Updated:At Least 33 Dead in Va. Tech Shooting

[hooskins]

I heard on the news the shooter chained some of the doors and didnt let people out. He also shot himself in the face and therefore making it harder for authorities to identify him.

[Redskins_P]

Originally Posted by hooskins

I heard on the news the shooter chained some of the doors and didnt let people out. He also shot himself in the face and therefore making it harder for authorities to identify him.

Yeah I heard that too. He didn't carry ID and his fingerprints had no records. Theres another rumor saying he did all of this because his girlfriend had dumped him. Supposedly she was in the classroom he hit.

[Beemnseven]

For now, you should know that earlier this year the Virginia General Assembly failed to act on House Bill 1572. This bill would have allowed college students and employees to carry handguns on campus --- with appropriate permits, of course. It died in subcommittee. Larry Hincker, a spokesman for Virginia Tech, the site of today's carnage, said "I'm sure the university community is appreciative of the General Assembly's actions because this will help parents, students, faculty and visitors feel safe on our campus."

boortz.com: The world-famous Internet site of the Nationally Syndicated Neal Boortz Show!

[mooby]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

I agree on the cancelling classes bit.

But what are you going to do to ramp up security? Put armed guards everywhere? Attack dogs? Metal detectors with guards there to operate them?

How would you feel if your tuition went up $5000 a year because of new security measures? A lot of people can't afford college education as it is. Do you start jacking up the cost on everyone because one extremely tragic incident took place?

Those are some good questions. And I can't say I could give an honest answer that would solve everything. I think I'll reserve judgement until all the details come out.

@724: Well, if they had at least put the classes in session on lockdown then perhaps that would've saved some lives. That said, they might've put the classes on lockdown but I don't know at this moment. What i do know is that security measures do have to be stepped up, because if there were two seperate shootings two hours apart then something's wrong.

[724Skinsfan]

Originally Posted by mooby

My thoughts and prayers go out to anyone who was affected by this tragedy. It is pretty wild that VT wouldn't at least cancel the classes so students could get the hell out of there before they got killed. For the killer to get away with that many shootings shows just how much work school security systems need in this country.

Consider that the class may have already started when the campus went into lockdown, which is different then cancelling classes. Lockdown means "stay put where you are until further notice". The students would have had to stay in the classroom until someone advised the it was safe to leave. If the gunman had been shortly apprehended without further incident to anyone else then it may be reasonable to assume classes would have stayed on schedule and it would be up to the discretion of the dormitory students at Ambler-Johnston if they wanted to attend.

Really, that's simply my speculation but there's not too many cases to fall back on for guidance when it comes to university shootings.

[Hog1]

To my knowledge, this type of crime is limited to this country. Perhaps not totally, but generally?? (not bombing, but school related) If that is true, there is a much more elemental question....or two.
Why are we doing these things? What about this country makes these types of things attractive? How does someone go undetected in our society that aspires to be a mass murderer? We NEED TO figure out some of these questions.
Keeping weapons capable of mass destruction out of the publics hands is not an option, as the plans (and materials) to build bombs, guns, bio-weapons, etc. are readily available.
What is wrong with our society that breeds this type of person so frequently?
It is important that we figure it out, as there are CERTAINLY more out there......planning

[MTK]

I'm sure there was a lot of confusion and miscommunication early on, so I won't judge the university's decisions until more info is known. Obviously this is a horrible tragedy, and no matter how prepared people think they are the truth is you can never be prepared for something like this and make all the correct decisions in the heat of the moment.

[mredskins]

Schneed10 I agree with you!

People are trying to point the finger as to why this happen. It is really easy some sick F decide he would play god today. WE CAN"T MANAGE OUR LIVES AROUND THE 1%.

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by mredskins

WE CAN"T MANAGE OUR LIVES AROUND THE 1%.

You pretty much hit the nail on the head. And the 0.0000001% is probably more accurate.

It seems REALLY cold to say given that it JUST happened this morning, but this is a freak thing. The odds of you sitting in class minding your own beezewax and getting shot by someone who's gone off the deep end are infinitesimally small. The fact that this rampage JUST happened does not change those odds.

Your odds of hitting the powerball, of getting struck by lightning, or of getting attacked by dogs on your way to lunch are probably similar in size.

I wouldn't make any policy decisions. Over the coming days, emotions will run high and people will point fingers, but nobody will be able to agree on who is to blame for this. And that's because there is nobody to blame except the guy who did it, and he's already dead. It's an unfortunate reality, you can't be everywhere at all times to stop evil every time it rears it's ugly head.

Unless you want to hand over a huge portion of your paycheck for total security.

[mredskins]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

You pretty much hit the nail on the head. And the 0.0000001% is probably more accurate.

It seems REALLY cold to say given that it JUST happened this morning, but this is a freak thing. The odds of you sitting in class minding your own beezewax and getting shot by someone who's gone off the deep end are infinitesimally small. The fact that this rampage JUST happened does not change those odds.

Your odds of hitting the powerball, of getting struck by lightning, or of getting attacked by dogs on your way to lunch are probably similar in size.

I wouldn't make any policy decisions. Over the coming days, emotions will run high and people will point fingers, but nobody will be able to agree on who is to blame for this. And that's because there is nobody to blame except the guy who did it, and he's already dead. It's an unfortunate reality, you can't be everywhere at all times to stop evil every time it rears it's ugly head.

Unless you want to hand over a huge portion of your paycheck for total security.

I agree! It would be like mananging your money on the off chance you may win the lottery someday. It would just be dumb!

[Monkeydad]

Originally Posted by mredskins

Schneed10 I agree with you!

People are trying to point the finger as to why this happen. It is really easy some sick F decide he would play god today. WE CAN"T MANAGE OUR LIVES AROUND THE 1%.

Well said.

[BigSKINBauer]

good to hear that you are fine big C.

What is scary is that it could have been anyone there. It was so random, just in a class. Anyone could have been in that class. I don't know many people at VT but there is one that is good friends with one of my good friends. I am pretty sure she was an engineer major. I'm about to call up my friend and ask up about her. Lets pray that the 31 numbers are wrong and the numbers go down a bit. This is absolutely horrible.

[jbcjr14]

Originally Posted by BigSKINBauer

good to hear that you are fine big C.

What is scary is that it could have been anyone there. It was so random, just in a class. Anyone could have been in that class. I don't know many people at VT but there is one that is good friends with one of my good friends. I am pretty sure she was an engineer major. I'm about to call up my friend and ask up about her. Lets pray that the 31 numbers are wrong and the numbers go down a bit. This is absolutely horrible.

26,000 enrolled students

[firstdown]

This is sad and my heart goes out to all who's life has been changed from this tragic event.

[itvnetop]

Tragic news... glad to hear you're ok Big C... i hope everyone you know is ok too...