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Gunman in Virginia Tech massacre had raised concerns with his disturbing writings
By: ADAM GELLER - Associated Press | ∞
An unidentified man sits handcuffed under the Drill Field review stand while officials check Burruss Hall for safety following a shooting incident on the Virginia Tech campus in Blacksburg, Va., Monday. Shootings in a dorm and classroom at Virginia Tech resulted in multiple fatalities.
Associated Press/The Roanoke Times, Alan Kim
BLACKSBURG, Va. -- The gunman suspected of carrying out the Virginia Tech massacre that left 33 people dead was identified Tuesday as an English major whose creative writing was so disturbing that he was referred to the school's counseling service.
News reports also said that he may have been taking medication for depression, that he was becoming increasingly violent and erratic, and that he left a note in his dorm in which he railed against "rich kids," "debauchery" and "deceitful charlatans" on campus.
Cho Seung-Hui, a 23-year-old senior, arrived in the United States as boy from South Korea in 1992 and was raised in suburban Washington, D.C., officials said. He was living on campus in a different dorm from the one where Monday's bloodbath began.
Police and university officials offered no clues as to exactly what set him off on the deadliest shooting rampage in modern U.S. history.
"He was a loner, and we're having difficulty finding information about him," school spokesman Larry Hincker said.
Professor Carolyn Rude, chairwoman of the university's English department, said she did not personally know the gunman. But she said she spoke with Lucinda Roy, the department's director of creative writing, who had Cho in one of her classes and described him as "troubled."
"There was some concern about him," Rude said. "Sometimes, in creative writing, people reveal things and you never know if it's creative or if they're describing things, if they're imagining things or just how real it might be. But we're all alert to not ignore things like this."
She said Cho was referred to the counseling service, but she said she did not know when, or what the outcome was. Rude refused to release any of his writings or his grades, citing privacy laws.
The Chicago Tribune reported on its Web site that he left a note in his dorm room that included a rambling list of grievances. Citing unidentified sources, the Tribune said he had recently shown troubling signs, including setting a fire in a dorm room and stalking some women.
ABC, citing law enforcement sources, reported that the note, several pages long, explains Cho's actions and says, "You caused me to do this."
Investigators believe Cho at some point had been taking medication for depression, the Tribune reported.
The rampage consisted of two attacks, more than two hours apart -- first at a dormitory, where two people were killed, then inside a classroom building, where 31 people, including Cho, died after being locked inside, Virginia State Police said. Cho committed suicide; two guns were found in the classroom building.
One law enforcement official said Cho's backpack contained a receipt for a March purchase of a Glock 9 mm pistol. Cho held a green card, meaning he was a legal, permanent resident, federal officials said. That meant he was eligible to buy a handgun unless he had been convicted of a felony.
Investigators stopped short of saying Cho carried out both attacks. But ballistics tests show one gun was used in both, Virginia State Police said.
And two law enforcement officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because the information had not been announced, said Cho's fingerprints were found on both guns. The serial numbers on the two weapons had been filed off, the officials said.
Col. Steve Flaherty, superintendent of the Virginia State Police, said it was reasonable to assume that Cho was the shooter in both attacks but that the link was not yet definitive. "There's no evidence of any accomplice at either event, but we're exploring the possibility," he said.
Officials said Cho graduated from a public high school in Chantilly, Va., in 2003. His family lived in an off-white, two-story townhouse in Centreville, Va.
"He was very quiet, always by himself," neighbor Abdul Shash said. Shash said Cho spent a lot of his free time playing basketball and would not respond if someone greeted him. He described the family as quiet.
Virginia Tech Police issued a speeding ticket to Cho on April 7 for going 44 mph in a 25 mph zone, and he had a court date set for May 23.
South Korea expressed its condolences, and said it hoped that the tragedy would not "stir up racial prejudice or confrontation."
"We are in shock beyond description," said Cho Byung-se, a Foreign Ministry official handling North American affairs.
A memorial service was planned for the victims Tuesday afternoon at the university, and President Bush planned to attend. Gov. Tim Kaine was flying back to Virginia from Tokyo for the gathering.
Classes were canceled for the rest of the week.
Many students were leaving town quickly, lugging pillows, sleeping bags and backpacks down the sidewalks.
Jessie Ferguson, 19, a freshman from Arlington, left Newman Hall and headed for her car with tears streaming down her red cheeks.
"I'm still kind of shaky," she said. "I had to pump myself up just to kind of come out of the building. I was going to come out, but it took a little bit of 'OK, it's going to be all right. There's lots of cops around."'
Although she wanted to be with friends, she wanted her family more. "I just don't want to be on campus," she said.
The first deadly attack was at the dormitory around 7:15 a.m., but some students said they didn't get their first warning about a danger on campus until two hours later, in an e-mail at 9:26 a.m., around the time the second attack began.
Two students told NBC's "Today" show they were unaware of the dorm shooting when they walked into Norris Hall for a German class where the gunman later opened fire.
The victims in Norris Hall were found in four classrooms and a stairwell, Flaherty said. Cho was found dead in one of those classrooms, he said.
Derek O'Dell, his arm in a cast after being shot, described a shooter who fired away in "eerily silence" with "no specific target -- just taking out anybody he could."
After the gunman left the room, students could hear him shooting other people down the hall. O'Dell said he and other students barricaded the door so the shooter couldn't get back in -- though he later tried.
"After he couldn't get the door open he tried shooting it open ... but the gunshots were blunted by the door," O'Dell said.
Virginia Tech President Charles Steger emphasized that the university closed off the dorm after the first attack. He said that before the e-mail was sent, the university began telephoning resident advisers in the dorms and sent people to knock on doors to warn them.
"We can only make decisions based on the information you had at the time. You don't have hours to reflect on it," Steger said.
Until Monday, the deadliest shooting in modern U.S. history was in Killeen, Texas, in 1991, when George Hennard plowed his pickup truck into a Luby's Cafeteria and shot 23 people to death, then himself.
Previously, the deadliest campus shooting in U.S. history was a rampage that took place in 1966 at the University of Texas at Austin, where Charles Whitman climbed the clock tower and opened fire with a rifle from the 28th-floor observation deck. He killed 16 people before he was shot to death by police.
-- Associated Press writers Stephen Manning in Centreville, Va.; Matt Barakat in Richmond, Va.; and Vicki Smith, Sue Lindsey and Justin Pope in Blacksburg contributed to this report.
The Victims:
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Concerned-1 wrote on Apr 16, 2007 1:12 PM:The only people happy about this are the media. Just the type of news they can really sink their teeth into and regurjitate every possible morsel of information, no matter how triveal. Oh, and make sure we see nothing but this on the news for the next month or so.
