Deadly Shooting At Virginia Tech
 

A lone gunman is dead after police said he killed at least 21 people Monday during shootings in a dorm and a classroom at Virginia Tech -- the deadliest school attack in U.S. history.

Where are these psychos coming from? :freaky:

They are now saying on the news 32 dead
 

They said that includes the shooter in that count. It will take a day or two to find out the whole story. If someone wants to do something like this it is very hard to stop them and the anti gun people will be singing at the top of their lungs but this would still happen if someone has lost their mind and hell bent on killing people. I think back on the guy in the tower at a Texas college that was sniping people so this has been going on and I hate to say will continue to go on. So much for Imus taking front page. I wonder why we are seeing this kind of thing in America :confused: :confused:
Isaac

So deeply saddened
 

I can only imagine being one of the families that get a call from the authorities tonight. I can concur with Isaac's thought on how this happens in the land of the free and home of the brave. Other countries view America as a very violent land. Events like this make one wonder.... :confused:

Thank you Sheba for the post. American's heart was broken once again today and signs of the times and sad it is. God comfort the families and friends of these souls that past today. :(
Sheba good to see another female on the board these boys could use some help being told how it really is :laugh: :laugh: and the girls seem to team up and work as a force to be reconed with. Welcome and I hope you make more post. :banana:
Isaac

Welcome Sheba! We didn't see much of you before your trip. Welcome to SBLive! :D I am AnimeSpirit, general of the smiley army :flag: and seer of all ANIME!!! :xd: I look forward to seeing your activity on the board. ;)

:banana: :matrix:

This story just makes you want to grab your children and hold them tight. When we first heard it, I had to just call my college daughter (the supermodel mini me) and hear her voice. I felt so saddened for those parents who were probably frantically dialing their children's cell phones. I can not imagine the heartbreak those parents are enduring tonight.

I really hope that this shakes some souls for Isaac is right that it is a sign of the times we live in. I do want to know why it did take authorities so long to lock down the campus.

I am very saddened by the events of today. I have two children not yet of college age, but after today there will be one more thing on my mind as they grow up, that my parents didn't have to think of. Lucky them. Sign of the times as you all say. My 14 year old son is on a field trip to New Orleans today. New Orleans has a worse rap sheet than Virginia Tech...... But bad things can happen anywhere.

But I also have a bad feeling about the fallout from a major event such as this. Perhaps it is premature to be thinking along such lines. So I won't say anymore other than to quote Tom Gresham from his website which pretty much sums up my feelings:

"April 16, 2007, just might be a turning point in the battle to restore gun rights to Americans. The tragedy at Virginia Tech today, with more than 30 people being killed in a premeditated murder spree, will be the fulcrum upon which the anti-gun rights forces leverage their efforts to restrict (destroy, if possible) your right to not only own guns, but to protect yourself and your family.

Quite simply, this is the mass shooting the anti-self defense forces have been waiting for, as we will see over the coming days and weeks. The papers are already drawn up; the proposed restrictions were penned long ago; they have merely been waiting for this moment.

Lost in the coming cacophony will be the utter failure of the "perfect" gun law -- a total gun ban. You see, on that university campus, no one is allowed to have a gun for self protection in dorms or classrooms. It is the latest in a long string of murderous failures of "gun free" zones, or as they are better called, "victim-rich environments."

According to the school’s “Campus and Workplace Violence Prevention Policy”:
“The university’s employees, students, and volunteers, or any visitor or other third party attending a sporting, entertainment, or educational event, or visiting an academic or administrative office building or residence hall, are further prohibited from carrying, maintaining, or storing a firearm or weapon on any university facility, even if the owner has a valid permit, when it is not required by the individual’s job, or in accordance with the relevant University Student Life Policies.

Any such individual who is reported or discovered to possess a firearm or weapon on university property will be asked to remove it immediately. Failure to comply may result in a student judicial referral and/or arrest, or an employee disciplinary action and/or arrest.”
(Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Policy 5616, Campus and Workplace Violence Prevention Policy, http://www.policies.vt.edu/5616.pdf)

A similar situation to the one that happened at Virginia Tech occurred on January 16th, 2002 at Appalachian Law School in Grundy, Virginia. A disgruntled former student began a similar shooting spree. The difference in this case was that the attack was stopped by three individuals, two of whom were legally armed with handguns. Unfortunately, the attack was not stopped until three people had been killed and three more wounded. Why did it take so long to stop the attack? The good guys had to retrieve their guns from their parked cars before they could confront the gunman. ALS was a gun-free zone, you know."

