Massacre at Virginia Tech [Archive] - The PokeMasters Forums

mr_pikachu

16th April 2007, 08:49 PM

Gunman kills 32 in Virginia Tech rampage (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070416/ap_on_re_us/virginia_tech_shooting)

BLACKSBURG, Va. - A gunman massacred 32 people at Virginia Tech in the deadliest shooting rampage in modern U.S. history Monday, cutting down his victims in two attacks two hours and a half-mile apart before the university could figure out what was going on and get the warning out to students.

The bloodbath ended with the gunman committing suicide, bringing the death toll to 33 and stamping the campus in the picturesque Blue Ridge Mountains with tragedy, perhaps forever.

This brings to light the problem of nearly nonexistant security that exists at many colleges. It's possible that this will prompt more schools to enforce curfews and take various other security measures. But in any event, this is a great tragedy that will rock the institution of higher education to its core.

Thoughts?

Dark-San

16th April 2007, 08:55 PM

Well the local papers here indicated 21 dead while the other labelled the number of death at 22. It seems to me that your news would be more accurate than ours, I guess.

However the point is on why drives these two students into insanity to hit their fellow students?

Pressure from their peers, are they involved in cults or other religious stuffs, or they are just under drug or alcohol influence? Whatever the reason it maybe, it may be a high time for the US government to start revising on their weapon restriction legislation laws.

Razola

16th April 2007, 08:59 PM

I got two days off class!

But, seriously, this really sucks and was pretty crazy. I had people emailing me to see if I was alive and 1-2 one the murders took place in my old dorm building. Eerie.

The death total is 33 now, including the gunman. Worse part is that the two incidents (they are two hours apart) might actually be unrelated. We might have a second shooter running around right now.

At least campus is open tomorrow. I have to go to the bank. And I'm not going to enjoy having my school be known as the College Columbine for the rest of my life.

Perfect Chaos

16th April 2007, 09:16 PM

Well, its great to know you're OK Raz :) :o

Yeah, its the worse school/college shooting tragedy ever recorded to this day. It was pretty insane. I live all the way in Gainesville, and my mom was trying to reach me the whole day to make sure nothing started up at our campus.

I honestly don't know what comes over people who have this sudden urge to grab a gun, a bunch of ammunition and think its OK to go to a campus and just around all trigger-happy. It really does sicken me that incidents like this still occur today.

My prayers and condolences go out to all those families who were affected by this nightmare, as well as the students who were affected.

-Sean

Andrew

16th April 2007, 09:24 PM

I can't imagine the amount of pain and suffering everyone on that campus went through. Not to mention the fear.

Then, knowing America, there's going to be a disgusting media circus.

Good to know you're Okay Raz.

I wonder what triggered that guy to lose it? I always thought once you got into College, life got better.... Where abouts on the campus did this all happen? The dorms? Pc labs?

darktyranitar

16th April 2007, 09:27 PM

Man, it's scary to see that the campus shootout cases are getting frequent. Remember the other shootout where in the end, the gunman shot himself? (I believe it's somewhere around January, or late December)

Glad to hear you're okay, Raz. Must have been scary.

Razola

16th April 2007, 10:38 PM

Actually, being away from campus in my apartment makes me feel pretty safe. It's very hard to even consider it real, being away from campus all day.

I'm heading to campus tomorrow for personal errands and to attend a memorial service of sorts. Right now I feel a large disconnect.

EDIT: Right now we have no motive or even positive ID on the gunman. He shot himself, which made him pretty much impossible to recognize, and he carried no sort of ID on his person. Scarier still the the rumors that the two shootings are NOT connected, and we might have a second, but slightly less crazy, gunman still not caught (though I doubt he or she would head back to campus).

mr_pikachu

16th April 2007, 10:46 PM

They haven't identified the guy? I would assume that even if his face was unrecognizable from shooting himself, they could at least fingerprint him...

