Shooting at Virginia Tech; people killed

[isabeau]

Can we please move the gun control elements of this thread to another thread?

As for the tradegy itself, it is horrible. Over 30 people dead for no good reason. This is not something you expect to happen on a college campus.

i was just about to say that...start a thread about the pros/cons of gun control....there are dead people, who on sunday, were alive and happy for the most part....and now they are gone..

and now the media is trying to blame the school for not having a lock-down after the first shooting incident..how were they to know he was still at large? there were conflicting reports that a gunman was in custody, and also the gunman in the second incident was described differently..of course this was probably under duress from the eye witnesses..

 

[kis123]

For those who have criticized American culture as the culprit, the gunman was a Chinese student who arrived in this country last August on a student visa. Obviously, they're not teaching mental stability in other countries as well.

Just another jilted lover who couldn't handle rejection; they're obviously all over the world. How sick and narcisistic (sp) is that? I hate that "if I can't have her, nobody will" mentality; it's mentally unbalanced no matter what country it comes from.

I don't know why people are getting so uptight about the other issues coming out of this; this is the time to discuss it all and get everything out on the table. I'm sorry it's turned into a political issue, but 911 was a political issue, I don't see why this would be different.

I still believe that the students, faculty, staff, and their families are the main focus of discussion, but other issues will come out of this. It's hard to collect one's thoughts after such a tragedy happens; a lot of folks (myself included) are basically typing as the thoughts come. We'll try to categorize things and make them neat, but it may not always work that way in a situation like this.

 

[isabeau]

Kis you make a point..the regular citizen who owns a gun, should not be allowed to own an entire arsenal..it doesn't take massive weaponry to take down Bambi...i would like to know how he came across all that he owned..plus bringing chains to lock the doors..damn...

He is another Ted Bundy, who took it out on innocent souls, because he couldn't get the one he wanted..

 

[steph]

Horrible indeed. Plus, this wasn't just any old college campus. It's out in the middle of BFE. I mean, there is NOTHING around that place!
XOXO

As for the tradegy itself, it is horrible. Over 30 people dead for no good reason. This is not something you expect to happen on a college campus.

 

[isabeau]

John Boy and Billy just ended their radio show with a song tribute to what happened yesterday....playing Eric Clapton's "Tears in Heaven" and incorporating various news info within..and ending with the Speaker of the House asking for a minute of silence..and one could hear sniffles...

 

[subZer0]

Such a sad event, I was truly horrified when I first knew about this. PM Blair has expressed his sincere condolences, and I extend mine. I pray for everyone involved that they recieve all the support they need to come to terms with and progress from this sad event.

 

[justatickler]

(edited)

 

[red indian]

It seems justatickler did not get very good grades in his "extreamly recent and blindingly obvious US history" exam.

Just to bring you up to date the "drivel about airline crashes" was a reference to an event wich took place in New York at the world trade centre on sept 11: 2001. Are you seriously telling me you had no idea what I was refering to? if so, you need a doctor real quick.

I have no idea how you get the impression I am mounting "a partial attack" on second ammendment defenders. I am mounting a full frontal attack.

You then go on to say you have no idea what my opinon is on the matter? really? you have no idea what my opinion is? seems you did poorly in your english comprehension grades as well.

Just to explain then, I am in favour of gun control...doh!

My point is very clear and very obvious, and I suspect your real problem is you have no plausible answer, hence your refuge in "witty" "urbane" putdowns.

However I will indulge you a little further (do try and keep up this time) The US recieved a very nasty shock on 9/11, hundreds of innocent people lost their lives. The whole US was rightly determined to make sure that nothing like it would ever happen again in the US. That is of course a perfectly correct attitude to take, and the US government has been working hard ever since to make sure that it cannot happen again. No stone has been left unturned, no expense has been spared, no obsticle has been allowed to get in the way of this goal.

So far all the measures taken have been a success. Now my point is if the US can take such firm action to prevent people dying as a result of an airliner being flown in to a building, why cant it show the same level of concern for innocent kids who get shot at school?

How many innocent US citizens have been shot since 9/11? why is being struck by an airliner worthy of so much government intervention? when being shot dead at school produces lame excuses about ancient ammendments and banal, pointless explanations about guns being harmless unless someone pulls the trigger.....oh really? I had no idea!!!....so, let me get this straight....smeone has to pick a gun up and fire it at someone for it to be dangerous?.....i cant believe I missunderstood that.

Thanks for putting me right on that one.

As for the suggestions that my line of posting is off topic, well, someone committs the biggest mass murder in US history by shooting kids with a gun, and your telling me that to mention gun control is off topic?

 

[justatickler]

Your 'point' is nothing more than blindly criticizing my country's government when you have absolutely no idea what you're talking about. You have yet to offer a single idea beyond your moronic blathering as to exactly what should be done, what the intended result is, and what level of accountability will be applied to it. You can sit at your desk all day long and banter about how they should 'do something' since they 'did something' with other things, yet I don't see a single, intelligent suggestion as to exactly what should be done.

