Virginia Tech Rampage

[Artashes]

Just a horrible morning in Virginia Tech college with reported 33 killed (including the gunman), which makes it the deadliest massive shooting in U.S. history.
http://edition.cnn.com/2007/US/04/16/vtech.shooting/index.html

Young kids. I wonder what went through their minds as they were minding their own business when the tragedy occurred.

There was a shooting in September 2006 in Dawson College which is a few blocks from my house here in Montreal and I remember how the whole city and nearby community was affected by the traffic event.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dawson_College_Shooting

This is definitely going to be one of the biggest stories this year.

In the meantime, my thoughts are with the families of those who lost their loved ones in this senseless act of violence.

 

[Blue]

I wonder where you can draw the line between security and a police state?

History have proved that these events will occur. How can they be prevented?

I don't think it lies in policing. I think it lies in the education system itself. We have cut so many corners in education that guidance programs and tutoring are not longer a part of the equasion.

This is not so much a Canadian issue as it is a US issue because these kids are being taught that if you have problems then you should use force or some aggressive action to resolve that problem.
The media makes these people into fold heroes so that is an added bonus.

I don't know what the exact circumstances are behind this massacre but the lax gun laws in the US and the "get them before they get us" mentality will certainly play a part in it.

 

[ldcdc]

A truly tragic story.

"It was kind of scary," he said. "These two kids I guess had panicked and jumped out of the top-story window and the one kid broke his ankle and the other girl was not in good shape just lying on the ground."

I cannot imagine the terror they must have went through if they decided that the way out was to jump like that...

 

[Humbe]

The only thing I can't figure out is that the first shots were at 7:15 AM and the police never caught the Asian man who did it, thats why at 9:00 AM once again the man started shooting again and then he committed suicide.

 

[ldcdc]

I think it lies in the education system itself.

Agreed. There must be causes for this kind of thing to become so common.

Personally, I don't think it's the "get them first" mentality. This looks like a social disorder to me, and it's pretty clear that *something* over there is triggering and helping these situations appear.

 

[Humbe]

I think they need to hire more security and also when accepting students make a FULL background review. This will keep secured other students.

 

[Artashes]

I think they need to hire more security and also when accepting students make a FULL background review. This will keep secured other students.

What about the thousands of visitors the campus has every day?

 

[Blue]

These are students. They are mostly all young.
I doubt that a background review is going to reveal much. It would have little effect other than to raise tuition rates for everyone to cover the costs involved.

 

[pmhoran]

These are students. They are mostly all young.
I doubt that a background review is going to reveal much. It would have little effect other than to raise tuition rates for everyone to cover the costs involved.

And apparently the gunmans past had been clear of any kind of incidents ... so he would not have been "picked up" on any background checks anyway.

Also I don't think the "problem" is one experience mostly by the USA ... Canada is probably just as susceptible to the school shootings. Canada has fewer of them because we have 1/10th the population.

They (the professionals) have narrowed down the type of person (personality traits) that all these gunmen seem to possess. The trick is ... to identify who is exhibiting those traits and getting them the help they need BEFORE things escalate to the point where they feel they need to kill others. So the teachers & students must keep their "eyes open" & be more aware of their classmates. That is how the help is going to be received by the people who need it.

At least ... thats my humble uneducated opinion.

My thoughts & prayers are with all the families & friends of all the people involved in this incident ... especially for those who have fallen.

Take care ...
Peter

 

[Marks]

Now I don't know about you but every single radio station in the U.K finds it odd that in America you can buy a firearm easily over the counter.

My condolences to the families and friends.