Blademaster

16th April 2007, 11:07 PM

They haven't identified the guy? I would assume that even if his face was unrecognizable from shooting himself, they could at least fingerprint him...

Thanks be to God for our highly competent and well-trained American police force... :sweat:

Phoenixsong

16th April 2007, 11:32 PM

Whoa. I heard about this today (yesterday, yarrnitpicking), yeah, but only during a brief discussion with my aunt... I hadn't heard that it was the worst in modern history, though. Damn.

Yeah, it really does make you think about college security... and not just shootings. The rape incidents at Duke some-odd years ago come to mind. Just... just... just some crazy stuff these days, man.

Thank God you were out of harm's way, though, Razola. That is really creepy. Hopefully they'll be able to ID the dead guy, and hopefully he was the one who shot up the other building and not some other person they haven't caught yet.

Saffire Persian

17th April 2007, 12:01 AM

I found it really sad, and really it's a damned shame that someone, for some reason or other, decided to go and take the lives of so many students. It's a real disappointment to think some people feel it's necessary to bring down people along with them. I hope they are able to ID the killer and try to pinpoint some reason as to why this happened.

And I'm glad you're okay, Raz. Stay safe, 'k? ^_^

Edit: And good heavens, if they were having trouble 'spreading the word' why didn't they just use the campus' dang PA system to get the message across, like they did afterwards?

Roy Karrde

17th April 2007, 12:06 AM

Thanks be to God for our highly competent and well-trained American police force... :sweat:

Some information has come out on the ID, the problem is that there may be some international problems that need to be resolved before all information is given out to the public, such as his name. Right now it is known that he is a 24/25 year old Asian man, here on a Student Visa from China.

Edit: Also dont put down the Police Force man, those men and women that put on the Uniform each day are alot more heoric than either of us.

Silent Dragonfly

17th April 2007, 01:56 AM

That's some sad news. I'm glad to live in a country where guns aren't readily avaliable. I'd have to agree about the lack of security though. My college campus has a security camera on the main door and that's all. Anyone who looks roughly the age of a student can basically wander around as they please.

Dark-San

17th April 2007, 02:19 AM

Some information has come out on the ID, the problem is that there may be some international problems that need to be resolved before all information is given out to the public, such as his name. Right now it is known that he is a 24/25 year old Asian man, here on a Student Visa from China.

Edit: Also dont put down the Police Force man, those men and women that put on the Uniform each day are alot more heoric than either of us.

Then it could be a case of mild anti-socialism that gone wrong. He moves into the campus, finds it a whole new world. He couldn't grasp the language and was often make fun of by his peers. He tries to make friends but it seems like nobody wants to be with him. He fails his following examinations and was afraid that he would have to go back to his homeland without a degree since he had borrowed huge debt just to come over to America to study. Finally he decides the best way to end it all would be to kill himself, including his fellow students.

It does sounds like a typical drama. And about Police Officers being heros, well it depends on one's concept of hero. Your version of hero would be one who put his life on the line for the safety of the public. But to others, their version of hero is much greater. To them, being in the police is more of a social obligation in this life, where you work to earn for a living.

Gavin Luper

17th April 2007, 03:54 AM

What a terrible tragedy. I can't imagine how those directly involved must feel - the grief and the shock, and the fear ... it's terrible. Glad to hear you're alright, Raz.

I don't get why people do these things, it really perplexes me. I can understand ending your own life if you're feeling that bad, and I can understand people killing someone they know in a rage - obviously I don't think it's OK, but it seems plausible that someone pushed over the edge might do those kind of things. But to take down other people - so many other people - who did nothing to you at all? It's sick, and I can't get my head around why someone would do that.

Master Chief

17th April 2007, 08:29 AM

I was just having a discussion about this with my class. we all thought that not having a lockdown for the whole campus was bullshit. I mean come on, having mass hysteria after the lockdown is better than waiting 2 full hours to find out that some of your fellow students were shot or killed! also, I'm glad your safe Razola.

