The Orlando tragedy: A vicious cycle!

(Baonghean) - The deadliest mass shooting in American history not only reveals the dark side of gun culture in the "land of the stars and stripes" but also increases the terrifying risk of terrorists developing and operating within the United States. This is also an unfinished challenge that President Barack Obama will find difficult to resolve during his remaining time in office.

A portrait of suspect Omar Mateen. Photo: Reuters.

It's difficult to stop a "lone wolf".

Gun violence is not uncommon in the US; however, a mass shooting that killed 50 people and was linked to terrorism is particularly noteworthy, given that the US is a leading nation in the global fight against terrorism.

In the latest shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, the perpetrator has been identified as Omar Mateen, 29, an Afghan-American citizen born in New York and residing in Florida. Hatred is considered a potential motive for the attack, as Mateen's family confirmed the perpetrator harbored homophobic views.

But that wasn't all. Before the attack, Omar Mateen called the 911 emergency number, pledging allegiance to the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) and mentioning the 2013 Boston terrorist bombers.

This individual had also been questioned by security agencies three times regarding several incidents related to terrorism, but was not under surveillance or investigation prior to the shooting due to a lack of evidence. US authorities are investigating Mateen's connection to ISIS, as the shooting bears some similarities to recent attacks carried out by the organization in France and Belgium.

Another noteworthy detail is that just hours after the shooting, ISIS claimed responsibility. However, US officials said there was no evidence to suggest that the suspect, Omar Mateen, was an ISIS member. ISIS has repeatedly claimed responsibility for terrorist attacks unrelated to them. Given the group's repeated setbacks on multiple fronts in Syria, Iraq, and Libya, this claim of responsibility could be a bluff.

Mateen's family confirms the perpetrator is homophobic. (Photo: Reuters)

To date, many observers still lean towards the possibility that Mateen's attack was carried out in a "lone wolf" fashion – an attacker acting alone to show support for the extremist group despite not receiving support from a terrorist organization.

This clearly poses an unpredictable danger to American security because terrorists are living, developing, and operating within the country. These are disgruntled youths who have been indoctrinated with extremist ideologies, easily becoming cold-blooded terrorists and acting like Mateen. Therefore, controlling these elements is no easy task.

The President's defeat

After every mass shooting, a pressing issue is brought up for discussion: gun control. In a televised address from the White House, President Obama said the Orlando nightclub massacre was a further reminder of how easy it is in America to acquire weapons and shoot people.

Recent statistics show that the vast majority of guns used in the last 16 mass shootings in the US (including two used in the Orlando terrorist attack) were purchased legally and under federal scrutiny.

Despite being a strong supporter of gun control and ownership laws, after nearly two terms, Obama's efforts have yielded little significant results, if not outright failures.

During his eight years in office, President Obama has had to appear in public more than a dozen times because of mass shootings. He once called the Sandy Hook elementary school shooting, which killed more than 20 children, the darkest day of his presidency. But now, the scale and nature of the Orlando massacre are far more serious. However, Obama will have few more opportunities to persuade Congress to pass the stricter gun control legislation he has been advocating for.

It's worth reiterating that firearms are considered a part of American history and culture – a country of immigrants and pioneers who settled new lands.

However, America has changed a great deal over the past 200 years, and gun ownership has become increasingly intertwined with crime. The ease of owning personal weapons in the US makes firearms a tool for extremists to commit crimes.

President Obama speaks about the nightclub massacre in Orlando, Florida. Photo: CNN.

But not everyone is happy with "gun control," given that the gun industry generates significant revenue for the American economy. The National Rifle Association (NRA), representing the gun industry, is one of the most powerful and influential lobbying organizations in the United States. After each mass shooting, instead of supporting gun control laws, this organization launches pro-gun campaigns arguing that owning a weapon is a way to protect against attacks.

Thus, the story of gun control in the US is a vicious cycle with no way out, and therefore, even though he is a president who "doesn't like violence," as many describe him, Obama will find it difficult to implement reforms in gun ownership laws.

Clearly, this bloody shooting in Orlando is a new tragedy, but it presents old challenges that will likely not be easy to resolve for the Obama administration or any new administration after 2016.

Thanh Huyen