Shooting at Virginia Tech

[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."

[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.

[Perry Winkle]

Originally Posted by wolf

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

99% of the people in the world are sheep. Until the first person sacks-up and does something nobody else will even think about it.