Jeff

17th April 2007, 08:54 AM

My school was closed until 6 pm (for a power outage) but after classes resumed, nobody showed up. My class at 7:10 ended up getting canceled. I guess after the shooting people saw no reason to go back for their night classes, and my school is all the way up near Baltimore. It's scary, but its even scarier when it hits close to home, my sister called some of her friends that go there to see if they were ok, fortunately they were.

Now let's just hope there aren't any copycat shootings like there were with Columbine. And Raz, glad to hear you're OK.

RedStarWarrior

17th April 2007, 09:14 AM

Security isn't non-existant at colleges. The dumbasses at Tech just fucked up royally. Luckily, all of my friends (minus one whom I couldn't get ahold of) are fine.

Razola

17th April 2007, 10:43 AM

Gunman has been identified as a Senior that did because, get this, his girlfriend broke up with him.

What the fuck.

Mewtwo-D2

17th April 2007, 10:56 AM

That's some sad news. I'm glad to live in a country where guns aren't readily avaliable.

This wasn't caused by availability of guns. After all, isn't it ironic that every single mass shooting spree in the last 50 years has taken place in a "Gun Free Zone"?

But since this definitely isn't the time for politics, glad you're okay Raz. Didn't know you lived that close to me, but even so, glad you and your friends are okay.

Roy Karrde

17th April 2007, 11:48 AM

Raz there are just some things that we shouldnt try to understand becuase there is no answer to it. This is one of those situations, there is just no answer. And I agree with Mewtwo this wasnt caused by the availability of guns, this guy wanted to kill someone, he would have found a way even if guns were not available.

TKnHappyNess

17th April 2007, 01:29 PM

Yeah, it really does make you think about college security... and not just shootings. The rape incidents at Duke some-odd years ago come to mind. Just... just... just some crazy stuff these days, man.

The accuser (give us her name you idiots) was a whore to begin with. She should go to prison and find out what REAL rape is like.

Silent Dragonfly

17th April 2007, 02:43 PM

This wasn't caused by availability of guns. After all, isn't it ironic that every single mass shooting spree in the last 50 years has taken place in a "Gun Free Zone"?

Fair point. Then the question to be asked is How did he get a gun into a Gun-Free Zone? Clearly checks are rigorous enough, if existent at all.

As for the motive, I think it was likely just a final push over the edge for the gunman. I'm not convinced it alone is reason enough in anyone's mind to kill tens of people.

Bulbasaur4

17th April 2007, 02:52 PM

In any case, this whole event is just sad and beyond my imagination to comprehend how anyone could go killing innocent people.

Glad you're safe Raz.

Although... I heard from one of my friends that the way they notified someone was through email. Seriously... email?! If someone was going to go shooting through campus, all of the RAs in our school would have been notified and we would have done a lock-down along with security. Then the police would have been called and within 15 minutes our school would be like Fort Knox except scarier. I just can't help but be sad at the fact that with better measures half the deaths could have been prevented.

Razola

17th April 2007, 04:39 PM

Didn't know you lived that close to meI can strike at any time!

Blademaster

17th April 2007, 04:52 PM

Edit: Also dont put down the Police Force man, those men and women that put on the Uniform each day are alot more heoric than either of us.

Can't I just ONCE express my opinion without having to hear you contradict it? I live just down the street from a police station, I read the news, I see what they do with my own eyes: with 'heroes' like these, we have no need for villians.

Now, MOVING ON...

Don't try and make sense of it, Raz - I've seen people go f**king crazy over far less. Save yourself a headache or two and just forget about it.

firepokemon

17th April 2007, 06:40 PM

Lol I've been watching fox news cause I love to laugh and watch about their supposable fair and balanced coverage and they really have created a circus in my opinion.

