Omar Mateen - The Devil of America

(Baonghean) - The massacre in Orlando, Florida, USA, has shocked the world in recent days. 49 innocent people lost their lives at a nightclub catering to the gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community, and dozens were injured. All of this terrible happened at the hands of a cowardly individual, a true devil in the heart of America.

Omar Mateen, 29 years old, has been a name constantly appearing in newspapers and news reports for days. He is the perpetrator of the most horrific tragedy in American history, yet sadly, this is the very land where this killer was born and raised.

The assault rifle is similar to the weapon used by Omar Mateen in the Orlando, Florida, USA murder case. Photo: Telegraph

Omar Mateen murdered people of the same nationality using at least one American-made firearm – including an assault rifle he legally purchased from an American gun dealer. He was investigated twice by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on suspicion of involvement in terrorism.

Many believe that what needs to be done now is for the public to stop focusing on Omar Mateen's private life, because after all, this is precisely what someone who deliberately commits such heinous crimes craves.

Instead, perhaps we should focus our attention on the victims of this tragedy, their relatives and friends, and above all, decipher why mass shootings—an undesirable American "characteristic"—still occur rampantly and out of control. Furthermore, we need to clearly identify the forces and mechanisms that allow this vicious cycle of mass shootings to repeat itself in an inescapable circle on American soil.

Omar Mateen, the perpetrator of the Pulse nightclub tragedy, had previously pledged allegiance to ISIS. Photo: Twitter-Getty

According to sources, Mateen has visited the Pulse nightclub numerous times over the past few years. He was even spotted with his ex-wife at least once. Was he there to explore the place, prepare for a crime, or for more personal reasons? It's unclear! He is also believed to have used several mobile phone apps that facilitated communication among gay men. Was he doing this to gather information or simply to find partners? This remains a mystery.

Countless questions remain unanswered, and even in a series of comments on June 12th, the Miami Herald revealed that, according to "one of Mateen's former colleagues," he had made homophobic and racist remarks.

The man's ex-wife also stated that, during their short marriage, she frequently experienced abuse and suspected he might be gay. Of course, these are not final conclusions, but the answers to these unanswered questions will directly influence the motive for the crime.

Omar Mateen once took his wife to the gay nightclub Pulse. Photo: nydailynews.

Only one thing is undeniable: Mateen deliberately targeted the LGBT community at one of their safest venues, and committed the crime on a specific night – “Latin Music Night.” Perhaps this should be the top priority in the investigation, as more details are gathered and more speculations are made about the motive.

Frankly speaking, while American society may be more open to the LGBT community than other countries, there is still prejudice in the view that those who are "different" are going against the laws of nature and the command of God. As long as similar thinking persists, repeating crimes like the one Mateen committed is not impossible.

Furthermore, this free nation needs to consider the ease with which its citizens can acquire lethal weapons, not to mention those who hunt for weapons for nefarious purposes. Fairly speaking, whether leaning toward gun control amendments or insisting on protecting America's renowned gun culture, every citizen agrees that there is no reason for a civilian to own an assault rifle unless they are plotting an attack. Military weapons are specifically designed to quickly eliminate enemies, and they belong on the battlefield, not in everyday life.

Therefore, the shocking incident caused by the killer Mateen has forced the United States to re-examine how it is limiting the ability of suspected terrorists to access guns, especially high-lethal weapons. As CNN cites updated federal data, 91% of those on the US terrorist watchlist, after background checks, were allowed to purchase firearms in 2015.

Although Mateen is not among those restricted from buying guns, the alarming number still sends shivers down our spines when we consider the worst-case scenarios that could occur. Besides the fear of mass shootings, there are also individual murders and cases of people easily ending their own lives "thanks" to the lax gun control mechanisms in the US.

Ultimately, no one can deny that Omar Mateen is a monster born and nurtured within America, and only America can decide how to prevent the emergence of second, third, and subsequent Omar Mateens, thus closing a dark and painful chapter in a nation where guns are not simply weapons of self-defense.

Phu Binh

(According to the NYT)