Bill O'Reilly: Las Vegas massacre is the 'price of freedom

Former Fox News host Bill O'Reilly spoke out about the Las Vegas shooting on Monday, and referred to the massacre as "the price of freedom."

What does that mean?

O'Reilly, in a blog post shared on his website titled, "Mass Murder in Las Vegas," explained that the "polarizing" and "emotional" issue of gun control is so heightened that "little will be accomplished" for lack of common ground.

"The NRA [National Rifle Association] and its supporters want easy access to weapons, while the left wants them banned," O'Reilly explained.

"This is the price of freedom," he continued. "Violent nuts are allowed to roam free until they do damage, no matter how threatening they are."

The former Fox News host noted that his personal experiences in covering the emotionally charged topic of gun control only proved to him that "government restrictions will not stop psychopaths from harming people."

"[T]hey will find a way," O'Reilly said.

"The Second Amendment is clear that Americans have a right to arm themselves for protection," he continued.

"Even the loons," O'Reilly concluded.

Shooting statistics

At the time of this posting, 58 people were killed in Sunday night's mass shooting, and over 500 were injured either directly by the shooter, or as a result of the stampede and panic that ensued after the shooting.

Early estimates put the figures much lower, but as the day progressed, the numbers slowly climbed.

Law enforcement named the suspect as 64-year-old Stephen Paddock of Mesquite, Nevada. Paddock was reportedly already dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound when police arrived.

A motive for Paddock's actions is not currently known.