And as for this being a guns issues? Of course it is. No other western country is having these constant shooting massacres in high schools and universities. No other western country has such open gun policy as the US. And while screwed up fucked in the head people will always somehow get their hands on this type of stuff. The fact guns are so readily available also doesn't help matter.

The US is the only western country with a very conservative religious population that wants no gun laws and will do everything in their power to stop abortions and restrict gun law policy. The fact is that you say, "well its in the constitution" but do you really think those that made that constitution were meaning just that everyone can bear arms? New ealand doesn't have these problems, The United Kingdom doesn't have these problems, Australia also doesn't have a problem. Yes theres been a few instances in Canada but I blame the french connection for that. That doesn't mean violence doesn't happen here, it does mean though that most people do not die as a result of guns and I'm not sure why this is happening in the US when these type of gun massacres were suppose to go out of fashion. I guess the Korean didn't get that memo.

And while this is a tragedy, its also a reminder that the US is guilty of killing hundreds of Vietnamese, hundreds of afghanis and hundreds of iraqis. If not thousands. So things should really be placed in perspective.

Drusilla

17th April 2007, 06:52 PM

We've been getting emails lately, and I'm rather worried by the "plan" that my school has in case of an emergency like this. Like Kalah said, email isn't a good idea... and for where I live, that's our method of notification. The dorms have IP phones (the same kind that VA Tech was about to install, apparently), so anyone in the dorms would know almost instantaneously, but I live in a campus house, and we don't have those. People in the dorms always know what's going on, but those of us who live in the Villages (university houses and apartments) get screwed.

My thoughts are with those who have been touched by this, however... And I'm glad you're OK, Raz. It wouldn't be the same around here without you.

Weasel Overlord

17th April 2007, 06:58 PM

Dude, in perspective? I don't think that putting this in perspective will make it any more understandable, or make it any more forgiveable. You can't lump together what Bush made the army do with what some crazed individual did on a college campus.

I mean, not like I can say anything, since I never read or watch the news... all I know of this incident is off TPM, believe it or not...

All I can say is my greatest sympathies to those who were involved, and thank some atheist deity that you weren't caught in the firing line, Raz. Although I know that won't make it any easier for you.

Everything feels so disconnected hearing this in Britain. I honestly have no idea how I would feel in such a situation... it makes me despair for our race, it truly does.

Katie

17th April 2007, 08:03 PM

Can't I just ONCE express my opinion without having to hear you contradict it? I live just down the street from a police station, I read the news, I see what they do with my own eyes: with 'heroes' like these, we have no need for villians.

It was probably because you blanket-insulted the police with no argument. Not everybody's fingerprints are in their systems. Mine aren't. Are yours? He wasn't carrying ID, so they had to play the "Ok, well, who's missing?" game.

The police and university did what I would've done in their place. Guy shoots two people, leaves. They deal with the crime at hand. Generally, someone who's just murdered two people doesn't just stick around. They say they had reason to believe he left the state. Out of fucking nowhere, 2 hours later, MORE shootings occur. They had absolutely no way of knowing that would happen. The fact that they weren't even sure if the shootings were related shows just how random it was.

I don't understand the "they should've cancelled classes when they knew a murderer was loose" standpoint either. If you know that, wouldn't staying indoors be better than letting ##thousand people out on the streets of campus? If an email was sent out for those who are still in their rooms/off campus, I sure as hell wouldn't have read it. I roll out of bed and make my way to class, like every other college kid with morning classes.

Hindsight is 20/20, but this was just a tragedy that really couldn't have been prevented with the information they had at the time. The most we can do is learn from it, I know that my school's already sent out a few emails about "campus emergency plans."

I really like the story about this prof (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liviu_Librescu). He is a badass, and if I see him in whatever afterlife exists, I'm buying him a drink.

mr_pikachu

17th April 2007, 08:06 PM

I really like the story about this prof (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liviu_Librescu). He is a badass, and if I see him in whatever afterlife exists, I'm buying him a drink.

Now that's a hero for you. Gave up his own life to save his students... wow.