Just me wrote on Apr 16, 2007 1:20 PM:What happened in America that school shootings became for lack of a better word, the "thing" to do?? Why is all this happening? Where can people feel safe anymore? It's just horrible.
concerned citizen wrote on Apr 16, 2007 2:01 PM:WHY DIDNT THE SCHOOL EVACUATE THE CAMPUS WHEN THE FIRST SHOOTING TOOK PLACE. OR HOW COME THE REST OF THE SCHOOL WAS NOT NOTIFIED... AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN... 2 HOURS LATER.
tragic wrote on Apr 16, 2007 2:01 PM:What a horrible act this was! My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Bill wrote on Apr 16, 2007 2:23 PM: Concerned-1 is right, the media will really play this out. This is truly a sad day. My heart goes out to all those who have been effected by this.
crashd wrote on Apr 16, 2007 2:24 PM:And, it is more reason to allow law-abiding citizens to bear concealed arms in self protection. Where were the vaunted police that are there not for our protection but to protect the government from us? Not where they needed to be, that's for sure. If you don't want to carry a handgun and protect yourself, fine, that is your choice, but while you are dialing 911 on your cell and waiting I will be handling the situation my way. Don't put your limits on me! I am not the criminal.
Words Fail wrote on Apr 16, 2007 2:33 PM:Such a horror!! But then again, our troops in Afghanistand and Iraq go through this, AND WORSE, EVERY DAY! Praying now? Where was God BEFORE this happened? Asleep? So what good will it do to pray to God now? All I can say is apparently this kind of slaughter cannot be foreseen and probably more of it will occur, sooner or later. Horrible is too weak, as a word, to describe these ghastly nightmares.
o2cool1 wrote on Apr 16, 2007 2:43 PM:It's a terrible tragedy. I can't help but think if we were to add up all the victims of this type of violence that occurs in this country along with the Oklahoma City bombing we'd find the death toll exceeds that of 9/11, yet we really do nothing about gun control as those in both houses and the executive cowar in fear of the NRA. Frustrating event, no countries to bomb or invade in retaliation for the loss of American lives.
time wrote on Apr 16, 2007 3:04 PM:So isn't it about time for all you gun nuts to admit that if the American citizen did not have easy access to non-people-hunting weapons, maybe - just maybe - there would be less people dying in our nation compared to all the other civilized nations of the world that have controls on firearms? Nah, you guys will just say that if only every student/teacher/custodian at Virginia Tech had brought their 9mm to school that day, everything would have been fine.
Not my daddy's country! wrote on Apr 16, 2007 3:51 PM:Forget Imus, clean up the gangster rappers, clean up the violent video games, clean up pop culture, clean up the movies, clean up TV shows, clean up government. These demented people are using the video games to pratice these kinds of mass murders. This ain't my daddy's country anymore. Profile these crazy people and lock them up. Watch the lefty pols go after the peaceful gun owners but not the crazies that do these things. If the craizies don't have access to guns they will just use poison or bombs. Without guns law-abiding people cannot defend themselves against the crazies.
DUH.... wrote on Apr 16, 2007 4:05 PM:of course it will be in the media IT IS A HUGE TRAGEDY!!! what do you want to do, INGORE IT???
crashd wrote on Apr 16, 2007 4:06 PM:time, if more people had more ready access to self protection this would not happen. And, as for the "civilized" nations you talk about with gun control, they are an utter failure! Australia, England, Canada. Any more you want to list? Crime goes out of control because the criminals, who live outside the law, do not comply and turn their firearms in. Law abiding people do. Criminals can get them anyway, law abiding do not. Result? Unarmed sheep waiting to be slaughtered. Cowering to the NRA o2cool1? Why are they any different then any other special interest group? They stand up for and represent a group of people that believe in something. This thing for the NRA and those of us that believe is the Constitution and what it says. It does not say I can own a firearm for hunting or sporting or what characteristics that represents, but rather to own what I want for the protection of the people and myself against the repression of the government. Remember, this country is supposed to be a republic of the people, not the ruling elite and us serfs bending to their will while they do what they want. Don't agree? Canada and Australia are waiting for you!
To Gun Control Herd wrote on Apr 16, 2007 4:29 PM:Isn't it about time to issue, and require all people to carry, a handgun. If everyone was carrying: 1)this guy would not have been so stupid to do this, or 2) he would have been countered after the first incident. This is NOT a gun control issue. This is a single nutcase that was not able to be countered due to excessive gun control laws. Plain and Simple.
Ray wrote on Apr 16, 2007 4:31 PM:Stop your nonsense comments and say a prayer for all the victims and their love ones.
To Not my daddys country. wrote on Apr 16, 2007 4:32 PM:Right on, I agree 100% However, I want to add to your sentence: "Without guns law-abiding people cannot defend themselves against the crazies and gun grabbing lefties." ... There, that is much better.
time wrote on Apr 16, 2007 4:35 PM:At this point it's more important to pray for those who have lost their lives, and for the families than political debate.
Nick wrote on Apr 16, 2007 4:52 PM:News Flash Time, these blogs are for commenting on the articles themselves and political debate if it's relavent. If you want to pray, that's your choice, just don't tell others what's appropriate. Especially, since you don't seem to believe in my Constitutional right to bear arms. Since you like to pick and chose what to follow in the Constitution, I'm willing to bet you support the 14th Amendment as a legitimate claim for ILLEGALS and their anchor babies, now don't cha ya big guy?
well Nick! wrote on Apr 16, 2007 5:38 PM:You guessed wrong! I am an NRA member! I was responding to time.
Matt wrote on Apr 16, 2007 5:44 PM:Why does this story get front page cover everywhere, yet the 71 innocent people murdered today in Iraq doesn't get a single mention?
To Ray wrote on Apr 16, 2007 5:45 PM:You said to stop the nonsense, but then you ask us to pray. Do you see the irony?
Gun control at work wrote on Apr 16, 2007 6:10 PM:As usual, the innocent citizens had no guns to defend themselves. Only the criminal had the gun.
Nick wrote on Apr 16, 2007 6:30 PM:I stand corrected. I'm a card carrying member myself. 20 years and counting...
NRA, SAF and CCRKBA wrote on Apr 16, 2007 6:31 PM:When guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns.
JOHN wrote on Apr 16, 2007 6:33 PM:Wow! sad thing. I have a terrible feeling that this will be repeating itself ,times ten,If we get a Liberal president who is weak on terror,LIKE BILL CLINTON,Now what are they going to do with the senior faculty that diddnt have an effective evacuation and security system at that school.Sounds like lawsuit city to me.That should make you ACLU lovers hearts go pitter patter.
Reardon wrote on Apr 16, 2007 6:45 PM:The suspicion is that the alleged culprit was a Chinese on a student visa. IF he was not registered full-time in a school, he is, like so many others, an illegal alien!
To Nick wrote on Apr 16, 2007 6:52 PM:I know the exasperation, in these times. I get so mad, I want to explode. Then I take a moment to reflect. My relatives in Canada (live on a 10,000 acre farm up on the Artic circle) were told to turn their firearms in. They told the Mounties, they were lost when their canoe overturned. I still get venison from them.
Merilee wrote on Apr 16, 2007 7:21 PM:Bozos...the shooter was an innocent citizen too, until he started the massacre. Get over yourselves. Take the guns away from all except police. This nut job was merely exercising his constitutional right according to you wing nuts.
Joan wrote on Apr 16, 2007 7:35 PM:Hindsight is always perfect, isn't it? To say the action could have been prevented or lessened with an all-campus shut down is an arrogant assumption. And shut down what? Dorms? Dining Halls? Classrooms where many already were at 7:30? If the shooter was crossing the drill field when a shut down went into effect, he would have proceeded to Norris. Great. Locked down with a killer. How about this assumption: locking down the campus could have resulted in more deaths as he 'worked' all the floors of Norris Hall. Horrific tragedies such as this cannot be stopped. Better to educate students to the warning signs all experts agree on for identifying these shooters... than to barge down the naive, convenient road of blame.
