Drake 53 Posted April 16, 2007 Will it ever end? http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,266310,00.html It's been all over the news all day. Last I saw on the news, there were 33 dead, including the shooter, making this the worst school shooting in US history. I hate to say it, but this sort of thing is gradually making people more and more desensitized whenever another shooting takes place. Watching the news, it seemed no where near as terrible as the Columbine shooting even though there are far more students dead. It's a sad day for all. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mara 29 Posted April 17, 2007 (edited) Yes, indeed. It seemed to get worse as the hours went by... Edited April 17, 2007 by Mara Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Princess 35 Posted April 17, 2007 The school really dropped the ball there by not locking down Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Radioactive Isotope 29 Posted April 17, 2007 how horrible. it's so sad that schools are no longer safe places to learn. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ender 8 Posted April 17, 2007 I've got a friend who goes to VT. He decided to skip his classes today. Y'know, now that I think of it, Tony's always had really good timing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ayingel 24 Posted April 17, 2007 wow...i didn't know that happened yesterday. wow. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mara 29 Posted April 17, 2007 Well, they released the name of the guy... Apparently he was upset at all the rich students or something? Crazy. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Princess 35 Posted April 18, 2007 I want to know how someone, who to my understanding, isn't a US citizen, was able to purchase 2 semiautomatic handguns. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ayingel 24 Posted April 18, 2007 (edited) i don't know... here are some really moving pictures of the vigil today: Vigil Edited April 18, 2007 by Beloved Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Radioactive Isotope 29 Posted April 18, 2007 last i heard, he was here legally Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chickenman 9 Posted April 18, 2007 I want to know how someone, who to my understanding, isn't a US citizen, was able to purchase 2 semiautomatic handguns. Probably not legally. It's probably easier than we'd think. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Radioactive Isotope 29 Posted April 18, 2007 i heard a snippit on the news that the VA police found out he was in the US legally, and that he purchased the hand guns legally. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mara 29 Posted April 18, 2007 Yeah, it was all legal... But there were warning signs... from a couple years ago. Female students complaining of him stalking them.... He wrote some disturbing stories and poems, to the point where the prof. wanted him out of her class. I guess he was even put in counseling and a psych hospital for a while. And no one did anything because he wasn't breaking any laws. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chickenman 9 Posted April 19, 2007 (edited) What were they supposed to do? Throw him in jail because he was creepy? Warning signs? Hindsight in 20/20. No one could predict he'd snap and kill people, and you can't punish someone just for being weird. Edited April 19, 2007 by Chickenman Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chris/Tauntaun13 0 Posted April 19, 2007 Yeah, if the police had to deal with/check out every weird, creepy or lonely person out there, they would have to keep tabs on half the world. The saddest thing about this is that it's probably going to make people even more suspicious and unfriendly towards the loners and the "weird" kids. I'm not saying that this wouldn't have happened if the killer was hugged enough times; some people are just too far out and nothing can save them. But I'm sure there are enough loners and outsiders who are good people that will face even more hostile behaviour just because they're different. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Radioactive Isotope 29 Posted April 19, 2007 i wonder if he had anti-social personality disorder. if that's the case, there's not much you could have done about it. one of my psych teachers said the only "treatment" for antil-social personality is jail because they have no morals and no empathy. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mara 29 Posted April 19, 2007 I think there was more wrong with him than being just weird or creepy. And, hey, he was actually smiling in that video he sent to NBC. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ayingel 24 Posted April 19, 2007 the nbc video spot http://youtube.com/watch?v=Q1pj9i3hgRg Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chickenman 9 Posted April 20, 2007 I think there was more wrong with him than being just weird or creepy. And, hey, he was actually smiling in that video he sent to NBC. Oh, there definitly was more wrong with him than that. But there's no way anyone could have known that. We couldn't have thrown someone in jail just on the chance that they might do something horrendous. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Uncle Du 22 Posted April 20, 2007 I dunno if you all are getting less info than us that are in Virginia, but I wouldn't think so. He was in the States legally, since he was 8, when his parents immigrated here. He was a naturalized citizen, and bought both of the guns legally. One he bought at a gun show in VA and the other he purchased (wait for it..........) on Ebay. I heard on the radio this morning that the online gun dealer does not plan on shutting down despite the tradgedy. God forbid he should have to find a different line of work. And yea, really, there is nothing else that could have been done to stop this kid because he never did anything illegal up until that point. From all accounts, he was a troubled youth, and people actually did try to help him out. Like Drake said up top, people are desensitized to this now, and I'm one of them. When I heard about it, I was at work, and all I was thinking was, "So it happened again, huh?" Say what you will, but this kind of thing will continue happening, as long as human beings walk this Earth. In my opinion, I don't think there will come a day when all human-kind can live together. Call it a defeatist attitude if you will. I don't think there's any hope for us as long as people can't set aside differences, and just live together. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mara 29 Posted April 20, 2007 Especially since they keep reminding us that it's the worse massacre in history... Which just means some moron will try to up it to get into the history books. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TheUnknown 39 Posted April 21, 2007 I'm re-adding my original post that I split into the debate table: I was at work (where I have access to the Internet), saw I watched the news sites continuously up the death toll. It was kind of disturbing. And some of my coworkers have some connections to Virginia Tech. In fact, I think my school itself has some connections. The place I work (the Burruss Institute of Public Service, a research insitute that is part of Kennesaw State University) and a building on campus, the Burruss Building, share their names with a building at Virginia Tech (Burruss Hall). Third, Stephen King, who has written two stories about school violence (Rage, which I haven't read and which was taken out of print, and "Cain Rose Up," which I have read and is about violence in college), was interviewed about the topic of violent writing: http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20036014,00.html Lastly, CNN reports that gunfire has been heard at the Johnson Space Center. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chickenman 9 Posted April 21, 2007 And I'll re-add a thing I said: So apparently, a Columbine survivor goes to VTech, and was on Campus during the shooting. She's now survived two school shootings. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ayingel 24 Posted April 21, 2007 they did hear gunshots: NASA Gunman Kills Self and Hostage at Johnson Space Center what's going on this week? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chickenman 9 Posted April 21, 2007 NASA again? They have not been doing well lately. First Columbia, then psycho astronaught and the crazy love triangle, now this. Geez. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites