Shooting at a Federal Building in Las Vegas

More sad news today, as a gunman opened fire at a federal building in downtown Las Vegas, wounding a deputy U.S. Marshal and killing a court officer. The gunman is dead, and his motivations are unknown, although law enforcement officials seem to believe he acted alone. Because it's a courthouse, it's impossible to say whether the gunman was motivated by malice towards the federal government, a grievance motivated by a court case or general animus towards the legal system, or whether the target was entirely random. Either way, it's a tragedy for those affected, and a reminder that security at federal buildings is no meaningless ritual.