You people are a joke wrote on Apr 16, 2007 7:41 PM:so, if everyone had a gun, when the police come, should they shoot you?? I heard this from a former sheriff who called in to the radio, today. She said that if teachers and students had guns, the police would not have known who the criminal was. Wouldn't that have created a bigger bloodbath, or is that what you gun nut crazies want?? For you gun toting tough guys, guns will solve all the problems right. You vile violent cretins. No one is wondering what drove this man to commit such acts against innocent people. No, he's just crazy in your gun crazy minds. Hear the rallying cry "Liberals are trying to take away our guns. Jeez, how handy are the guns when everyone is shooting at each other. Shoot first ask questions later, right. Then apologize to the innocents you gun down while "protecting" yourself. Nice country we'd live in then! To John, what does former President Bill Clinton have to do with todays events?? Typical wingnuts, find any excuse to blame a good president and Liberals. Why not blame Pres. Chimpy a who happens to be sitting on the throne right now, and the neo-con brigade who are destroying the world and our country. Clinton, was weak on terror my backside! When Pres. Chimpy took office President Clinton told him and his new staff about Bin Laden and they WERE NOT INTERESTED. Condi said so herself when she was National Security Adviser (what a joke). Amazing how selective a wingnuts' memory is. Either that or you like to believe the lies. Sheeple.
sofedup wrote on Apr 16, 2007 8:16 PM:I attended Virginia Tech, and the school and Blacksburg are simply a wonderful place to be. However, I did notice there were more foreign grad students than Americans and the proportion appeared to be Indian/Chinese/Caucasian-American (and unfortunately very few blacks despite the name of the city). I am post-grad, but I've been told by others it's getting impossible to find a grad spot open that hasn't been scooped up by a foreigner. I'm not buying it that there aren't enough qualified Americans. Remember too that this is a publicly funded university. Why are we spending so much money bringing in foreigners? Many professors told me we should make sure to give them jobs and make them citizens so we don't lose the skills they learned here. I can't find a job anywhere and I have physics and engineering degrees! I do however, meet a lot of H1Bs who have great jobs, and less education. Maybe some good will come out of this tragedy. Maybe these kids didn't die in vain and America will wake up to the dangers of foreign invaders, whether legal or not, whether educated or not. It's eating our society right through the middle and working its way up and down. Maybe we won't have to say goodbye to the middle class because people are outraged by this. I hope some flowers grow out of this BS.
ohflyingone wrote on Apr 16, 2007 8:31 PM:Does anyone else sense that the ones that be create news to distract us from what they are REALLY up to? Do you not see the shell game? The events of today with the shootings in Virginia will only give those that are hell bent and determined to disarm the citizens more reason to go after our weapons which they want SOOOOOOOOOOO bad! While I am sick for the loses to the families, this is an isolated issue. Issueing laws to take away our second amendment based on an act of a lunatic will NOT protect this nation. Taking away our 2nd amendment rights will leave the law abiding citizens NO protection which is what the global elites want!
GUNS wrote on Apr 16, 2007 9:04 PM:Guns are a sickness of our society. Guns were allowed in the Constitution to form a militia because there was no Army and to hunt for food. Now all that is being hunted is US. If all you gangsters, rappers and other assorted gun lovers want to pull the trigger so much, why are you not in Iraq or Afganistan. Are you afraid somebody might shoot back???
protect the students, not your guns wrote on Apr 16, 2007 9:42 PM:This tragedy should not be used as a political springboard to heat up the tired gun control debate. I feel sickened at the neglect people have about the true issue at hand. This is not an issue about whether or not students should carry guns on them at all times, it is an issue about whether or not administrative and security officials are sufficiently protecting students at universities and at schools in general. The officials at VT showed shocking carelessness by allowing classes to continue that day despite a previous double homicide with no clear perpetrator at hand, only a “person of interest.” If it turns out that the perpetrator from the first incident was, in fact, the perpetrator from the second incident because he walked away from the first scene to mow down 30 more people, then the president of the school, who didn’t initiate a lockdown of any degree, should be forced to step down from his position. If classes were cancelled for that day, the second incident would have been a heck of a lot less tragic, if not avoidable altogether. As juvenile as it sounds, my high school has a uniform lockdown alarm that tells students to take cover, and I think a similar alarm should be installed at the university level that would tell students to stay inside their dorms, secure cover in a classroom, or turn around and run away from campus. The school shouldn’t rely on sluggishly issued e-mails that are not guaranteed to be checked by all students.
Too many Guns wrote on Apr 16, 2007 9:50 PM:Now can we talk about Gun control, or should we just continue to ignore that there is an elephant in the room.
the price of technology wrote on Apr 16, 2007 10:05 PM:It's a horrible thing that happened, but what did you expect? The worst of all the news is now brought to you live from around the globe. Video games and music with parental advisories fill the shelves but where's the enforcement on the purchase of them? Kids are being de-sensitized to the violence through video games, movies, and the media. Technology is not solely responsible, the parents that allow their children access to these things should be held accountable as well! You can't blame the school...the first shooting only involved two students...a random act of violence...or a dispute of some kind...they were not mind readers, there was no way for them to forsee the horror about to unfold hours later. For those of you arguing about guns...guns don't kill people...people kill people. Look for the signs, get these people help, clean up the media, only then should you worry about the guns.
Mary wrote on Apr 16, 2007 10:57 PM:Let's use technology, not berate it. There is equipment that can smell explosives (and yes bullets) with a sensitivity of 1000 times that of a dog. This equipment should be deployed in the entrances of all public buildings - schools, malls, banks, restaurants, etc. That way no one could walk into a public building with a gun and not be detected. Add in the ability to detect dirty bombs as well. The door should have the abaility to trap the suspect. Then we don't have to fight them there so we don't have to fight them here and we also get rid of the gang bangers too boot. Sweet. Then anyone can carry around an empty gun without bullets if they care to if they just gatta have a gun.
humanity wrote on Apr 17, 2007 12:22 AM:guns and the media do not commit crimes, people do! it doesn't matter if they are a Foreigner or an American. Tragedies have occurred long before there were guns and "media". But who cares, lets just continue to blame crime on everything else except for the simple fact that we are human... it's in our nature to destroy each other. so take away our guns, we'll kill with a knife.
godwind wrote on Apr 17, 2007 12:51 AM:FUTHER EVIDENCE THAT FIREARMS SHOULD BE COMPLETELY OUTLAWED!!NO GUNS FOR NOBODY!! INCLUDING THE POLICE!!THATS RIGHT ALL YOU GUN NUTS!!IF THEY OUTLAWED,AND CANT BE PRODUCED,AND ALL EXISTING WEAPONS ARE OUTLAWED,THEN THESE FRICKIN LOONIES,GANGBANGERS,SUBVERSIVE,SICK,DYSFUCTIONAL,DISGRUNTLED,OPPRESSED AND OTHERWISE GRUMPY INDIVIDUALS,WILL BE FORCED TO BE A LITTLE MORE CREATIVE IF THEY WANT TO WACK SOMEBODY!!THATS WHEN THEIR INHERENT LAZINESS WILL TAKE OVER AND THEY DECIDE THAT KILLING IS TOO MUCH LIKE WORK!!ITS EITHER THAT, OR THE COWBOY METHOD WHERE WE ALL HAVE GUNS,AND THEN YOU THINK TWICE BEFORE SHOOTING AT SOMEONE WHO CAN SHOOT BACK!ONE OR THE OTHER!!