Rhertz you very plainly pointed out the reality of what the fallout of this shooting spree is going to be. Our daughter called quite shook up by this and wondering "Is this something that could happen here at LSU Baton Rouge and what would I do?" You know it was a hard question to answer here and brought the biggest tears to my eyes. All I could think as a mother was "Dear God, please don't ever let her be confronted with being in this situation." But the advise I passed along to her was to lay down and play dead. If you can't get out of the room, or you are not low enough to jump from a window, then play dead. I never in my life when she was born thought I would have to give her that kind of advice. It's a sad world.

You're absolutely correct, Rhertz. The anti-gun extremists will definitly use this tragedy to push their agenda of stripping gun rights from the Republic's citizenry. You're also absolutely correct in pointing out that had students and faculty members been allowed to lawfully carry guns on their persons, this tragedy could've been eliminated or at least minimized.

To those who would disarm us, I have only four words:

MOLON LABE, YOU BASTARDS!

My wife, a church school teacher, just mentioned to me that had she been there with a gun, she would have shot the b@stard with no problem if it would have helped to prevent such a heavy and senseless loss of life. I guess killing is a relative thing. She's agrees. It's ok to kill the psycho killer when he is on victim 5 of 32 and you happen to be there with a gun.

Couldn't agree more.

What about thou shall not kill?

See, this is what I'm talking about folks. A direct contradiction of the Commandments handed down by your Lord. Not only would she (and presumably you too) willingly murder another man, you've even deemed it "ok".

Does anyone even want to TRY and explain that rational or is this just another subject you'll choose to ignore?

Not even a challenge
 

The Bible never advocates giving up your right to self defense or protecting your family. God is the ultimate in justice. A careful line must be drawn between premeditated murder or blind revenge and the act of having the tools to protect yourself in the line of gunfire.

Sorry, but there doesn't even seem to be an issue here!

Sheba, that was perfectly well said. :clap: And no more needs to be said. The Bible is perfectly clear on the subject to all those who CHOOSE to understand.

I guess none of us ever thought part of the school supply list for college would need to include a weapon but it appears we may have to start adding that to the list. You are all absolutely correct if just one person with a concealed weapons permit had actually had theirs in the building this could have been stopped in short order. There are so many questions here though to be answered in this situation. How did he get the doors locked and someone not notice? How did he get all the way across campus dressed like he was and the police there investigating the first shooting not notice?

The good people are not the ones doing the shootings of innocent people. Take away the guns and the criminals will still find ways to have them.

Well I have to say carrying a firearm, even for defensive purposes, shows a certain degree of premeditation. I mean you aren't just going to pull your gun and try to intimidate someone, right?

Not to mention the training and practice it would take to not only over come your initial response to immediately seek shelter, but to effectively engage the "enemy" while under fire. That's ballzy and rarely seen outside the police and military.....notice how many people this **** killed before killing himself.

Great post Sheba. There is no issue here for Christians just for those who CHOOSE to go against the truth of the WORD ;) In a short time and this too will pass and "turned to ashes from within" will be the fate of those who CHOOSE to do Satan's bidding. ;)
Isaac

On GMA, they are showing pictures of victims and telling their stories. It is truly heartbreaking. I know I don't have to ask, but let us all keep these families in our prayers and the students who survived. They are going to need uplifting in the coming weeks.

If not for the Grace of God there go I ! Yes prayer for the families and friends.
I think we can see how one person with their anger and evil spirits can make life miserable for many others. It is truly heartbreaking and it is time for the people of America to wake up and pray to our Father as a nation.

Updated News Story
 

A new story has been added to the "Read More" section of this topic, as follows

CNN -- Apr 17 2007 7:47 AM
Virginia Tech president: Shooter was Asian student

Updated News Story
 

A new story has been added to the "Read More" section of this topic, as follows

ABC NEWS -- Apr 17 2007 7:59 AM
World Reacts to U.S. University Shooting

Updated News Story
 

A new story has been added to the "Read More" section of this topic, as follows

CBS News -- Apr 17 2007 8:26 AM
Shock And Outrage After Va. Tech Massacre

Updated News Story
 

A new story has been added to the "Read More" section of this topic, as follows

CNN -- Apr 18 2007 7:36 AM
Shooter showed 'big warning signs,' students say

Mini me calls today on her way to class and as she is walking in to class I give her instructions....be sure you sit close to a window from now on. Don't sit near the door and sit behind a really big guy. She said "Mom, don't worry..everybody is sitting by the windows now." Isn't that sad that the students in the country have all thought this through and are going to class looking for escape routes?

