We must step up security for events like Las Vegas music festival

It was a great night for a concert, good weather, great country music acts and a happy crowd watching Jason Aldean perform when suddenly gunfire rang out from a 32^nd floor hotel room.

One concertgoer told Reuters he heard hundred of shots fired into the crowd.

{mosads}”It was crazy — I laid on top of the kids. They’re 20. I’m 53. I lived a good life,” said Mike McGarry, a Philadelphia financial adviser. The crowd fleeing the scene left footmarks on his back.

The biggest mass murder in modern U.S. history had taken place at the hands of a retired 64-year-old man whose name will now live in infamy. No words can adequately convey the loss of over 50 lives Sunday night.

Let’s look at the circumstances surrounding this horrific act. According to Las Vegas Police, Stephen Paddock checked into the Mandalay Bay Hotel on September 28^th. He most likely requested a front facing room. Fox News reported that in his room police found more the 10 guns including converted, fully automatic AR-15 style assault rifles with high capacity magazines.

These types of senseless acts always have legislators scratching their heads wondering what can be done to prevent things like this from happening in the future. The debate usually centers around gun control. I am all for personal freedoms, but maybe it’s time we make some sacrifices for the sake of our personal safety.

What happened Sunday may be a call for metal detectors in all buildings and venues that are at or near public gatherings. Why would a visitor need guns in a hotel and casino in Las Vegas? If the gunman asked for a room facing an area that was going to have thousands of people in a confined space, even if he said he just wanted to see the concert, there should be security protocols that kick in.

Transporting an arsenal of that size into a 32^nd floor hotel room, even by repeated trips, should have caught somebody’s eye.

Tragedies like what happened on Sunday make us all a little paranoid. Let’s face it, whether you go to a movie, a concert or go out to have a nice dinner there is always a chance that something tragic can happen. I am not suggesting we all turn into agoraphobics, but we do need better security on every level. Gun control will not stop anyone who wants to get a gun for illicit purposes. Is it time to look beyond that?

Adding new security measures to concerts and other public venues may now be a necessity. Hotels, casinos, tourist attractions and other businesses will probably tell you they don’t want to inconvenience their patrons. I dare them to say that to any of the loved ones of those killed on Sunday night.

Adding metal detectors to entrances and security training for all employees who interface with the public will create tens of thousands of new jobs. Businesses will balk at the new expenses, but how much is a human life worth these days?

So, my message to our state and federal lawmakers is let’s take the next step to protect our citizens. Pass laws that will require new proactive security measures that will help insure public safety. The time is now.

Jeff Alan is a multi-Emmy winning journalist and the author of “Anchoring America” and “Responsible Journalism.” His career spans over 40 years as a television news director and anchor. He also served as a media analyst for NBC and CNN.