Floyd wrote on Apr 17, 2007 2:25 AM:Gun control means hitting the target. And article II of the Bill Of Rights clearly says 'the Right of the People to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed' -- lookie there, it says the Right of the **People**. That means the right to bear arms is reserved for you and me.
pray for the families wrote on Apr 17, 2007 2:26 AM:My sister is at Vet school at VTech and beleive me, there was a very tense moment before I heard her voice on the phone. I can't begin to imagine what those families felt.
Stealth Blogger wrote on Apr 17, 2007 3:36 AM:If only everyone at Virginia Tech had the liberty to bring their weapons of choice to school that day, the outcome would have been superior. Decreeing Virginia Tech a gun-free zone left only criminals with guns. The students/teachers/custodians were sheep led to the slaughter.
Stealth Blogger wrote on Apr 17, 2007 3:41 AM:If everyone in America took the right to bear arms seriously, this tragedy could have been averted. The Bush administration has abysmally failed to protect this Constitutionally-guaranteed right.
to GUNS wrote on Apr 17, 2007 5:04 AM:Yes I did serve in Iraq, 3 times to be exact. I fought for our constitution and to keep this country free. The same constitution that gives you the right to life liberty and the pursuit of happiness. This is a tragedy, but don'y blame guns for this incident, blame the person who shot all of these people. He made a concious decision to do this and then he killed himself. If you want to start taking away peoples rights, move to a country with a dictator and maybe you will be more happy there. SEMPER-FI
TO MARY wrote on Apr 17, 2007 5:07 AM:yea that would be the economical thing to do, why don't we raise your taxes to pay for this.
John wrote on Apr 17, 2007 5:26 AM:to that ,YOU PEOPLE ARE A JOKE ,If someone else were armed but the gunman,maby 30 or so others wouldnt have lost ther lives. REALITY .
All My Children wrote on Apr 17, 2007 5:50 AM:This would have been a "good day" in Baghdad almost anytime in the last year. Certainly considering civilian deaths, and even considering American deaths only, it pales to the 3300 combat deaths. Why is it that we are so able to empathize with our college kids killed in Virginia and not with our college aged kids sent to die in Iraq. All their lives are wasted.
A Terrible Tragedy wrote on Apr 17, 2007 6:22 AM:Blaming the administration for not locking down the campus is easy in 20/20 hindsight. The president thought it was an isolated domestic violence incident. Unfortunately these are all too common-place now days. There was no reason to believe something of this magnitude would have occured. Blame and anger would be more appropriately placed on the shooter, not the administration.
atrew wrote on Apr 17, 2007 6:51 AM:Has the police rushed the scene immediately maybe only 16 people and a few cops would have been killed instead of 32 students. Cops wear the badge specifically for situations like this, I saw footage of way too many cops hiding behind trees. Good thing our Marines aren't so cowardly.
Let me get this wrote on Apr 17, 2007 7:27 AM:straight. This killer was a foreign nationalist with a student visa, just like the killers of 911. George Weasel Bush has been ordered by his boss the UN to bring into the US 7,000 Iraqs and 7,000 Palestines. Bush has said he wants someone else to direct the war cuz he can't. Ok so when we pull out of Iraq, and wholesale murder occurs, these Iraqs in the US are going to be over joyed that they were saved while their country men are being slaughtered. NOT, I believe that then the war shall be in the US with suicide bombers everywhere.
quinnie wrote on Apr 17, 2007 7:57 AM:hey to GUNS... the declaration of independence is the us document that mentions "life liberty and pursuit of happiness" and it, nor any other document, lawmaker, president, preacher, etc., will EVER grant these things. the Declaration of independence states that these rights are inherent no government cant grant or deny these things from any person.
ken wrote on Apr 17, 2007 7:59 AM:The VT shooting is very sad and I feel for the families. I have a kid in college and that would be a nightmare. What is worse (in a sense) is the people that continue to twist everything into hate politics, this included. Will gun control solve all violent crime? If you take all guns away, will there be no more murders? Think about it! What did people do to kill others before guns existed or did killing only start happening after guns were invented? The access, or lack there of will not make or break a violent situation. If someone really wants to kill they will find a way. Look to the middle east. Most people are not killed by guns over there, they are killed by home made bombs. Think of it in this way. For example; if a gun is sitting on a table in a locked box, will it kill someone? While everyone is watching for the gun to go off by itself, the nut in the class blows himself up along with everone else. Gun control didn't work for that incident. Now what? Unfortunantly you can't stop senseless killing, you can only hope to contain it. Think about this. How many of these shootings seem to be a lot like our movies, tv, music and video games? Kids have always acted out what they see and violence in the media is overwhelming and I'm not talking about the news. We need to look more at the human element of violence, not just the tools that are used. For those of you that will want to call me a right-wing NRA nut, I don't own a gun.
quinnie wrote on Apr 17, 2007 8:01 AM:last year V-tech was disarmed by a no tolerance policy. IIRC there are not even armed security on campus. what if the person who snapped was a veteran? what would the dialog be like then?
Now we are blaming inanimate objects? wrote on Apr 17, 2007 8:05 AM:I have been checking out the comments here and on Newsweek and see an overwhelming trend of people saying "take the guns away!" As a young woman who lives alone, I find great comfort in my Second Amendment right and the .45 under my bed! So many people are saying those college students couldn't handle themselves with guns around...how quickly we forget that most of the troops who are protecting us are the same age!! Do not insult them just because they are young...not all young adults are boozing it up at frat parties and being led by hormones. Imagine how different this story would have turned out if a student DID have a gun and apprehended the shooter before so much blood was shed! We would be praising that heroic young person and our right to bear arms, no? It makes me sad that my peers and those younger than us are being raised to expect others to take care of us instead of being instilled with a sense of self-preservation. I for one will not be a victim by my own laziness or ignorance! Remember folks, an armed society is a polite society!!
Stealth Blogger wrote on Apr 17, 2007 8:13 AM:The shooter was a coward. Rejected by his girlfriend, he killed her. Depressed, he killed a bunch of defenseless students. Unwilling to face the consequences of his actions, he killed himself.
We are a violent and spoiled country wrote on Apr 17, 2007 8:17 AM:To answer a previous reader, yes this is your daddys country. The current generation of kids was raised as a bunch of spoiled, narcissistic, self centered, lazy cry babies. Not all parents have failed, but plenty enough have to create an epedemic of this. don't blame video games, the old cartoons our parents watched also had EXTREME VIOLENCE with no ill effects. It all starts at home, with at least one good parent. Don't blame guns, but on the other hand don't give "big kids" a lethal weapon, or else the killing will increase. Can you imagine how many kids would be quick on the draw? If everyone had guns the killers would factor that in and bring bigger firepower and diffeent tactics.
Not amused wrote on Apr 17, 2007 8:28 AM:For those of you that have made this tragedy a political issue, let's just say you should be ashamed, and seek help.