Jeff

17th April 2007, 08:54 PM

homeofmew

17th April 2007, 09:05 PM

Scott Im glad your ok! you do go there right :O

DarkTemplarZero

17th April 2007, 09:32 PM

As a guy who's going to college next year this really freaked me out. That and the insane thursday parties at my college of choice, but that's beside the point. While I do think that the university should have done more, remember that hindsight's 20/20. They prepared for the worst that they could have imagined, which was what it started out as, a relatively small incident where a couple people got shot in a dorm and the gunman left. They closed down the surrounding area and started to investigate, they had no reason to suspect that this was anymore than a dispute between a couple people, let alone a crazed psycho on a rampage.

The question you should ask here is how was this kid able to get a gun so easily? Read up on the Cho kid, apparently his creative writing teacher encouraged him to seek counselling and everyone who actually read anything he wrote thought of him as deranged and twisted. I understand your 2nd amendment argument, but is it worth the risk to innocent life to sell a gun to somebody with such a messed up psyche?

Roy Karrde

17th April 2007, 09:38 PM

The guy is going to get a gun, one way or another, if not from a dealer, than from the shady guy around the corner, if not there then he will find a knife, if not there then he can build a bomb. Nuts will find a way to kill, there are always ways. What we should be asking is if we should arm the teachers.

Also we really need to split the topic if you guys want to talk about the 2nd Amendment or Gun Control, this topic is about morning. Also FirePokemon if you really think that America is the only Western Country that has a gun problem at schools? I would suggest you take a trip down to Mexico, where shootings in schools and on the streets are a daily occurance.

Now really can we split the topic?

DarkTemplarZero

17th April 2007, 09:51 PM

Mourning is good and all, but it's a bit more important to consider how to prevent this from happening again.

Arming the professors? You've got to be joking. That is ridiculous, just more guns so more maniacs can kill more people. More death, more suffering, more VT's and Columbines to go around. And what FP was talking about was civilized countries, i.e. not the US or Mexico. Consider the UK, 46 gun-related homicides in 2005 I believe it was, as opposed to 570 some-odd in NYC alone. That's over 10 times as many gun-related homicides in a population that's approximately 6 or 7 times smaller. Does this have anything to do with the fact that in NYC any homicidal maniac off the street can pick up a handgun whereas they're strictly banned in the UK? Doesn't take a genius to see that the answer is obviously yes.

Roy Karrde

17th April 2007, 10:04 PM

Mourning is good and all, but it's a bit more important to consider how to prevent this from happening again.

Then lets create a new topic on that.

Arming the professors? You've got to be joking. That is ridiculous, just more guns so more maniacs can kill more people. More death, more suffering, more VT's and Columbines to go around.

Yeah it is silly isnt it? Just like Arming Airline Pilots to prevent against terrorism. So silly, so silly that if the Teachers here were armed that it could prevent what twenty deaths? ten deaths? even preventing one death would be worth it. Aint that so silly? Think this guy would have thought twice about shooting up class rooms if he knew that his rampage would be cut short by a teacher with a handgun?

And what FP was talking about was civilized countries, i.e. not the US or Mexico. Consider the UK, 46 gun-related homicides in 2005 I believe it was, as opposed to 570 some-odd in NYC alone. That's over 10 times as many gun-related homicides in a population that's approximately 6 or 7 times smaller. Does this have anything to do with the fact that in NYC any homicidal maniac off the street can pick up a handgun whereas they're strictly banned in the UK? Doesn't take a genius to see that the answer is obviously yes.

How many of those civilized countries have a third world country below them? Does the United Kingdom? France? Spain? How many get a constant influx of drugs, automatics, semi automatics, cop killer bullets? Banning Hand Guns, taking out the Second Amendment would be deadly. The market for Illigal Guns and Handguns isnt that big right now, I bet you every single thing I own that if you ban Handguns that the market for guns from Mexico will skyrocket.

