THE appalling shootings at gay nightclub, Pulse, in Orlando, Florida have so far left 49 dead and more than 50 hospitalized, putting gun control, yet again, at the top of America’s domestic agenda. The death toll makes this the USA’s gravest gun attack by far. Omar Mateen mercilessly hunted down his victims, picking them off one by one as he cornered them in the nightclub. He had bought an automatic assault rifle and a handgun the week before. Already a security guard and trained at a police academy, he was licensed to carry a hidden weapon. Yet he claimed allegiance to ISIS in a phone call to the FBI and, later, ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack. It appears Mateen had been investigated for links to extremist Islamic fundamentalism, but although his father is a notorious pro-Taliban sympathiser, no proof was found. However, the full story is, it appears, only just unfolding. Mateen was reportedly a regular visitor to Pulse, and was identified by the owner and others as a gay man, something his father vehemently denies. In an online video, translated by the Washington Post, Mateen’s father regretted his son’s actions, but could not resist adding: “God himself will punish those involved in homosexuality.” Investigators apparently now believe that inner conflict over his double life could have led Mateen to commit the atrocity. My heartfelt sympathies go out to all those affected by this sickening, homophobic attack. Why in 2016 Americans are still allowed to buy machine guns is quite beyond me. The gun laws are an emotive topic to millions of Americans, but guns breed guns and until there’s a significant change of heart in the US these appalling crimes are likely to continue.