The terrifying moment a gunman opened fire on a crowd of Las Vegas concertgoers is painfully etched into survivor Dean McAuley’s memory.
Now he and others who escaped the Oct. 1, 2017, mass shooting on the Strip are having healing images etched on their skin, something McAuley calls a “reminder of survival” and a “badge of honor.”
On Wednesday, 21 shooting survivors and first responders will receive free tattoos as a form of therapy at the Seven Tattoo Studio on Polaris Avenue.
The event, Healing Ink, is being organized by Artists 4 Israel, a nonprofit group that has provided “therapy tattoos” for survivors of terrorist attacks and mass shootings.
“Artists 4 Israel perfected this unique trauma therapy. They can incorporate existing scars into works of art or create meaningful images that draw the eye away from wounds. This allows victims to reclaim their bodies and the stories they tell,” the organization said in a statement.