If you knew wrote on Apr 17, 2007 8:28 AM:everyone around you was also packing a gun, I am willing to bet you wouldn't try to rob the local 7-11, let alone go on a killing spree.
To Atrew wrote on Apr 17, 2007 8:34 AM:To call the cops cowards, just as classless as calling servicemen and women poorly chosen names as well. Get a grip and if you can do better when you grow up, join the police force and make a difference.
Guns? wrote on Apr 17, 2007 8:42 AM:I've been talking with college professors about the idea of allowing everyone to have weapons on campus. About 5-10% of the student body is on medication for psychological illnesses. Many others have a history of alcohol and drug use, and some of these routinely come to class stoned. Others yet have anger problems, frequent fights, domestic violence, and abuse histories. Now picture this classroom of maybe two hundred students on the day you give back an exam in which some will get D or F grades. Now imagine them all armed at that moment of disappointment or rage at the teacher for "unfair" grading. Oh, but I forgot: the prof will also be "packing"; I feel so much better.
to: Let me get this wrote on Apr 17, 2007 8:55 AM:foreign nationalist???? what is that??? a nationalist is someone who puts his own country's interests above any interests of any other country. This would describe many Americans who are naively clinging to the notion that what is good for America is good for the world. This has cuased global warming, the war in Iraq, and the total pollution of the oceans. Drink another healthy dose of the koolaid. Our cowboy mentality combined with our extravagant lifestyle leads to this sort of desperate violence. Kids are led to beleive that they will not be happy until they have a Hummer, a jet ski, a plasma screen TV, and a giant house. Once they realize that they are not special they snap. It is a three part solution, PARENTING PARENTING PARENTING
esteban wrote on Apr 17, 2007 9:00 AM:It didn't take too many posts before the illegal issue came up. This will, undoubtedly, turn into a heated political issue as well. And the finger pointing has also started..."it's the guns' fault, it's the cops' fault, what did Bush do to make this gunman go beserk...etc." Truth is, you CANNOT stop a crazy guy from entering ANYWHERE and start blasting away. No matter what protections you try or training you've had, you CANNOT stop it from happening. So they lock down after the first shooting, the gunman is still on campus so he can still kill. How long do you lock down? All day? No. And to "You people ara a joke"....calm down, have some dip. If we could magically take ALL guns away, that would be great! But that cannot happen, so I think al law abiding people should be free to carry arms. Maybe put one firearm in every classroom and teach the teacher how to use it!!!!! I love my ideas.
Very Sad wrote on Apr 17, 2007 9:11 AM:Yes, over 30 innocent people were killed by a crazed madman. My heart goes out to all their families. But think about this: in Iraq this type of crazed killing is going on daily. The US must get out of IRAQ now and let the Iraqis mobilze and learn to protect themselves from this kind of violence.
Higher Standards wrote on Apr 17, 2007 9:20 AM: It amazes me how many Americans are functionally illiterate and are unable to write a simple English sentence that reflects logic, grammar or rationality. To compound these shortcomings some choose to misuse capital letters, which is like putting a red circle around a pimple.
Grandmother/Mother wrote on Apr 17, 2007 9:35 AM:My prayers to the families as I can't imagine what it is like to lose a your child. Just because we outlaw guns this does not eliminate the situation, just as certain drugs are illegal. If you want something you will find it. Sorry to say it is the person that kills not the gun. Next outlaw anything that can kill someone, cars can be deadly too!
Shock Wave wrote on Apr 17, 2007 9:51 AM:What an unbelievable event on the campus of higher education! The real question now becomes how do we keep our kids safe on college campuses? Can we trust administrators and campus police to handle situations of this magnitude? Do we need to lock down our institutions of higher learning, screen students better or train campus police to be more than security guards? Sadly, this was a student who knew the campus, who knew students who attended there and who was a part of this academic community. What does this event teach us and what can we do with what we've learned?
BUMPER STICKER wrote on Apr 17, 2007 10:04 AM:GUNS DON'T KILL PEOPLE. PEOPLE KILL PEOPLE. So the next time someone gets stabbed to death, are we going to ban all knives? The next time someone gets killed by a club to the head will the clamor arise to ban baseball bats?
This nut wrote on Apr 17, 2007 10:08 AM:must of been Brenda Ann Spencers cousin, she hated Mondays too!
Blaming inanimate objects? wrote on Apr 17, 2007 10:19 AM:I have been checking out the comments here and on Newsweek and see an overwhelming trend of people saying "take the guns away!" As a young woman who lives alone, I find great comfort in my Second Amendment right and the .45 under my bed! So many people are saying those college students couldn't handle themselves with guns around...how quickly we forget that most of the troops who are protecting us are the same age!! Do not insult them just because they are young...not all young adults are boozing it up at frat parties and being led by hormones. Imagine how different this story would have turned out if a student DID have a gun and apprehended the shooter before so much blood was shed! We would be praising that heroic young person and our right to bear arms, no? It makes me sad that my peers and those younger than us are being raised to expect others to take care of us instead of being instilled with a sense of self-preservation. I for one will not be a victim by my own laziness or ignorance! Remember folks, an armed society is a polite society!!
one disaster to another wrote on Apr 17, 2007 10:21 AM:GWB is rushing to the scene in his unofficial capacity of "Christian in Chief". The last thing they need right now is an imperial visit and Bush trying to captalize on the grief, to grab a little bit of popuar press. Oh God, I hope he doesn't use a bull horn or make any reference to 9/11 or make promises that we won't forget--the folks in New Orleans heard that line!
To Skip wrote on Apr 17, 2007 10:24 AM:Your comment was really irrelevant. I don't even know why NCT posted it
To Grandmother/Mother wrote on Apr 17, 2007 10:30 AM:Don't be so negative, there are things we can do to reduce this type of crime. Most of the civilized world has outlawed or restricted ownership and use of guns, and it has worked. The number of gunshot wounds treated in the course of a single weekend in most major US cities, exceeds what many countries have in a whole year. It is absurd that anyone, especially a non-citizen with emotional problems can decide he wants to kill someone and is able to go out and buy two semi-automatic weapons, without difficulty. We can do better than this, but we have to tell guys like Romney and Kerry to stop glorification and prevaricating--about guns.
deserves another wrote on Apr 17, 2007 10:31 AM:you're right, ONE DISASTER, it's really Bush's fault. Everything else is, so why not?
Stealth Blogger wrote on Apr 17, 2007 10:39 AM:South Korea prohibits its citizens from owning any guns. A whole lot of good that ban did in these circumstances!
American-Irish Resident wrote on Apr 17, 2007 10:40 AM:The mayor of Nagasaki was shot in the gun control nation of Japan this week by a member of one of Japan's criminal mobs. This just may point out that gun control is very effective in stopping the law abiding people from buying guns, but the criminals still manage to obtain them.
inky wrote on Apr 17, 2007 10:41 AM:Why do some people compare a school shooting to war? They're both tragic, but are quite different experiences. Military people go to war knowing they are likely to be close to violence and killing. They are (hopefully) trained and prepared for it. Students going to school are not expecting it (or at least shouldn't have to expect to be running from gunfire, watch classmates die, or be shot themselves). At age 14 my son watched a classmate die and was 5 feet from being shot himself at Santana. It's nearly impossible to explain the emotions that the students and their families experience. We'll never be the same, and every time another school shooting occurs it opens the wounds. My heart goes out to all of those affected by yet another senseless and horrible event. It changes their lives completely. Pray for their strength and healing...and that the media will treat the victims and families with more compassion than they have in the past.
