11 Minutes

As Episode 1 of "11 Minutes" (2022 release; 4 episodes of about 50 min each) opens, it is "October 1, 2017" and radio host Storme Warren addresses the camera: "This is about people helping people, not about the shooter." We then go to the Route 91 Harvest country music festival, with over 22,000 fans in attendance at the Las Vegas fairgrounds. Jason Aldean is the headliner and at some point, one can hear a popping noise: perhaps just fireworks?

Couple of comments: this is the latest documentary from veteran writer-producer-director Jeff Zimbalist ("Give Us This Day", "The Two Escobars"). Here he reflects on the largest mass shooting in US history, which happened 5 years ago to this very day. We get testimonials of those that were there, including concert fans, first responders, the police. Let me admit upfront that I had never seen any footage of these events, and to say that this will liken make you sick to your stomach, would be the understatement of the year. Episode 1 plays out over much (but not all just yet) of the infamous 11 minutes, during which the shooter fires round after round with his automatic weapons into the crowd. The elephant in the room (why, oh why, would anyone ever need to have automatic assault weapons in the first place) doesn't get addressed until episode 4, but when it does, it hits hard. The parents of a young woman killed at the event look into the camera and ask "how many more will have to die?" (that is: before meaningful gun restrictions are enacted). There are no words, frankly. The phenom of repeated and utterly predictable mass shootings is UNIQUE to the US in the entire world. Just think about that for a second. At the end of Episode 4 of this series, it lists the names of the 58 people that were killed 5 years ago in Vegas. Then it list the HUNDREDS and HUNDREDS of mass shooting victims in this country since Vegas 2017. How many more will have to die indeed...

"11 Minutes" was released a few days ago on Paramount+ in the lead-up to the 5th anniversary of the Vegas mass killing. I found this to be a most disturbing but heads on viewing experience. Meanwhile our so-called political leaders are more interested in taking NRA contributions than act, and hence continue to mostly ignore the issue. Shame on them all. If you have any interest in these issues, I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.

So yes it demonstrates how horrific this event was; awful and I'm sorry people had to go through it. It was very good at building the suspense of events leading up to the tragedy. But aren't we over thoughts and prayers and the heroism on the day? How about using this as a change of direction for gun reform in America? The only nod to this was from the parents of 1 unfortunate victim and their attempt to sue thr gun companies... but how about all those country music heroes of the stage calling for gun reform; it just needs a restriction of automatic weapons?.... some might say they don't want to upset the NRA too? (Like many politicians) this made me very sad. Why do we as humans never learn?

This was an incredible documentary. Unlike many documentaries that can feel a bit exploitative, this show shines light on one of the greatest tragedies of American history in a way that is shocking and healing at the same time. At the end of it all, this is a story of survival. After the sadness, came the healing. It was inspiring to see every day heroes putting their lives on the line to care for another human being. This is what humanity is all about. Rising from the ashes of a scorching flame and coming out stronger and better. This is a documentary that really is perfection. At the end of it, I felt inspired. Thank you!

After events like this, why is there still a single gun in civilian hands in the US?

61 dead, almost 500 hit by bullets and shrapnel and almost 900 total injuries.

All because of a single gunman.

What kind of event would be required to change American thinking on gun ownership?

I have watched episode 1 and it is very good. It's hard to watch because thousands of people were completely exposed, as a madman fired 1,100 bullets into the crowd that they were in.

The people who were there were traumatized and presumably will be for life. Many of them were shot and bear the scars.

Civilized nations don't have incidents like this. They take the required steps, so they don't ever happen again.

The route 91 act of terror of Oct 1 (911) is well made and shines a light on the horrors of the day. The first responders are true heroes and the series supports that fact with great strength. However, the elephant in the room has always been the missing hard drive. A laptop was reportedly taken from the hotel where the guns were fired with a "missing" hard drive and the series didn't cover that important detail. There are other unanswered questions which include why the ISIS admission was dismissed and why there were so many false calls made about other shooters. There is either a coverup or the guy is a serial(mass) killer for the new DNA age. Accordingly, 11 minutes should have touched on some of the possible motives and coverup theories. Still a must see!