Las Vegas, Nevada – As Heather Gooze was working at the Route 91 music festival in Las Vegas on October 1, 2017, chaos unfolded around her as a gunman unleashed a massacre on concert-goers below. The gunman, armed with a bump stock modification that turned his rifle into a rapid-firing weapon, killed 60 people and injured over 400 others, marking one of the deadliest mass shootings in US history.

Following the tragedy, then-President Donald Trump took action by banning bump stocks, a move that was seen as a positive step by many survivors of the attack. However, in a surprising turn of events, the US Supreme Court recently struck down the ban in a 6-3 opinion, ruling that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives had exceeded its authority in outlawing the device.

For survivors like Heather Gooze, the Supreme Court’s decision felt like a setback for the country, especially considering the impact bump stocks had during the tragic events in Las Vegas. Gooze vividly recalls the harrowing moments of trying to help victims amid the chaos and devastation caused by the gunman’s modified weapon.

While some, like Brittany Quintero, believe that stricter gun regulations may not necessarily prevent mass shootings, the reinstatement of access to bump stocks by the Supreme Court has left many reeling. The debate on gun control in the US has become highly politicized, with little progress being made on addressing the pervasive issue of gun violence.

Despite the challenges in passing federal legislation to ban bump stocks, survivors and advocates continue to push for reforms to prevent future tragedies. The Supreme Court’s decision to strike down the bump stock ban has reignited the debate on gun control in the US, with advocates on both sides expressing their views on the matter.

As discussions continue on the best path forward to address gun violence, the survivors of the Route 91 massacre remain determined to advocate for change and honor the memories of those lost in the tragic event. The impact of the Supreme Court’s ruling extends beyond just the legal realm, sparking renewed conversations on the role of gun regulations in ensuring public safety and preventing future mass shootings.