Floyd wrote on Apr 17, 2007 10:57 AM:It is not the purpose of the cops to act as a bodyguard service. Their task is to secure a crime scene then find and arrest the perpetrator. Don't look to the police for defense because that's not what they do.
To Stealth Blogger... wrote on Apr 17, 2007 10:59 AM:News flash for you Einstien, Virginia Tech isn't in South Korea!
Massacre x 365 wrote on Apr 17, 2007 11:00 AM:There's a tragedy like this every day in Bahgdad. Spread your democracy America.
Mary wrote on Apr 17, 2007 11:03 AM:To Words Fail - it isn't God's fault - it's man fault - man pulls the trigger. Apparently, the student was seriously troubled - except the creative writing teacher, did anyone else notice that the killer was seriously troubled - had to be visible signs. Over and over we read about individuals who were 'quiet, no friends, a loner, etc, etc' who seem to have the same profiles and who end up killing others. What do we do? Gun control is not the answer to this madness.
Nick wrote on Apr 17, 2007 11:08 AM:So all the anti-gun nuts are now wanting us to believe that a foreign student, on a student visa, who was referred to counseling because of troubled writing, just walked into a gun store and bought a gun. NOT! We have waiting periods for a reason. How much you want to bet he bought the gun ILLEGALLY? PEOPLE kill PEOPLE, not guns. I have never killed anyone with my firearms, not have I ever threatened anyone. Even though I had nothing to do with this tragedy, the loony leftists would like to take away my Constitutional rights to bear arms and defend my family, my home and my person. Now it all makes sense.......
BUMPER STICKER wrote on Apr 17, 2007 11:09 AM:"Guns don't kill peopel, people with guns kill people" or maybe "Guns don't kill people, bullets kill people". or how about, "Heroine doen't kill people, abuse of Heroine kills people". They are all as equally stupid
Hey Stealth wrote on Apr 17, 2007 11:10 AM:Gee, how many of these shooting sprees happen in Korea?? not many. This kid came here when he was 8 years old, he was a lawful permanent resident. Think maybe our "God-Fearing" culture of life corrupted him a little? maybe uhhhhh??
to Stealth Blogger wrote on Apr 17, 2007 11:14 AM:the jerk had to leave South Korea and come to America to get the guns and commit these terrible acts of horror!
TO ONE NUTCASE DISASTER wrote on Apr 17, 2007 11:18 AM:one disaster to another wrote on April 17, 2007 10:21 AM: GWB is rushing to the scene in his unofficial capacity of "Christian in Chief. ____________- HAHAHA, another liberal nutcase has spoken!!
Gun Control? wrote on Apr 17, 2007 11:24 AM:Here is an interesting headline for all of the people that think gun control will solve the violent crime problem. "The mayor of the Japanese city of Nagasaki was shot in a brazen attack Tuesday by an organized crime chief " This just happened, look it up. Japan has some of the most strict gun laws in the world. Some of the police don't carry guns. Interesting, why did gun control not stop this? Guns kill people not the other way around. Isn't that right?
Killers Writings wrote on Apr 17, 2007 11:53 AM:It has come to light that the killer left signals that he was angry, with violent tendencies. Not enough credence was given, nor action taken (at least that we know at this time) to perhaps address his inner turmoil, anger, mental disorders or the like. He acted alone, felt alone, rarely spoke to others (as reported), yet how many truly tried to REACH him? If they tried and couldn't, shouldn't the red alert have been activated? Did his parents conront or reveal past signs that he was about to explode? Why do we put band-aids on wounds that won't heal? Innocents are lost forever, Virginia Tech reels from attacks saying maybe they were at fault for not warning others? How about the English teachers of this madman, the ones that had REAL tangible evidence that this man could turn violent? Sending him to a counselor whom he could bluff or not cooperate with? He cried out, no one listened or took action. He left a trail that no one followed. How many more Cho's are roaming our communities, schools, factories? If you recognize one as troubled, why do you ignore it? Pull the alarm first and think later! You might save many innocent lives, one of which might be your own. Don't hide those in need of treatment. Stop the bullying in the early grades - zero tolerance! Look at all the school shootings - every perpetrator was 'lonely, bullies, troubled, had no friends' etc. Kids who are 'different' grow up to feel even more alone. REACH OUT! Shame on us.
100% Agree w/ Killers Writings wrote on Apr 17, 2007 1:18 PM:Quite possibly the best post I've read in a long time. People who commit these types of crimes more often than not leave behind some "trail" or signs of depression, loneliness, despair, etc. How tragic are our times where we can readily admit that there's a common profile that fits to these type of crimes. Sad.
To Skip wrote on Apr 17, 2007 1:30 PM:The student was not illegal...he was a legal permanent alien...not that it matters...he was NUTZ!!!! And actually it is illegal to purchase weapons if you are not legal. Anyhoot...another college related story..I was on the main strip of UNC moments before a looney decided he was going to have a shootout. His school appointed shrink had retired so guess what...the student blamed his own decision for not taking his psych meds on the retired shrink. The doc appointed him a new shrink...but kids today do NOT own up to their responsibiltites. This S. Korean student was off his rocker...it's a huge shame. But unfortunately it happened, and it can again...we need not take life for granted. Skip...how's the ballgame going??
Concerned-1 wrote on Apr 17, 2007 1:31 PM:This tragic incident is over. Let the families deal with their sorrow, the police deal with the odds and ends of the case files and let the rest of us shut up and get a life. Geeeze!
Jay wrote on Apr 17, 2007 1:40 PM:I didn't have time to read all of the above comments but naturally I expected to hear from the Anti-2nd Amendment "Nuts". Its too early to get in an old argument about that. However, that said and at risk of being accused of being racist, Koreans are a very intensly glum people with a strong sense of what they think is dignity, honor and "respect". That word alone, "respect" has become a rallying cry in our country the past two decades for hoodlums and misfits with poor self esteem. They are easily offended and violence is often their prefered reaction. It is a growing cultural phenomenon and I believe, largely an imported one. As far as the English teachers comments about his creative writing, this too has been in the news in the last few years. Students across America are being red flagged ( by teachers, not mental health professionals) for writing things that "might" indicate some emotional unbalance or potential violent tendencies. If I'm not mistaken some have been suspended, expelled and even arrested for their fictional work. So in addition to this being an oppurtunity for the "Left" to atttack the 2nd Amendment, the "Right" is also attacking the 1st Amendment. If Stephen King, Louis L'Amour or Martin Scorcese were in college today they'd be targeted as dangerous. It's these knee jerk reactions that are dangerous. Lets cool down a bit, let the dust settle. We live in a dangerous world and this was one of the best(or worst?)examples of that. We can't stop it by profiling everyone or taking our rights away. As for the news media esp TV: My local station, 2000 miles from the scene, actually interviewed someone who knew someone who may have had a friend who once attended that school. What a bunch of jerks!
un killer writings wrote on Apr 17, 2007 1:59 PM:What? The english teachers don't have the power to institutionalize a person just because they write disturbing things. Recomending counseling is a reasonable course of action in my opinion. This is a horrible tragedy, I feel for the victims and their families. As for the guy getting shot in Japan, that is a rare event. More people got shot in Oceanside this year than in the entire country of Japan. Please quoters of the second amenmdment please don't leave out the first part of this amendment "A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed" and yes I am a gun owner but I think regulating gun ownership as much as possible is important. Virginia has some of the most lax gun laws in the u.s. No waiting period, no ban on assault weapons etc. Would stricter gun laws have helped to stop this incident, who knows but I doubt it.
