersey, Oregon, and Hawaii) are adding more and more laws due to Supreme Court rulings that they are, in fact, violating their citizen’s constitutional 2nd Amendment right to keep and bear arms.
I have owned guns pretty much my whole life, never shot anyone, and hopefully, I never will, either! I carry my gun to protect myself, my family, and yes, if the situation arose, perhaps one of you, if we found ourselves in a situation like this one.
Criminals Don’t Follow the Law
Criminals don’t abide by or respect the law, they live by an entirely different set of rules than you and I do. They believe they have a right to take from you what you have worked for, even at the cost of your life or anyone else’s!
Life Isn’t Cheap
To them, life is cheap, especially if it is your life! For me, however, my life and the lives of those who I love, well, that is very important!
By Cam Oliver
Cam Oliver is the Senior Firearms Instructor for ZRANGE LLC. He is a State of Nevada Certified (CCW) Concealed Carry Weapon, Las Vegas Metro Police Certified (CCW) Instructor, and a former Law Enforcement Officer (L.E.O.) from the State of Texas.