I can go down to a shady part of any major city and pick up a pound of Heroine from Mexico, banning Guns and I can just go to that same area and pick up a Revolver. The only difference now is that the Criminals have guns, the people that really want a gun to kill some one has guns, but the Citizens willing to protect themselves do not. Muggins, Robberies, Shootings, all of these will skyrocket becuase of such stupid and kneejerk reaction.

DarkTemplarZero

17th April 2007, 10:22 PM

As for your point about Europe, how about Russia, Ukraine, and all those former Soviet Republics who sell Soviet-era arms for cheaper than a loaf of bread? Where do you think all those genocidal maniacs in Sudan get all their guns from, it ain't from magic or Muslim terrorists, but from Ukrainian arms dealers. While the countries I'm talking about don't directly border on former Soviet Republics, they're still fairly close, but law enforcement seems to keep this in check. However, you do make a good point and it does make a lot of sense, I commend you for it.

Gavin Luper

17th April 2007, 10:52 PM

Katie, good call on most of what you said - but in particular, that was a good story about Liviu Librescu. What a tragedy, but what a good act he did for his students.

As for "prevention", it worries me. Will people be happy when every institution is made into a complete fortress, and every person carries a weapon with them 'just in case'? It's quite sad.

Saffire Persian

17th April 2007, 11:58 PM

I'm buying that Professor a drink if I ever meet him in the afterlife as well.

Apparently, you can buy a gun in Virginia as long as you 1) Are a permanent resident of Virginia, and show proof of residency. 2) Pass a background check 3). answer a questionnaire, so it seems pretty possible for him to have gotten a gun without that much of a hitch.

On another note, I thought the convocation they had at the school today with all the different people (including Bush) speaking was very well done, and I enjoyed listening to them all speak.

Mewtwo-D2

18th April 2007, 12:22 AM

Yeah, let's ban guns so we can create a weak population at the mercy of criminals! Let's watch armed robbery, rape, and stabbing murders skyrocket, and organized crime terrorize the innocent!

In all fairness, the UK is much, much smaller than America and was never used to having all the freedoms we enjoy. That's why we split off from them. And in Australia, the crime rate has gone up radically since gun bans. If people are still being murdered, does it matter if it's a gun, a bomb, a knife, a rock, or a crossbow that's doing it? I'd rather be shot than blown up, stabbed, or brained.

This is not the fault of guns and it is not the fault of lax gun laws. If guns caused violence, 33 people dead would not be our worst shooting spree. This is solely the fault of a severely deranged individual with a plan. He planned to kill classmates. And maybe it's better that he had guns than if he had gone with building a bomb. He was psychotic- stop blaming the guns for that. He was psychotic before he ever had a gun in his hands.

Razola

18th April 2007, 12:40 AM

Email, seriously?

Student events for the week of April 16:
-Intramural sports signups are being held at the gymnasium.
-Tickets for the end of the year party go on sale today.
Oh and by the way, a mad gunman is going around shooting people on campus so you might want to watch out for him!

Colleges really should have PA systems like high schools. Look at how effectively Columbine was evacuated. Half the number of people were killed there, and there were two gunmen.You do realize how much smaller a high school is than a college, right?

I mean, they still MAJORLY fucked up on communication, but there's generally ONE building for a High School and a shitload for an institution like Virginia Tech.

Razola

18th April 2007, 12:42 AM

People have strong arguments for gun control, but preventing random massacres is not one of them. If they are willing to blow off "Do not kill other people.", do you honestly think "Do not own a gun." will stop them? If you have a sudden seething for humanity, a silly law will not stop you. I mean, just LOOK at how effective banning marijuana is in the USA. I mean, you clearly can't find that stuff ANYWHERE here.

Razola

18th April 2007, 12:58 AM

Tripling posting!

Apparently, some places are saying the shooter's parents BOTH tried to commit suicide upon learning of their son's actions. The father IS dead via cutting his wrists, and the mother is in the hospital after ingesting poison.