That being said, there is a specific gun control thread going in the politics area. If you'd like to continue your ranting, I'd suggest you go there to please the consensus.

 

[chicago]

Security can be tightened, sure, but I don't think there is really anything we can do to prepare for something like this. Especially in a place as public as a college setting. In terms of preventing it, I think gun control laws should be stricter, but God forbid we inconvenience some NRA members and hunters.

However, after hearing this news...

"The gunman suspected of carrying out the Virginia Tech massacre that left 33 people dead was described Tuesday as a sullen loner whose creative writing in English class was so disturbing that he was referred to the school's counseling service."

I think perhaps he should have been given more help, and/or something more could have been done.

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[Cav88]

IMO the gun argument is probably better off with people who are know more about guns and the laws abiding them. Like the NRA forums or Conservativeunderground.com they're better at arguing why we should have guns because right now, I can't think of a good defense for them.

I can say right now that gun control won't do anything for incidences like these because this was out of a blue. A normal a law abiding citizen suddenly went apeshit and killed a bunch of people. This person had no history and was unassuming. No amount of gun control is going to keep a gun out of his hand. It was just delay it.

I personally don't own a gun, i have shot them though and it was fun doing it. I wouldn't be happy with a ban, but I can live without them.

 

[chicago]

IMO the gun argument is probably better off with people who are know more about guns and the laws abiding them. Like the NRA forums or Conservativeunderground.com they're better at arguing why we should have guns because right now, I can't think of a good defense for them.

I can say right now that gun control won't do anything for incidences like these because this was out of a blue. A normal a law abiding citizen suddenly went apeshit and killed a bunch of people. This person had no history and was unassuming. No amount of gun control is going to keep a gun out of his hand. It was just delay it.

I personally don't own a gun, i have shot them though and it was fun doing it. I wouldn't be happy with a ban, but I can live without them.

Stricter gun laws will make it harder for a non-US citizen to construct his own personal arsenal.

 

[red indian]

Sorry justy me old mate, I have explained what my post means very clearly, it seems you are picking it up slowy, but I dont have the time to go thro it a third time in the hopes one more sentance might sink in. I await your next empty amusing riposte.

Failing that, you could drop the third rate Oscar Wilde impression and make an interesting contribution.

 

[Highway101]

Please correct me if I am wrong, but it has been reported that there were two hours in between attacks. And only two people were murdered in the first attack. I am not making light of two tragic deaths but I want to know if the university was aware of the deaths during the two hours and what they did to notify and protect the rest of the campus.

 

[Cav88]

Stricter gun laws will make it harder for a non-US citizen to construct his own personal arsenal.

I think this is the only case of a person with a green card going on this kind of a rampage. But with home grown psychos, it will just delay them.

 

[armpitticklish]

Hi, im from new zealand and i heard yesturday about the shootings and im sorry to hear about the students that got killed or injured and my heart goes out the family and friends of those victims. I think it is sick what the gunman did, killing his ex-girlfriend and her counsillor (sorry im a bad speller), then going into classrooms shooting at students and teachers. Something should be done to stop these school shootings and etc. Why didnt the school do something when they knew about the first two shootings of the ex-girlfriend and her counsiller, they could of locked doors for just in case, how could they think he wasnt going to return and start shooting again, sorry im just saying what i think i read or heard about the shootings so if im getting this information wrong im sorry i just think that the school could of done something to prevent more students getting killed or injured and the police need to do something about people having guns. I really think only police should have guns not people that only use them to kill people or animals.

There shouldnt be gun shops that allow people who know and dont know how to handle guns probably and are not in the police force.

Also i hope people get contacted or find the people who were in the school who have gone missing or havent heard from. This is so sad, so many school shootings over the years in America, my heart goes out to the familys and friends of the victims.

 

[red indian]

Despite all the rubbish talked about how people can get guns on the black market, or can get hold of them illegally, and that this is usually the way murderers get their weapons, it turns out this guy bought his guns from a regular store.

Maybe if there had not been a high street store where he could buy his guns this might not have happened. But then what do I know, I live in a country where you cant buy hand guns in a shopping mall. We have a much lower incidence of gun crime, there is no connection between these two facts surely?

 

[kilitiinko1]

I don`t understand....

How come these monsters only pull off their attacks in places where it is illegal for people to defend themselves? Where were the police? How come the they couldn`t stop this?Why didn`t they protect everyone? There were certainly a lot of police present and they most certainly had the perpetrator out-numbered and out-gunned! 😡

Seriously,this was truly a terrible tragedy,and my heart does go out to all the victims and their families and friends.

