More than a day has passed since Stephen Paddock carried out the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history, killing 59 people and injuring 500 more in Las Vegas. However, critics across the internet have been left with more questions than answers after shooting investigation officials, and subsequently the media, have resisted labeling the mass murder as an act of terrorism.
On Monday morning, officials said they found no connection between Paddock’s actions and international terrorist groups. Meanwhile, profile pieces and updates on new information about Paddock pegged him as “gambler who drew little attention” who was a “multi-millionaire real estate investor.”
In other words, Paddock was a man who fit the mold for the media’s narrative of the “lone wolf” who just snapped and is definitely, definitely not a person of color, and therefore will not be referred to as a terrorist.
Celebrities, media personalities, and vocal Twitter users took notice of the dissonance between the gravity of the mass shooting and the labels, or lack thereof, applied to the shooter himself. As MSNBC’s Chris Hayes said during a live spot next to the festival grounds where the shooting took place, “If this isn’t terrorism, what the hell is terrorism?”
https://twitter.com/ShaunKing/status/914822701080023040
https://twitter.com/ArianaGrande/status/914886991459651589
This is terrorism plain and simple. Terror bares no race, gender or religion. Democrats & Republicans please unite now #guncontrol 🇺🇸
— Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) October 2, 2017
As he leaves for Puerto Rico, Trump says Vegas shooter is a “very, very sick individual” but doesn’t answer whether it’s domestic terrorism.
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) October 3, 2017
https://twitter.com/hk_woolf/status/915192355032100864
Soooo we’re just going to continue to spin the “lone wolf” narrative instead of calling it what it is…terrorism. #VegasStrong #guncontrol
— Dr. Steven G. Blunt (@DrSGBlunt06) October 3, 2017
According to NV LAW, Stephen Paddock is a terrorist. #vegas #shooting pic.twitter.com/uenQcfLVkN
— Demetria Obilor (@DemetriaObilor) October 2, 2017
If Stephen Paddock voted for Trump he is a terrorist
— Tony Posnanski (@tonyposnanski) October 2, 2017
If Stephen Paddock voted for Clinton he is a terrorist
If Stephen Paddock voted for Stein or Sanders he is a terrorist
If Stephen Paddock did not vote he is a terrorist
I don’t need to wait..
Stephen Paddock is a terrorist
Still no mention by Trump of what Stephen Paddock really was. He was a Domestic Terrorist.
— Ed Krassenstein (@EdKrassen) October 3, 2017
There’s nothing I can tweet that will heal the heartache being felt today, but all my heart is with Las Vegas. This is domestic terrorism.
— Zendaya (@Zendaya) October 2, 2017
Several people pointed to the seemingly apparent correlation between a shooter’s or criminal’s skin color and how they’re defined as “terrorists” by law enforcement and the media, particularly before officials know all the facts.
https://twitter.com/MillennialShep/status/914893383755341824
https://www.instagram.com/p/BZyZcG2h6Eb/?tagged=lasvegasshooting
If the Las Vegas killer was Nigerian they will say its Terrorism & Even Blacklist Nigeria.
— Uncle Timmy (@thetimibalogun) October 3, 2017
But cos the Killer is White it is a Mental Case 🤔
https://twitter.com/emmyrossum/status/914849871181471745
Muslim shooter: whole religion guilty
— #Abdul (@HashtagAbdul) October 3, 2017
Black shooter: whole race guilty
White shooters: lone wolf. Give him a hug
Why is he not a “terrorist” why “lone wolf” he’s murdered over 50 people and injured nearly 500…ohhh! He’s not brown right? Got it. https://t.co/fhIpXnIUvg
— Lauren Jauregui (@LaurenJauregui) October 2, 2017
When you’re a white adult & committed the worst massacre in American history vs. when you’re a black child and did nothing wrong. pic.twitter.com/GyOpzoLvcb
— jordan (@JordanUhl) October 2, 2017
As legalese would have it, there are several reasons why terrorism, or even the phrase domestic terrorism, hasn’t been applied to Paddock. Societally, our “generally accepted definition of terrorism…requires a political, ideological, or religious motive,” the New York Times reported. However, as Newsweek pointed out, while federal law defines terrorism with these motives, Nevada law doesn’t require any sort of motive to define an attack as terrorism.
And though the federal government doesn’t actually have a statute that addresses domestic terrorism, it does have a definition—and it requires the intention to intimidate or coerce civilians, or government conduct or policy.
Ultimately, the applied definition of “terrorism” will boil down to Paddock’s motive, which officials have yet to provide. Whether that application will satisfy critics seeking justice for a label left unapplied to throngs of white, male shooters, however, is a different question entirely.