Due to my nature, I always look for technology to solve problems.. I'm not saying any of these are good ideas, but it is fun to speculate. Some are more serious than others.

Possible Solutions:

- Rig all buildings with harmless smoke bombs that can be set off like a fire alarm to confuse the enemy until police arrive.

- Rig guns with tiny wireless radios that only the police have the codes to so they can disable a weapon with the push of a button.

- Rig hallways to release 10,000 marbles. Could use this in combination with a smoke bomb to confuse the bad guys and give the cops time to show up.

- Arm students with water balloons filled with slippery dish soap instead of just water. That might slow a bad guy down and save lives. Actually standard mace or tazers might save lives if everyone is armed with one.

- Arm teachers just like airline pilots. Then make classroom doors bulletproof like cockpit doors.

- Just knock everyone out with "sleep gas". When students wake, they are all safe. When the bad guy wakes, he has 10 guns pointed at his head.

- Make windows electronic to block out all light, then cut the power. Unless the perp has night vision goggles, everyone would be blinded until the cops arrive.

- Rig an alarm to play Rosie O'Donnell audio really loud until the police arrive. *jk*

- Police could loan the universities their license plate scanning Helicopter which can solve any problem, even when it comes up empty handed. *jk*

So love the creativity:clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:

smoke bombs that can be for rhertz to chill out with :laugh: To much caffeine for lunch to day buddy :w00t:

I think he was just smoking some crack or weed.:laugh:

Thanks, the act is so horrible and unthinkable, I guess this is how my brain deals with it. I'm not sure "fun" was the right word. but wouldn't it be nice if this situation could have been avoided?

Who me? yeah I had two cups of coffee today, but sorry no drugs.. I do loosen up after a martini though! :D

But seriously I'm sure many people think a particular invention is stupid such as a "personal computer", until after it catches on. Then the inventor is genius all of a sudden! :D

How about a Cosmo? Now that's a great way to loosen up!!! Do we have a smiling drinking a cosmo?

Seriously though someone is going to have to come up with a way to protect the children in the classroom and you might be on to something with one of your ideas. You never know.

Well it wouldn't be the first time...err well, on second though, yes it would!

Cant help but wonder what it must be like for the killer's family. I'm sure they (the killer's fam) are appalled and filled with shame at what he's done. Assuming they've done nothin to make the guy the twisted cankersore that he was, they deserve our sympathy, and I hope they wont be harassed. But they probably will...they'll probably have to change their name and move to another state.

Cant help but wonder WHY, when these guys snap, they feel the need to senselessly take the lives of innocents who've never said a cross word to em or done em any harm. You could understand if the guy snapped and took out any bullies that had been mercilessly doggin him, at least there'd be a motive. But this just defies explanation. And of course, they almost always save the last bullet for themselves so they wont have to "face the music", deprivin the victim's families of the satisfaction of bringin him to justice.

The horror those families and students have had to endure is terrible. And the repercussive waves are staggering, from students sitting by windows contemplating their risk of ever having to jump to possible gun ban legislation. But in all this tragedy, a simple step could have been taken by NBC to curb the damage done. The shooter mailed a video to NBC mid-way through the rampage. Obviously the intention of the shooter was to gain some sort of notoriety, and what did NBC do but air the pictures he sent and clips of the video. I'm not advocating censoring the media, but someone at that station should have taken responsibility and decided, at least for the sake of the family members of the victims and the shooter, not to fulfill the final wishes of a murderer. Someone should have looked beyond the juicy story and the public's "need to know," and simply turned that piece of evidence over to the authorities. If people across the nation can see that an act like that will buy them so much (in)fame(y), when and where will it end?

:clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:

People magazine had pictures of the victims today. Seeing the faces and reading about those who were killed, makes it harder to deal with this tragedy. I feel extremely sorry for the families and the shooter's family.

What a travesty!
 

I read the story today in People as well. It's just heartbreaking! The holocaust survivor professor that held the door shut while his students jumped out the windows then lost his own life was so very tragic! What a hero!:hurt:

I must say I am impressed with the University and that they are going to award the students their degrees posthumously. It will be something to help comfort these families. I can not imagine what these parents are feeling. My heart absolutely breaks for them.

What good with their degree be if they are dead ? I miss the point here. Maybe good public relations but still just a show for the University.

It is something that may make some of these parents feel better..a way to honor the student's memory. No, it wo't do them any good but if it makes the parents or anybody feel better, then it's ok.

It's a kind gesture to show that the students' hard work and effort until this point would not go to waste. They worked hard all year for these degrees and now they will get them. Sure, they'll sit on a shelf not being used, but then again, so are mine. ;)