32 Dead After Virginia Tech University Shooting

[Oh Hamburgers!]

Why hasn't the studen't ID been released? What are the officials hiding from us? Was this an act of terror, or an act of war from China?

Something tells me there's a lot more to this story than what the authorities would have us believe.

Names always take some time to be released, for things to get settled and for families to have their time without being bombarded by media and others.

Short answer from my opinion, yes it was an act of terror, no it wasn't an act of war from China.

It wasn't an organized act of terror however, it was an individual one, one that we can't really attach blame on to anyone but the shooter, at least at this point. Why the shooter did this? I have no idea.

What good is homeland security if the homeland isn't secure? Billions of dollars are being spent on terror overseas while terror is alive and well on our own soil. Most of the school shootings that have occured where done by citizens of both our countries. Most of them by kids. Why are kids killing each other? I would venture to guess that part of the cause is a lack of hope for the young people in a very corrupt society, from the government right down to the local police dept.

To be fair, no matter how much money we spend on security, some people will always find a way to kill others. Homeland security isn't to blame for this tragedy. In fact, considering that most students are safe speaks volumes about the general security of the country. I am not a bit scared to go to classes today here in Madison in light of the tragedy, even though we don't have guns on campus.

[JustinM]

"How many of those killed yesterday made it to heaven? How many parents, brothers and sisters are at home today grieving the loss of a loved one? What can we do? Call on the Lord. He is the Almighty..we are His children."

How many of those killed yesterday, wouldn't have died if there were a few upstanding citizens carrying firearms to class that day?

We need to be angry and sad and grieve in our own way, but we do not need to sit around, brush the sweat off our foreheads and say "thank goodness it's over." Because it ain't over, people will continue to go on shooting rampages and they will continue to go after the most vulnerable places in society. Anywhere there's a gun free zone is a gun vulnerable zone.

Our laws are only effective because we choose to follow them, no matter how many laws we have, you will either follow them or break them, the same goes for gun free zones. Criminals do not follow our laws, you could have a million of them and this individual will break everyone of them. Laws are worthless to the criminally minded. It is not a deterrence to them, but guess what is, people that fight back. No matter how crazy you are, you probably don't want to be shot at, or resisted.

Update:

The murderer was a South Korean national, here on a student visa. As soon as I get the name I will post it.

[JustinM]

Cho Seung-Hui, VT Killer.

[Gerioke]

Cho Seung-Hui, VT Killer.

Apparently he was mad at a girlfriend.

[Deathstar 80]

I know this might sound kind of odd and expensive, but it's the only way that I'm sure that there won't be another school shooting.

We should put up fences around the schools in a way that prevents them to climb or dig through the fence. We should then put security guards at the gates, and have everyone who enters the school check in with the security guards.

Every few hours, we could have a few other security guards to look around these fences, just in case someone has or is working on getting through the fence. If someone did get through with a weapon, just for safety, they should evacuate the school.

[RustyAngeL]

There needs to be people on campus at every school with guns to prevent such things from occuring. Either we need to have armed security officers, or give guns to the teachers as well as the Dean or Principle. Then the casualties would be reduced as the shooter could be taken out sooner.

Every campus does have security. Most big schools have their own police force. At my school, we have a police station here on campus and a police station across the street. The only thing that could have prevented this would have been locked doors and you can't lock academic buildings on a school day.

Handing out guns to people who seem reliable isn't smart.

I don't think we are handing out guns per say. We are putting guns into the hans of responsible people to keep our students safe. My question is there was a two hour time frame from the first two people that were killed by this man until the went on to slaughter 31 more. Where was everybody? Seems to me a couple of guns in the hands of the professiors might have just stopped this senseless nightmare. It's sad we have come to this, but as I said before we are not responsible for every nut that get's a gun and goes on a shooting spree.

[the inside out]

There needs to be people on campus at every school with guns to prevent such things from occuring. Either we need to have armed security officers, or give guns to the teachers as well as the Dean or Principle. Then the casualties would be reduced as the shooter could be taken out sooner.

Every campus does have security. Most big schools have their own police force. At my school, we have a police station here on campus and a police station across the street. The only thing that could have prevented this would have been locked doors and you can't lock academic buildings on a school day.

Handing out guns to people who seem reliable isn't smart.

I don't think we are handing out guns per say. We are putting guns into the hans of responsible people to keep our students safe. My question is there was a two hour time frame from the first two people that were killed by this man until the went on to slaughter 31 more. Where was everybody? Seems to me a couple of guns in the hands of the professiors might have just stopped this senseless nightmare. It's sad we have come to this, but as I said before we are not responsible for every nut that get's a gun and goes on a shooting spree.

I don't know many students that would feel comfortable or safe going to class knowing that their professor has access to a gun. Where will the professors put the gun while they're teaching? On his belt for the class to stare at or under her dress, in a desk, hiding in the room.

No one could have predicted that there would be a second shooting and shutting down a campus twice the size of Central Park is not easy. You have to worry about students that are already in classes, students that are communting, students and professors walking around campus or teaching with their cellphones turned on silent, students that don't have access to a computer, students that don't have cellphones, and students that are still sleeping. The easiest way to get the message out is by e-mail, and the whole campus isn't going to get the message in five minutes.

[JustinM]

I don't know many students that would feel comfortable or safe going to class knowing that their professor has access to a gun. Where will the professors put the gun while they're teaching? On his belt for the class to stare at or under her dress, in a desk, hiding in the room.

People may be uncomfortable for the first couple of days, until the professor gains their trust by displaying responsibility with carrying a handgun. After that, it will just look like an accessory. People will get used to it.

I'd rather someone be uneasy by me carrying a handgun, than to see how uneasy this person becomes when an armed psycho enters the room and starts shooting people.

[Guest LadyC]

i don't understand WHY anyone would feel uncomfortable with their professor carrying a handgun. to me, that just seems so... i don't know, but i wouldn't be the least bit bothered if i were a student, or if one of my kids were students.

[nebula]

OK, I'll play your all's game.

You want guns to save the students rather than crying out to the Lord for salvation? OK then. Here is my answer as a professor at a community college.

I DO NOT WANT TO CARRY A GUN TO CLASS.

My father and brother are members of the NRA. I have no problem with gun rights. I, however, have no desire to personally use a gun. I've been to the firing range with my father. I fired his gun. I didn't like it. I am not comfortable with it. I have no desire to own or use a gun for myself.

Teachers carrying guns. Give me a break. That is the dumbest idea in the world. You have to assume the teachers want to own and use a gun. Newsflash: most of us do not.

We are educators. We are the nerds. We are intellectuals. We do not get into firearms for ourselves.

I'll advocate legal gun use any day. But to rely on guns as the solution?

Don't be so idiotic.

There - you happy I joined in your debate?