The Supreme Court's Dangerous Reversal on Bump Stocks Puts Event Attendees at Risk

The Supreme Court's Dangerous Reversal on Bump Stocks Puts Event Attendees at Risk

By Gareth Gallagher, EVT Media

Last week, the Supreme Court issued a concerning ruling that has sent shockwaves through the live events industry - the Court overturned the federal ban on bump stocks, the device used by the shooter in the 2017 Las Vegas massacre that allowed him to fire hundreds of rounds per minute and kill many people at the event.

As someone who has vast experience dealing with crises at events, having been present during three separate bombings at various events over the past two and a half decades, this news is deeply troubling. The trauma and disruption caused by mass violence has a lasting impact, not only on attendees, but on the event organizers, staff, and surrounding communities tasked with responding and recovering.

The rate of fire the shooter was able to achieve with the illegal bump stocks was simply worrying. In an instant, a lone gunman was able to turn a night of live music and celebration into absolute horror for years to come. The mere thought of those devices being legal again is enough to give me nightmares.

I know all too well the crucial importance of robust and strict safety measures and emergency planning for large gatherings, festivals and events. I have personally lived through the aftermath of terrorist attacks at events, dealing with the logistical nightmares, injured concertgoers, and traumatized staff including myself. I talked about all these experiences in my book "Eventually Gareth. The Show Had To Go On", which provides a behind-the-scenes look at the realities that event and festival planners face.

When the bombs went off at the events I was running, everything descended into complete pandemonium. Despite having little to no prior training or experience in crisis management, we were suddenly thrust into the throes of a life-or-death situation.

People were running and screaming, desperately trying to find a way to safety, while others lay motionless, having drawn their final breaths. The sheer horror and helplessness of those moments is seared into my memory. As awful as this sounds, it is the harsh reality that far too many event and festival planners are woefully unprepared to confront.

That feeling of dread and absolute powerlessness stays with you for years after such an ordeal. It's why I speak so passionately about the critical need for the events industry to prioritize comprehensive safety protocols and emergency response planning. Even years later, the trauma of that panic and uncertainty can be truly crippling.

And the ripple effects of these attacks stretch far beyond the initial incident. The lasting damage to public confidence, the events industry's reputation, and people's sense of security is immense. This is the harsh new landscape that event organizers must navigate in the wake of the Supreme Court's decision.

The Supreme Court's decision to overturn the federal bump stock ban, which was enacted after the Las Vegas shooting, represents a devastating rollback of common-sense gun safety measures. It effectively opens the door for these rapid-fire devices to be freely available once again, putting the lives of countless event attendees and others at risk.

The live events space is already dealing with so many challenges in the aftermath of the pandemic. The last thing we need is this additional cloud of fear and vulnerability hanging over us. Event organizers are going to have to seriously re-evaluate their security protocols and emergency plans in light of this ruling. It's an absolute travesty but no surprise.

As the events industry continues to recover and rebuild, the safety and wellbeing of performers and fans must also be top priority. The Supreme Court's decision has thrown a dangerous wrench into those efforts, making the job of festival producers and venue operators all the more difficult and high-stakes. The ramifications of this ruling will be felt for years to come.