Shooting at Virginia Tech

[Hime]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/n...wsbreaking-hed

21 people dead.

[duck_duck]

Oh my god! How do these things happen? America should ban the guns from people.

[wolf]

If one other person on the campus had a gun and could have defended themselves, the outcome would have likely been very different.

Schools, including colleges and universities, are already designated "gun free zones."

[piercehawkeye45]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6560685.stm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_Vi..._Tech_shooting

There isn’t a lot of information on it yet. The number of dead has increased to 32.

This is really scary, especially for me since I live on a big campus and if there is a shooting, they will take out so many people and there is no where to hide since the campus is so open.

Another thing is that there isn’t much you can do to prevent this. Not all people that are sick mentally don't receive help and a lot of times if someone says something, other people will ignore it as a strive for attention or because they don't know what to do or they think they aren't going to do anything. For example, my roommate first semester was very unstable so I know how it is.

I hope the best for everyone on that campus. Something like this will live with the students, friends, and families forever. Some kid’s lives will be ruined because they will not be able to keep up with their classes and others will just be mentally scarred for life.

This is a true tragedy and I feel for everyone that was affected by this.

[Shawnee123]

You don't singlehandedly kill 32 people armed with only sticks and rocks.

It's just horrible.

OK...flame me now.

[Kitsune]

Originally Posted by Shawnee123

You don't singlehandedly kill 32 people armed with only sticks and rocks.

Nope. Fertilizer, fuel oil, and a rental truck do a much better job.

(is this really the time to go into a gun control debate?)

[Shawnee123]

Originally Posted by Kitsune

Nope. Fertilizer, fuel oil, and a rental truck do a much better job.

(is this really the time to go into a gun control debate?)

I was just taking my opportunity when it arose. I certainly don't want to debate anyone, because I know how that goes here in the cellar, but it seems to me that a mass shooting is the PERFECT time to debate guns....I mean, after all, shootings are accomplished with (wait for it...) guns, are they not?

Sheesh.

[Kitsune]

Originally Posted by Shawnee123

but it seems to me that a mass shooting is the PERFECT time to debate guns.

Oh fine, fine.

Why is the knee-jerk reaction in these situations to render people defenseless instead of the other way around?

[Shawnee123]

I'm a knee-jerk kind of girl.

Seriously, I do see what you are saying about the other way around. It's reality whether I like it or not. If I had my druthers...but I don't.

I know we all agree it's a horrible tragedy, and I'll stop there before I say something really stupid!

Peace to all.

[Bullitt]

Just because you own a gun, does not mean you know what the hell to do during a shoot out.

[Spexxvet]

Originally Posted by wolf

If one other person on the campus had a gun and could have defended themselves, the outcome would have likely been very different.

Schools, including colleges and universities, are already designated "gun free zones."

Do you know if all students who were killed, injured, or in the vicinity of the killer were unarmed? Get back to me on that, K?

"Could have". One other person would have to not only own a gun, but be packing heat, have the presence of mind to identify the killer as a threat, so as to not kill an innocent college student, AND have the mental strength to murder someone. If only...

[wolf]

Not surprisingly, this situation has been a topic of conversation at work. Admittedly, we don't have a lot of information, but it would appear that the shooter basically lined people up and started shooting them one by one ... why didn't anyone try to rush the shooter?

If you're in the same situation ... first person gets shot, it's a surprise, it's unexpected, even if the shooter tells you that's what he's intending. After the next one or three ... the rest of the folks should start to understand that they have little to lose by trying to do something. If you do NOTHING, you do get shot, and die. If you rush the guy (especially with enough people) you might get shot ... and with a smaller likelihood of being killed.

What makes people choose to do nothing, when nothing is clearly going to result in your death?

(note: I have never had to rush an armed gunman, but I have had to tackle folks armed with screwdrivers, belts, and small appliances.)

[bluesdave]

Originally Posted by wolf

What makes people choose to do nothing, when nothing is clearly going to result in your death?

Fear. People inherently never believe that they will die, and rushing towards a mad guy who has already shot several people is almost guaranteed to get you shot, and probably killed, so human nature says, stay back, and stay alive - even if this is a hopeless position.

[lumberjim]

i'd rush the shooter right behing you wolf! promise, now rush!

[freshnesschronic]

Damn. That shit's insane.

VTech admissions will probably drop 100% or so, won't it?