Yes,I realize that calling for more gun control is the popular,knee-jerk,feel-good,politically correct answer indoctrinated in the masses of sheeple by the liberal media ,politicians,and all of our beloved institutions of cash flow,I mean,higher learning.But would more gun control really have made a difference? This monster seemed rather determined to me.If he couldn`t have used a gun,what do you think his second choice would have been?A bomb? A car? Poison/chemicals?When all the guns are gone,and people are still killing people,what should we ban next? Are we as a nation really willing to sacrifice all our constitutional rights for an illusion of safety?The freedoms that we enjoy at this moment were paid for in blood,by patriots past and present.Do we really want to honor these heroes who died for these rights by giving them up,all for a false sense of safety?

 

[justatickler]

Maybe if there had not been a high street store where he could buy his guns this might not have happened.

You're quite the inquisitive analyst, aren't you? Well, maybe if students and teachers were allowed to remain armed on campus this might not have happened. Maybe without guns he might of just blown something up, instead. We can go back and forth with maybes all day long, because you don't provide solutions, all you do is speculate and criticize. That won't get the job done.

But then what do I know, I live in a country where you cant buy hand guns in a shopping mall. We have a much lower incidence of gun crime, there is no connection between these two facts surely?

Most people who commit gun-related crimes don't just walk into the store, buy it, wait, and murder. So what you're doing now is just making a hasty generalization. In this particular instance, the murderer followed that path. Something the vast majority of gun-criminals don't do. So why don't you tell us what criminologically superior country you're from, and do your part to substantiate your theory?

 

[Ayla ny]

I just attended the Accepted Student’s Open House with my brilliant, first born son this past Friday. He was accepted to, and won academic scholarships to, a VERY similar college. This scares the hell out of me. I am sending my 17 year old baby far from home… to allow him to become the adult I know he is capable of becoming… and this is what I see? He actually joked with me, “It’s just the Columbine generation going to college.” Not funny (his typical cynical/clever whit… but NOT funny)!

I’m a Mom praying that this results in plan and policies and NOT copycats.

 

[Goodieluver]

Great, now they got roomates and other students givin their "Expert testimony" about this kid and how weird\loner he was and even giving the media his plays he wrote

I am bothered because all this will do is do what columbine did for so long. Everyone is gonna be paranoid of that one kid who likes to keep to himself, listens to different music, dresses differently and isnt happy 24\7 as the world says you should be

We are gradually approaching a time where all kids who arent "happy" are gonna be reported and sent to shrinks because of fear of events like these

 

[kis123]

I just attended the Accepted Student’s Open House with my brilliant, first born son this past Friday. He was accepted to, and won academic scholarships to, a VERY similar college. This scares the hell out of me. I am sending my 17 year old baby far from home… to allow him to become the adult I know he is capable of becoming… and this is what I see? He actually joked with me, “It’s just the Columbine generation going to college.” Not funny (his typical cynical/clever whit… but NOT funny)!

I’m a Mom praying that this results in plan and policies and NOT copycats.

Unfortunately, your son may be onto something. There is this underbelly in our younger generation that is completely void of coping skills; they can't handle any thing that doesn't work their way. Most of today's generation hold some of the smartest, sharpest, most creative minds I've ever come across, but there some folks with some serious problems.

We had an incidident take place at one of Cleveland's most prestigious colleges CASE Western Reserve University a few years ago. Only one was killed but several were injured; the perpetrator was an older man with serious paranoia and mental problems.

Unfortunately, no one can determine if/when these type of incidents occur. I have a daughter in college in PA; it hasn't been fun times around her campus lately either. Our society is going to the dogs and now all we can do is tighten security and hope it never happens again.

 

[brianspencer66]

Stricter gun laws will make it harder for a non-US citizen to construct his own personal arsenal.

Hmm seems to me its not about non US citizens its about crazy behavior and all those other school shooting were by american kids. And like you did mention perhaps we should start another thread about who has the right to bear arms. You made a valid point earlier stick to your guns no pun intended.

 

[chicago]

Hmm seems to me its not about non US citizens its about crazy behavior and all those other school shooting were by american kids. And like you did mention perhaps we should start another thread about who has the right to bear arms. You made a valid point earlier stick to your guns no pun intended.

I was not insinuating that non-US citizens with guns are a common problem here, I was using the present events as an example. If gun laws were stricter then it would be more difficult for anyone to get a gun, let alone someone here on a student visa.

As for "sticking to my guns" (quite an insensitive choice of words, I think) Kis made a good point in that this is the time to discuss these things and it's going to be difficult to talk about this event without touching on gun control.

 

[chickles_:)]

Hi everyone!
I just wanted to add my voice of deep grief and condolence to this thread. What happened is horrible. I know it is important to analyse and discuss the implications of such a terrible tragedy - it happens everytime something of this magnitude occurs.

But I hope too, that we can give ourselves - to say nothing of the family and friends - some time just to mourn the senseless loss of 32 young people each one of whom just last weekend looked forward to the future with the usual mix of life's joys and frustrations.

God have mercy on them and comfort to all who feel the agony of the loss.

Many blessings - even amid the shock and horror.
Chickles