NYC Terror Attack Has Citizens Responding In A Surprising Way

The last month has been trying times for the nation. Political parties are in civil media war, and not one, but two terrorist attacks have been made on domestic soil.

It has been just over a month since Stephen Paddock opened fire on innocent bystanders at a country music festival, killing 58 people.

The shooting in Las Vegas had the nation pretty rattled, but life continued. Media has died down concerning the details of the tragic event, and local “he said, she said” headlines are dominating.

That is until Tuesday’s horrific incident occurred. Fox News has the shocking details:

“In Tuesday’s attack, Saipov drove his speeding truck for nearly a mile along a bike path, running down cyclists and pedestrians, then crashed into a school bus, authorities said. He was shot in the abdomen after he jumped out of the vehicle brandishing two air guns, one in each hand, and yelling “Allahu Akbar.””

Sayfullo Saipov, 29, is an immigrant from Uzbekistan, who is thought to have ties to the Islamic state.

He was “consumed by hate and a twisted ideology”, federal prosecutors said to Fox News, when he drove a rented Home Depot truck down a bike path in New York City.

During the rampage, 8 people died and 12 were injured. With the World Trade Center memorial just a ways further down the path, another ISIS extremist attempted to intimidate the American people.

Motive for the terrorist was clear. He wished to kill as many people as he could with a single act.

CNN reported:

The suspect decided to conduct a truck attack “to inflict maximum damage against civilians” and that he specifically chose to strike on Halloween “because he believed there would be more civilians on the street for the holiday,” the complaint says.”

Civilian casualties could have been worse if the authorities hadn’t stopped him when they did.According to Fox News, he was hoping to continue to another bike path on the Brooklyn Bridge.

After a short court proceeding, in which Saipov requested care for his wound, a court date was set for November 15th by Judge Barbara Moses, through a Russian interpreter.

A court-appointed lawyer, David Patton, was assigned to Saipov. Patton has already advocated for wound care and a wheelchair while the assailant is in custody.

Asking for legislative assistance in making a terrorist feel comfortable while he is awaiting trial in federal custody is at the bottom of the necessities list right now.

It is a backward approach the correctional system has obtained, mainly through fear of liability and media attention that affects funding.

A criminal should have human rights to food, water, and shelter. Our extremely “politically correct” society has ineptly expanded those rights to certain luxuries such as television, pillows, and snacks.

When you break the law you forgo the delicacies of life you are open to as a law-abiding citizen.

When questioned in his hospital bed, Saipov admitted to being inspired by ISIS videos and decided on his attack using a truck over a year ago.

Although there was no warning signs to the innocent bystanders on the bike path, there is a trend emerging that we would be wise to take heed to.

In the past few years, there has been dozens of terrorist vehicle attacks in countries all around the world, including France, USA, Canada, England, Spain, Sweden, and Germany.

All these attacks targeted heavily trafficked populated areas. So, what do these statistics mean for us as United States citizens?

This could be a warning on how to better protect ourselves. It is valiant that Mayor Bill de Blasio says, “terror won’t stop New Yorkers from going on with their day to day lives”, according to USA Today, but lives are being lost.

Madeleine Dale, a New York resident who frequents the bike path where the tragedy occurred, said to USA Today,“there is nothing Saipov or any terrorist could do to make her change how she lives.The quote continued to read, “We’re New Yorkers,” she said. “We win.””

I don’t know if the families of the victims who lost their lives by this terrorist act will feel like they have won.

Maintaining a sense of normalcy after a traumatic event is healthy for a coping mechanism. It is not the best idea, however, to continue participating in events that may lead to the end of your life.

USA Today reported on a NYC citizen who encapsulates the principle we are to be wary of concerning how these attacks affect our lives:

Anthony Vargas, 30, from Brooklyn, New York, said on Wednesday, it was “back to business as usual,” though he does worry what some refer to as resilience may be better characterized as an inevitable hardening.”We’re getting desensitized to these things,” he said. “You know, you kind of just see it and it’s like, ‘oh, there’s another one,’ and then on to the next thing.””

It is disheartening to think that society has become accustomed to such atrocities. We need to take a moment and take in the gravity of what is taking place in this nation.

Large events in big cities, that are heavily populated, should be reviewed by local authorities and representatives to ensure their safety for the public before attending.

As inconvenient, or disappointing, as it may be to miss an outing you had planned, history has to be taken into consideration and you should check security protocol with event management.

It is not good to lie awake in fear or let it consume our lives, but it should not be overlooked or taken for granted. Our safety is more important than the next big thing.

Please let us know in the comments section if you have stopped going to large events because of possible danger, or if you have not let it affect your daily life, and why.