Two tragedies: Northern Nevada endures shooting, crash

Twice in less than two weeks, Northern Nevada has been struck by the kind of unspeakable tragedy that most communities struggle to comprehend.

On Sept. 6, a 32-year-old gunman killed four people, including three uniformed members of the Nevada National Guard, and wounded seven others at a Carson City IHOP restaurant before killing himself. The resulting grief spread beyond Carson City and the guard's nearby Readiness Center to all of the state's military installations.

"Three of our best have died this week," Gov. Brian Sandoval said at a Sept. 11 service. "We gather here to ensure death will not triumph over their good names."

On Friday, just five days after the governor's remarks, a World War II-era fighter plane plunged into the grandstands at the Reno National Championship Air Races. The P-51 Mustang appeared to have mechanical problems -- one photo taken moments before impact indicates part of the tail section broke off -- before it spiraled into spectators. As of Monday afternoon, 10 people had died as a result of the crash, most of them visitors to Nevada. More than 50 people were injured; many of their wounds were horrific.

The sorrow that followed the Carson City shooting was rooted in the randomness of the violence. Friday's crash, however, prompted much anguish over whether spectators were adequately protected at an event that had seen 17 pilots killed in crashes over the years.

Death had long been seen as unavoidable at an event where pilots push vintage airplanes to their performance limits, streaking at speeds of 500 mph around Reno Stead Airport. The races captured the spirit of aviation like no other air show; the element of risk thrilled participants and fans alike at the only event of its kind in the United States.

But spectators had never been hurt before Friday, and now the future of one of Reno's biggest tourist draws is in doubt. The races have an annual $80 million economic impact on the Reno area, attracting nearly 100,000 visitors every year. The National Transportation Safety Board, which oversaw the races every year, is investigating the crash and whether proper safety protocols were followed.

The disaster is a terrible reminder for tourism officials and anyone who puts on special events that risks to participants can, under the worst circumstances, easily spread to audiences, too. A state so heavily reliant on tourism must vigilantly protect not just visitors' experiences, but their lives.

In a state with clear regional and cultural divisions, it's easy for Clark County residents to quickly move past these stories and consider them someone else's problem. But these are Nevada tragedies with statewide effects. Nevada has suffered through years of bad news, but none worse than this month's deaths in Carson City and Reno.

The thoughts and prayers of Southern Nevada are with all the families whose loved ones were killed or hurt in these unthinkable calamities.