Shootings at Virginia Tech

[Brad7]

I would just like to get everyone's thoughts about the shooting that happened there yesterday. Also, I would like to know if all people on AoG attending VT are ok? My thoughts and prayers go out to the families.

[Trigga Nometry]

Nothing for me to say except that it is just sad, and that is an understatement.

It is at times like these where I really envy the faithful and those with strong religious conviction that helps them get through times or events like these.

[Punch]

That guy was a nut, but I don't think anything could've really prevented it. VT police reacted as they should have to the first part of the shooting. They thought it was an isolated incident and didn't really bother to tell anybody. Then a couple of hours later he returns and starts his rampage. By then it was too late. VT emailed the students while this was going on and realistically this is the only way to communicate to all the students on such a large campus. It doesn't sound right at first but what else could they do to notify everybody. I'm sure they'll think of something now. As in the military, most of our instructions are "written in blood". Those of us that are in the military know what I'm talking about. Unfortunately, this will also be a new instruction "written in blood" for university campuses.

I have friends at work that have kids going to school there. One of them has a sister that is also in the Engineering program. Luckily they're all ok.

[RickA4]

Enough Blood was spilled in 9/11, for any "target" to not review and revamp there safety procedures. I bet you now that any kid who displays this type of behavior will be carefully looked at. After all the previous school shootings (especially the School Attack in Russia) and attacks within our country. things should have been a little more tighter. Good point Punch. May God Rest their Souls.

Peace

[Brad7]

What I do not understand ( and I most likely never will) is why, what makes America so different from other nations. We have over 11,000 gun related deaths (not including accidents) in the United States every year. Other nations around the world have a minute fraction of that. What is it?

[Luc]

What I do not understand ( and I most likely never will) is why, what makes America so different from other nations. We have over 11,000 gun related deaths (not including accidents) in the United States every year. Other nations around the world have a minute fraction of that. What is it?

Americans are raised to be more gun friendly. Also when comparing the gun deaths with other countries, you have to do it percentage wise. Guns have always played a part in America's up bringing. Guns "tamed" the wild west while giving its its notoriousness. Guns are fun to shoot at the range and to use when hunting but I feel not enough people respect guns for what they are truly designed for, and thats killing lots of things with little effort.

I agree that guns are useful and people have the right to own them however some things should be change when it comes to the sort of accessories people can buy fro there guns. Sure a 100 round drum clip for an AR15 is fun at the range but it serves no purpose for "home defense". Same thing with armor piercing rounds. Automatic weapons are also fun at the range but not practical for civilians.

Also look at how much attention the shooters get from the media, they're immortalized in history for their actions and that attracts many other people to do the same things they did. Instead of saying the shooter was a "troubled person" they should call him a "****ing wacko dirt bag".

The shooter used a glock 9mm and ruger p22, he bought his guns legally. It just shows you how much damage you can do when you have superior fire power.

[Slim Stalker 1]

What really ticks me off is he was here in america on a visa?????????????
I bet he did not even have to pay for his tuition.......
He was rambling on about the rich kids and other things.
But good ole america lets anyone in the country......
How do you think them terrorists got in the country that did the 9/11 event????

[blindman]

What really ticks me off is he was here in america on a visa?????????????
I bet he did not even have to pay for his tuition.......
He was rambling on about the rich kids and other things.
But good ole america lets anyone in the country......
How do you think them terrorists got in the country that did the 9/11 event????

somebody correct me if i'm wrong, but he wasn't here on a visa. he had a green card.

[JDemonpbt]

He had a green card, and moved here from South Korea when he was 8yrs old the news said.

[pbwizard]

no America is not different.....we actually have it better here! These incidents while horrific, happen rarely...at least until the media started sensationalizing them that is. Just yesterday 183 CIVILIANS in Iraq were blown up by 4 bombs...that happens almost every day there yet we don't even blink...that is a travesty!

[Slim Stalker 1]

somebody correct me if i'm wrong, but he wasn't here on a visa. he had a green card.

Ok......i misunderstood.

Thanks for clearing that up.
It's a terrible thing though

[blindman]

Ok......i misunderstood.

Thanks for clearing that up.
It's a terrible thing though


yeah the whole thing sux. the media isn't very good with the info they've been giving out. i had orignally heard that he was here on a visa as well.

[Emmit]

Enough Blood was spilled in 9/11, for any "target" to not review and revamp there safety procedures. I bet you now that any kid who displays this type of behavior will be carefully looked at. After all the previous school shootings (especially the School Attack in Russia) and attacks within our country. things should have been a little more tighter. Good point Punch. May God Rest their Souls.

Peace
the problem with "revamping" procedures is that there has already been 1st Amendment violations around the country about this. It's one thing to restrict access to certain things however many of the things that people want to restrict are protected by the Bill of Rights.

You want to restrict access to guns? 2nd Amendment violation. Now restricting WHERE you can take those guns is a different story. Just because you have the right to own a gun does not give you the right to carry it around with you wherever you go. You can see proof of this in places like Federal buildings, airports etc.

You want to stop people from speaking their minds? 1st Amendment says you can't do that. Sadly there was a report the other day of someone getting arrested out in Colorado for making remarks that "sympathized" with the shooter at VT. This student was arrested and the reasoning behind it was that his comments made other students and faculty "feel unsafe". Sorry, but I think that's a big load of crap. If he's got any semblence of a brain he'll have a good lawyer lined up real fast. 1st Amendment violations are not something to take lightly.

Overall the situation was horrible, and basically this kid is now labeled a "mass murderer". There are varying reports coming out now that this kid should've been hospitalized and on serious medication. Apparently he was NOT mentally stable to begin with, but did a good job convincing a judge he was.

[Slim Stalker 1]

yeah the whole thing sux. the media isn't very good with the info they've been giving out. i had orignally heard that he was here on a visa as well.

I thought i heard it from the media too.....that's why i said it.

[Gary1]

The Constitution was created to end the type of rule England had on us... I've learned a lot this past year about the Constitution and how it affects of our lives... more than most realize. I'm with Emmit...it sucks sometimes, but it's the best we could hope for.

What is needed (IMO) is early detection on "red flagged" individuals. And, until there is a way to track the paper trail on such individuals...there will always be a lag or void that allow such peeps slip through the cracks.

We are already putting chips in pets...are we to the point of putting them in humans for the instant upload/download of information that may prohibit gun purchases from those who may be classified borderline? The therapist deems you unstable and then she/he zaps your chip...BAM!...no guns for you.....

There's a whole lot of Biblical implications here...and I don't mean to get that ball rolling...just rambling thoughts.

Beyond sad is my feelings...simply gut-wrenching.....