OPINION — As Americans, we have a lot going on this summer: festivals, parades, fireworks, family vacations and the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which brought millions of fans to stadiums, city streets and watch parties nationwide.
Most public events take place without incident. However, history reminds us that large gatherings can also attract criminals and, in rare cases, terrorists.
We all remember the headlines. In 2017, the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas became the site of the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history. Sixty-one people lost their lives, more than 400 were wounded by gunfire and hundreds more were injured while fleeing. In 2022, seven people were killed and dozens more injured during the Fourth of July parade attack in Highland Park, Illinois.
