Lunatic Fringe: Survivalist forum praises Las Vegas gunman
鈥媁ithin hours of last weekend鈥檚 Las Vegas Mandalay Bay mass shooting, far-right extremists were quick to cast blame on a host of familiar enemies, such as听,听, Democrats, and even the听.
Their conspiracy theories swirled around multiple gunmen, a staged hotel room, false flag operation 鈥� even the murder of the gunmen, Stephen Craig Paddock, by government agents prior to Sunday鈥檚 shooting. Preppers, survivalists and militia extremists are debating familiar messages of an impending gun ban, violations of their Second Amendment rights, and gun confiscations in the aftermath of the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history.
Amidst this nonsense and paranoia, one extremist message shockingly rose above it all. It amounted to tacit praise for Stephen Paddock, the man responsible for killing 59 people and injuring over 500 others. In survivalist circles, Paddock is being characterized as the 鈥減erfect example鈥� of a 鈥淕ray Man.鈥�
The 鈥溾�� (also referred to as 鈥淕rey Neighbor鈥� or 鈥淕rey Man鈥�) is a term used within the survivalist/prepper community to describe someone who blends into society, avoids attention, conducts their weapons stockpiling and other operational activities in secret, and, most importantly, remains elusive from detection by government authorities. According to the , the Gray Man is 鈥渁n individual who possess the skills, ability, and intent to blend into any situation or surrounding without standing out, concealing his or her true skills, ability, and intent from others.鈥� In other words, they dress, behave, and conduct their activities in such a way that others never notice or suspect them. People simply forget them and can鈥檛 recall what they look like or did.
On October 3, 2017, a person using the Internet moniker 鈥淪urvivor鈥� posted a link to an article entitled 鈥淪tephen Paddock: The Perfect Gray Man.鈥� In his , Survivor says, 鈥渢he goal of the Gray Man is to blend in, and Stephen Paddock did just that.鈥� The writer boasts, 鈥淪omehow, he planned, implanted, and executed a mass shooting, and never raised a red flag.鈥�
Survivalist Kevin Felts, author of the primary about Paddock, points out that the gunman adhered to Gray Man principles. Paddock had no criminal record. He reportedly had no political ties 鈥� or, at least, did not openly speak of them. Further, according to his youngest brother, Paddock had no religious affiliation and didn鈥檛 express any strong political views. His family and friends never realized Paddock was amassing a deadly cache of firearms and ammunition. Paddock also had no history of mental illness. Most importantly, he had no past incidents of violence. Paddock鈥檚 only encounter with law enforcement was the receipt of a minor traffic ticket issued several years ago.
In his article, Felts praises Paddock, stating that he 鈥渨as able to plan and pull off mass murder, and he flew under the radar the whole time.鈥� Felt continues, 鈥淏y all accounts, Stephen Paddock was a model citizen.鈥澨� Felts, however, rightfully points out that perhaps no amount of gun laws would have stopped this horrific crime.
Comments to Felts鈥� article contained the usual far right conspiracy theories. Paddock is a patsy. Gunfire supposedly erupted from other locations at the hotel 鈥� but the person who suggested this theory had a hard time explaining how broken windows were repaired so rapidly before the media arrived on scene. Others suggested there were multiple shooters. Some surmised that Paddock must have been jacked up on drugs. A few, however, dismissed these claims for what they are 鈥� unreliable conspiracy theories and false rumors.
As America awaits news about possible motives for this mass shooting, it鈥檚 scary to think how a 64-year-old man was able to pull off such a well-planned, highly sophisticated act of mass murder. According to police, Paddock amassed (many considered assault rifles) and thousands of rounds of ammunition. Authorities believe Paddock likely spent tens of thousands of dollars to acquire his formidable arsenal. Paddock learned about, then acquired, several 鈥溾�� and used them with proficiency. He reportedly had and both inside and outside his hotel room. He wanted to know when the police were nearing his room. Paddock possessed and explosives both in his car and at his residence. He had over of uninterrupted automatic weapons fire which required a lot of endurance. Surprisingly, Paddock meticulously planned his attack from the Mandalay Bay hotel after casing other music venues in Las Vegas and .
It鈥檚 important to note that Paddock鈥檚 shooting rampage was only interrupted when police attempted to gain entry into his hotel room. If not for the officers鈥� heroic efforts, the automatic gunfire would have continued even longer, which would have resulted in more casualties. Investigators now believe Paddock may have been planning other violent attacks and purportedly planned to the Mandalay Bay hotel alive.
In the words of a survivalist, Paddock possessed and practiced many of the skills and tradecraft of a true prepper 鈥� weapons stockpiling, ammunition hoarding, marksmanship and operational stealth, among other traits. Obviously, Paddock had to learn these skills from someone. Authorities say it appears unlikely that Paddock committed this violent act alone, which begs the question: Was Paddock secretly affiliating or acquainted with the prepper lifestyle? From what we鈥檝e learned thus far from authorities, he certainly possessed many of the qualities of a modern-day survivalist. Whether Paddock embraced survivalism or its dark, end-times world view may never be known. Nevertheless, Paddock will be forever remembered within the survivalist/prepper community as the 鈥減erfect鈥� Gray Man. And, this disturbing fact further adds to the mysteries surrounding Stephen Paddock鈥檚 life.
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