Over a thousand miles separates St. Paul, Minnesota and Blacksburg, Virginia, but the news distributes stories fast these days. From Minnesota Public Radio Gunman kills 32 at Virginia Tech shooting before committing suicide:
A gunman massacred 32 people at Virginia Tech in the deadliest shooting rampage in modern U.S. history Monday, cutting down his victims in two attacks two hours apart before the university could grasp what was happening and warn students.
As more information comes in, please share it here.
How can we as individuals react to something like this? There isn't a time buffer of history, this is immediate and now. What can we do?
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Julia Schrenkler
Minnesota Public Radio Interactive Producer
Article edited to display latest headline and information. This originally appeared with the following:
Gunman kills 21 at Virginia Tech shooting before being killed:
A gunman opened fire in a dorm and classroom at Virginia Tech on Monday, killing 21 people in the deadliest campus shooting rampage in U.S. history. The gunman was killed, bringing to death toll to 22, but it was unclear if he was shot by police or took his own life.
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Comments: 47
It's almost unthinkable... this shooting is nearly 8 years to the day since the Columbine High shooting near Littleton, Colorado which happened in April 20, 1999.
Our thoughts and prayers for the Virginia Tech staff, students and their families who must deal with the aftermath of this tragedy.
What's the root cause?
What can be done to prevent these tragedies to occur in the future?
What lessons learned can be absorbed by others with this event.
M M. you're not alone in that - I cannot imagine it either.
Are you recommending gun control, Mitch R.?
You think this sort of violence is average, Cousey? Why do you find it so unsurprising?
The basic problem tho is that most just jump to conclusions thus avoiding any attempt at finding any root cause.
This was done for a reason. What was the reason?
After finding the reason, will anyone be able to cope with the reason?
The killing at Red Lake had reasons, but they were American Indians, so we can forget about them, as they don't count very much in our, whoever we are, life.
After finding the reason, what in the future could be done with individuals that have a similar reasons? Just ignore them?
It's true that this is truly a tragedy but I wouldn't judge all of humanity on this one person's act. There's always nut cases out there and trying to make the perfect world just isn't possible. This isn't common enough to judge all of mankind.
Also, the thought came to me today while pondering about the shootings, what is the ratio of guns used in this country, self-defense vs. malicious intent?
RIP
"After finding the reason, will anyone be able to cope with the reason?" - Richard it may or may not help, Rick. As to your comment about the Red Lake shootings, you might want to clarify for the other people reading this what you mean by "don't count very much", as I believe I know you well enough to know the point you're trying to make but it might bring pain.
Thanks for clarifying Mitch R., I didn't want to make an assumption.
Raymond, you said "It's true that this is truly a tragedy but I wouldn't judge all of humanity on this one person's act." Do you think others will?
Well Kc M., I wondered if people would chime in and say what kind of coverage they hope for and would find informative. I'm not sure about gun statistics, but something tells me that the Internet will yield some numbers and theories.
Thank you for the follow up, Melinda W. I hope counseling and support will somehow comfort and help those dealing with this.
Guns are useful for many other things however. Like protecting the cash deposits as they are carried to an armored car - thats the bank's money! Kofi Annan needs them too, as his motorcade speeds unimpeded through the streets of New York City; submachine guns no less! All to protect his highness and that's a very good use of firepower also. Our senators, congressmen, and movie stars need firepower too even Rosie does. Money, political hacks, TV and movies stars all need guns beacuse they are very important.
On the other hand, apart from paying your taxes your lives really aren't worth all that much so you should never have the cheek or temerity to suggest that a gun could be useful to you. Good sheep should accept their lot - lambchops
Way to take the discussion from the real subject, the victims and their families.
Here it is.
This was planned
The reason - Taunting and belittling in the German and Math classes, as well as in the school in general.
The trigger - Problems with his so called girlfriend.
Method - He probably took only one gun and his girlfriend let him in. He then killed her first then the advisor when he showed up to help out.
He then waited in hiding in his car till the 9:00 German class started. He then got his full set of rounds in the vest and the two handguns and went into the German class and shot the folks he didn't like, as well as others that were in the way. He then went to the Math class and tried to do the same but couldn't as they blocked the door.
He then shot himself with both guns at the same time in the face.
In order to prevent these events in the future, stop taunting and belittling others.
They had a "no guns" policy at the college. Why didn't he obey it? Didn't he read the sign?
I doubt he was a registered gunowner or permit owner. We will see. If that is proven true, "why didn't he register them"? Doesn't he want to follow the law?
If the college didn't have the "no guns" policy, could a person legally carrying stopped him? Would he of though twice about doing this if he knew someone might carrying on campus?
If we found out that he didn't purchase the gun thru a legal dealer, why? Doesn't he want to follow the law?
Putting more restrictions on legal gun sales to law abiding people does not make people more safe, but less safe.
Why would anyone think that this is not a systemic problem in this country that needs to be addressed is beyond me.
On air, Midmorning: Safety and security at school:
"The deadliest school shooting in U.S. history leaves many looking at security procedures at colleges and universities. Also psychologists talk about how schools try to move forward after tragedy."
Sounds like there are some pretty smart things being said here - how people search for information and how people can take steps to wrap their minds around something so incomprehensible.
A true "Mensch"...
Number by people who will find guns whether they are legal or not. Very high.
If we outlawed all handguns, what would we use to defend ourselves against a tyranical government? What would you do if Bush's boys came knocking at your door? Ray Nagin's boys have admitted to confisgating weapons from law abiding citizens during Hurricane Katrina. So the threat is real, a Democratic has already tried it.
Gun deaths...28,663
VEHICLE DEATHS...43,354
http://www.the-eggman.com/writings/death_stats.html
Fine take, away the guns. Then knifings and clubbings will go threw the roof. The problem isn't the gun, it's the person holding it.
It's hard to say whether more of this is happening or not in society. It is surely more public and we now have instant access to news with very graphic details and a 24hr news stations competing to attract our attention.
It's a tragedy, I'm not certain what we can do to stop it without stomping on citizens rights and liberties.
Apparently he was a Muslim or at least he identified with the character Ismail Ax who was the son of a prophet who punished and killed people for their worship of wealth and sex
Just because Cho invoked the name Ismail Ax which is obviously a Muslim reference in the Koran, does not also mean that Cho belonged to any Muslim group or was taught by any Muslim cleric at all.
His other reference to the Columbine High School killers which certainly were not Muslim is also no proof that points Cho to any Muslim group.
It appears that Cho was just another Psychopathic deranged killer, with no ties to any Muslim group at all.