TEXAS NORMAN wrote on Apr 17, 2007 2:09 PM: TO ALL: AGAIN,AGAIN,AGAIN. IT IS NOT THE CURRENT FIREARMS LAWS,NOR IS IT THE FIREARM. IT IS THE TWISTED MIND OF THE SHOOTER THAT IS THE REASON FOR THESE HORRIFIC INCIDENTS. PLEASE, DO NOT COME BACK WITH, IF THEY DIDN`T HAVE A GUN, IT WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED! A MOLOTOV COCKTAIL
TEXASNORMAN wrote on Apr 17, 2007 2:15 PM:AGAIN,AGAIN,&AGAIN,IT WAS THE SICK MIND OF THE INDIVIDUAL,NOT THE GUN THAT CAUSED THESE DEATHS.A MOLOTOV COCKTAIL, AN AUTOMOBILE,MANY THINGS CAN KILL MANY PEOPLE. AN AIRPLANE????????
BluexMest wrote on Apr 17, 2007 2:18 PM:It’s concerning how many people think the prevention is gun control. From his letters seems like he had social problems probably bullied often, physiological issues taking medications that didn’t satisfy his emotions, even then sometimes its difficult a minority Korean with aspirations to be a IT professional and no family, doctors can’t give a person the kind of companionship and trust a relative can. No body really concerned of helping him the school not releasing his records maybe he was treated unfairly by the school, given poor grades or suspended for no good reason, person with a green card good luck finding an attorney and residency issues apply representing himself. From the quotes of his notes he seemed troubled about how people were treating him, people blaming him and giving him medications is Administrators easy answers to complaints these days. I’m sure if his student records were available to the public he probably made several complaints that went unheard. I’ve witnessed this kind of treatment, falling people down, in my opinion even though, he also was a victim. If anyone is to blame its state’s and county’s negligence to resolve complaints or trouble warning signs instead their methods of closing the doors on them at school, work, residents they’re “homeless” “on the street” easy explanations with little questioning of what really happened, talk to a physiologist the attorneys are too busy, now he’s a monster.
to Gun control? wrote on Apr 17, 2007 2:41 PM:Your argument is silly and misleading. Who in the world claims that gun control will stop every single gun attack? No one! So one incident in Japan is some kind of proof that gun control doesn't work? How many gun fatalities per capita exist in Japan vs the US? How many accidental shootings? I'm not really a gun control advocate, either, but I am an advocate of reasonable arguments. Sheesh!
Jamie Concerned wrote on Apr 17, 2007 2:43 PM:Through Cho Seung-Hui's writings, Virginia Tech English professors noticed he was troubled and suggested counseling. But privacy laws hindered the university's ability to ensure that he received this counseling or determine whether he was a risk to people around him. Score another terrible and wanton act of destruction for Freedom of Speech.
esteban wrote on Apr 17, 2007 2:45 PM:Killers Writings...at ease!!!! The guy was a social reject who was going to harm people no matter what we did for him. Stop blaming society and out the blame where it belongs...with the psychopath!!!!!!!!!!!! Good riddance.
American-Irish Resident wrote on Apr 17, 2007 3:23 PM:Tim McVeigh created a murderous disaster using fertilizer and diesel fuel. Are these items next on the list of the gun control advocates?
anon wrote on Apr 17, 2007 4:06 PM:To NCT editors - I think it's completely disrespectful of all involved in this tragedy that you would even post some of the comments made here. Your disclaimer that the views are not those of the NCT staff doesn't make it okay to publish so many rude--and unrelated--comments about such a horrible day. Shame on you, NCT, for promoting such negativity.
Need 2 Read wrote on Apr 17, 2007 4:27 PM:Once you read his two plays that are posted on AOL, you all will realize this was a sick young man, holding everything inside his head, it's too bad his English Professor didn't move fast enough to get this troubled man the help he needed. His peers tried to talk to him, but he would not open up, he probably didn't trust anyone after all that he must have experienced in his life. Also, it's a shame that so many mental patients walk the streets and we can't do anything about it unless they harm someone or themselves, they are taken for help and then released back on the streets. The laws need to change to better our country. God Bless the families and friends of the victims.
Truthspitter wrote on Apr 17, 2007 4:42 PM:Sorry Killer, but there is very little bullying going on in the lower grades (or in any grades) these days, at least where my kid goes to school in the coastal North County. To say schools are sensitive to the issue is an understatement. I am guessing you don't have any kids in school or you would know that. Why should members of society have to "reach out" to someone who is troubled? How is some foreign pyscho our problem? Clearly, he was a guy who couldn't get girls, couldn't interact socially and hated people with more money. A loser with an inferiority complex, his parents should be deported.
To all the haters wrote on Apr 17, 2007 5:04 PM:Stop pointing at the immigrants, geez with so much hate against foreingers you all should pray you aren't born in a foreign country in your next life...Have you ever stopped to think about that? What would you do if you are born in Mexico, Iraq, Africa, any 3rd world country in your next life, what comes around goes around...Can't we all just get along?
Puzzled wrote on Apr 17, 2007 5:06 PM:How can 32 people stand there and get shot, without any try to overpower the gunman? Those on Flight 93 knew what they had to do.
Aristotle wrote on Apr 17, 2007 5:06 PM:What does him being South Korean have anything to do with this?
Cal wrote on Apr 17, 2007 5:12 PM:Wow. Circle the wagons and pass the ammo before someone tries to regulate guns. How about regulating the gun owners instead of the guns - since people kill and guns don't? I wonder what the dead students would have to say.
If only wrote on Apr 17, 2007 5:21 PM:If only everyone was armed. It would solve everything. We could have one big gun fight and when the shooting was over - no one would be left to screw up the world. Might even solve global warming.
JoAnn wrote on Apr 17, 2007 5:56 PM:Read about 1/3 of the comments. Today is about the massacre and the loss of people so very young with their entire future chopped short for no reason. It's about the teachers that died for no reason. It just seems every so often a crazy person goes on a rampage. It is as if when the Amish are not even safe then no one is. I pray today.
RE: to Gun Control? wrote on Apr 17, 2007 6:29 PM:You wrote: "Who in the world claims that gun control will stop every single gun attack? No one!" Please crawl out of your shell. Listen to the media. Read the newspapers. Actually read some of these blogs posted here. Lots of people believe taking guns away will stop this kind of thing including you, contrary to what you say. If we take away guns people will find other ways to kill, on purpose or accidentily. Like someone else said here today, do we outlaw everything that could remotely have a chance of killing someone. You want a reasonable argument, try looking at all of the facts, I did! Cars by far kill more people than guns by at least a multiple of 40. Shall we outlaw cars?
to Gun Control? @ 6:29 wrote on Apr 17, 2007 6:54 PM:Allow me to introduce you to two words: "help" and "solve". Many people believe that gun control will (get ready) HELP the problem of gun deaths. No one believes that gun control will (get ready) SOLVE the problem of gun deaths. Everyone believes that banning cars to eliminate traffic deaths is not worth it, while zillions of dollars go into making cars less lethal. Only a few believe that banning guns to eliminate gun deaths is worth it. You are one of the few. But you are winning, by a lot. Congratulations.
Smokey wrote on Apr 17, 2007 6:58 PM:The worst mass murder in US history was at a night club in New York,over 140 dead It was done with 1/2 gal of Gas and a match. Sorry but taking guns away wont make us any safer.
geri wrote on Apr 17, 2007 7:15 PM:geri writes that she is so sorry that these families are going through this senseless tragady(please forgive the spelling)my prayers are with each of you.
BluexMest wrote on Apr 17, 2007 7:48 PM:From his description of a quite person he sounds like was Buddhist as many Koreans are, harassment of Buddhist and Hindu right now are upsetting many people, 33 people died suggest the Catholic Holy Trinity, maybe the massacre was a statement of religious harassment.
John wrote on Apr 17, 2007 8:06 PM:Children will protest when faced with being denied access to their favorite toy(s). Instead of gun control we should focus on those who misuse firearms.
Jeanna wrote on Apr 17, 2007 8:26 PM:Rather than blame the media for bringing this to our attention or complaining about something else, or joking about this in any way... Let's all come to the realization that this is in fact a tragedy. Surely, people disregard praying and whatnot when things are fine, but when the prayers start coming, you know that the people are scared and concerned. Give them credit for that much, but also those people need to be more appreciative and aware of the world around them. Rest in peace to those people and my deepest condolences to those involved in any way. Hopefully this type of tragedy will not happen again...
You Hicks are Out in Force wrote on Apr 17, 2007 8:30 PM:Wow! I love how the uneducated hicks are so uninformed about the crime statistics in the civilized countries of the world! In ALL of England last year, there were only 46 deaths from guns. Statistics over and over prove that gun victims are invariably friends/acquaintances of the shooters, not law abiding citizens. Have you ever heard of a drive-by "stabbing"? I hate to stereotype, but I now know that 1+1=2 AND uneducated + hick= gunlover. You backward neanderthals make me sick.
Gringo wrote on Apr 17, 2007 8:32 PM:Responsibility lies with the demented nut job his ownself. Government is not the answer.
unloaded wrote on Apr 17, 2007 9:00 PM:Truly awful. Stop beating one another with this as a stick. No action can undo it and the only person to blame is already dead. Bloody awful.
Brian wrote on Apr 17, 2007 9:02 PM:Welcome to America...all our allies.. Canada, Austrailia and Western Europe have so little violent crimes..and at the same time strick gun control laws..see a connection here? They provide excellent health care system including Mental Health Services. See the connection again? We dont have either of these.. see the CONNECTION???? the Conservatives of this country LOVE violence, love money above all else including God...but keep voting Republican idiots.. American deserves the suffering she has n will continue to get ..we are hated by the world for our greed n arrogance epitomized in Bush/Cheney. Wake up u fools!!
American Idiots wrote on Apr 17, 2007 9:53 PM:Jeanna, you say, " Hopefully this type of tragedy will not happen again" but it will, Jeanna, it will. As long as American citizens keep electing politicians beholden to the powerful NRA gun lobby, it will. Wake up, citizens, we are looked at by other countries as the scorned bullies of the world subjected to violence on our own shores of OUR OWN DOING. How many more shootings have to happen before we say ENOUGH of easy availability of guns--enough to the stupid hillbilly hicks who have twisted the second amendment to mean they have a right to have assault weapons?! We have the government we deserve and Americans have been asleep at the wheel!! Don't fall prey to these false statistics spouted by the uneducated on here! Read a foreign newspaper--read the facts before swallowing the lies spewed out by the NRA and the Neanderthals on here. This is going to keep happening until we wise up and get educated. We are now the laughingstock of the world. The stereotypical American now is an overfed male with a huge gut in a flannel shirt, straw coming out of his mouth who says, "ain't" and "ya'll" and has a gun rack on his jacked up truck with a "W" sticker on it. Pitiful.
WHAT?!?!?!? wrote on Apr 17, 2007 10:51 PM:Gringo - you are advocating anarchy. Government (as in you and me - We the People) have a responsibility to act to protect our interests - which seem to be at odds with the interests of firearm promoters.
Dee Dee wrote on Apr 18, 2007 10:10 AM:Enough with gun control. The shooter had problems, they were identified by a teacher. But because the shooter was an adult and did not act upon his "thoughts" at the time, there was nothing that could be done. That's the real problem, not gun control. We would not have wanted to violate his civil rights by ordering him to counseling. Think about it people.
BluexMest wrote on Apr 18, 2007 10:37 AM:I don’t understand why everyone is making it a concern about gun control, point is it takes a very large amount of mentally stressing circumstances for a person to make the decision to climb a clock tower and start snipping people like Lee Harvey Oswald, the incident was an act of a desperate person who wanted to be heard. People blamed combine on gun control too and the students there were “loners” living a fantasy of trench coat mafia, history of other students picking on them, and it resulted in banning hand gun ammunition sales in K-Mart. Yet same physiological depression of Timothy McVeigh and the United Sates is against the sales of some books that describe how to make bombs. A hacker writes a virus and it’s treated the same as a terrorist act by FBI, banning books with hacking tutorials. Take away everyone’s constitutional rights and save us from the rare one in a million psychopaths that misuse education and liberties. Taking rights away is exactly why these people are upset and commit desperate acts of violence. People are concerned of stricter gun control how about stricter harassment control, better legal representation, a Korean student with green card, with the immigration protest, Patriot Act I’m betting he was treated unfairly and what caused his anger at the School.
Ann wrote on Apr 19, 2007 12:42 AM:Why were instructors at Virginia Tech alarmed at the creative writings of Cho Seung-Hul? Hollywood gives out awards for scripts like that.
Guns or knives wrote on Apr 19, 2007 9:47 AM:Would you rather be in a room when a crazy person burst in with two guns or with two knives? I will take the two knives. The thirty people could take down a person with a knive. A gun is a different weapon, it takes seconds to kill many people, and if a victom reached for his gun he would be the first one shot.
Yes Mike, wrote on Apr 19, 2007 10:02 AM:You won't be dissapointed, there are illogical bloggers still out there. Check out John's 6:33PM blog.
Someone wrote on Apr 19, 2007 1:51 PM:pointed out that all the pictures of this madman, are centered dead on. It seems like it would be very unlikely if you are taking a picture of yourself to center the image. Like the party that mentioned it, I too wonder if there isn't someone else involved.
Frank wrote on Apr 20, 2007 4:00 AM:"anon" on April 17 is so correct. I have complained bitterly many times to the NCT and its parent company over the remarks in this section on many issues. They officially disclaim them but actually they manipulate them by not printing those that are not inflamatory or those that they know will encourage some of their regulars to respond in an inappropriate manner. Remember, the editor of this section received accolades and a big promotion from his boss for "encouraging lively debate". "Lively debate"? Some of this stuff wouldn't even be aired on Fox.
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