That would be soooo horrible if true.

Blademaster

18th April 2007, 01:06 AM

Roy Karrde

18th April 2007, 01:11 AM

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=261805

MSN is reporting that the parents have been hospitalized from shock and that the sucide attempts were false.

Razola

18th April 2007, 01:13 AM

What's really horrible is that they're probably not doing it out of grief over their f**ked-up-and-then-dead son, but rather out of humiliation, or whatever word you wanna use for it. Gotta love these new-age parenting methods, huh?They're native Koreans.

That area of the globe tends to be way more strict in parenting than anything in America. They probably did it out of shame and grief for their son. There is not a damn thing new-age about that. Completely old-school.

EDIT: Good to hear, Roy.

Gavin Luper

18th April 2007, 01:16 AM

What's really horrible is that they're probably not doing it out of grief over their f**ked-up-and-then-dead son, but rather out of humiliation, or whatever word you wanna use for it. Gotta love these new-age parenting methods, huh?

That's an enormous generalisation to make on the spot, isn't it?

Besides, it's being reported (although not in a lot of detail) that the parents were only hospitalised due to shock. (Link) (http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=261805)

EDIT: Sorry Roy, didn't realise you'd got there first.

Blademaster

18th April 2007, 01:21 AM

They're native Koreans.

...

I retract my former statement.

Razola

18th April 2007, 04:31 AM

To avoid turning this tragedy into a heavy politics debate, let's please take the gun control issues to the thread I just made.

Politics are cool, but let's not turn their deaths into a platform for our agendas.

Crazy Elf Boy

18th April 2007, 05:55 AM

Wow gg Australia, I just heard it on our news about this incident. I can't believe we are that slow. Oh no when Steve Irwin died the whole of America probably knew before we did.

But seriously we need stricter laws on who gets the right to "bear arms". But if I am not mistaken it is one of the laws in America "it is everyones has the right to bear arms"

Also Australia needs a better news system.

Gavin Luper

18th April 2007, 08:06 AM

Also Australia needs a better news system.

It's been all over the news for the past two days, man.

Razola

18th April 2007, 07:09 PM

I'm honestly a bit surprised this is considered international news.

DarkTemplarZero

18th April 2007, 08:33 PM

Mewtwo-D2

18th April 2007, 09:14 PM

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2007/0417071vtech1.html
^ Interesting read, one of Cho's plays. If I didn't know the kid was a deranged murderer I would've thought that was one of the funniest plays I would ever read, but knowing that he wasn't kidding is incredibly disturbing.

And to Mewtwo, yes, he was psychotic, yes he was deranged, and yes he was able to walk into a store and buy a gun. Judging by the fact that he was an English major at Virginia Tech, I doubt he had the slightest idea of how to make a competent bomb or the prior knowledge to learn how. The bottom line is that the system made it absurdly easy for a kid who everyone knew was violently deranged to buy a handgun, and I honestly hope that you see what's wrong with that picture.

DTZ, I can build a bomb. I'm an English major. I've known how to make bombs since 6th grade- it's not like it isn't easy to figure out. There are walkthrus on the Internet for Christ's sakes.

Now, I don't think guns should be sold to psychotics, but I also think the students shouldn't have been deprived of their right to bear arms.

mr_pikachu

18th April 2007, 09:29 PM

Just to prove the point, I did a search for "build a bomb" on Google. (Normally I wouldn't do it like that. I'd probably use keywords rather than that simple phrase, but I thought it'd be better to word the search like someone who isn't good at searching probably would. Just to simulate the real situation, y'know?)

This (http://www.totse.com/en/bad_ideas/ka_fucking_boom/162279.html) was the first result.

Feel free to argue that it's difficult to learn how to build a bomb. I need a laugh.

EDIT: And really, there's a topic on Gun Control now, so this sort of thing really belongs there. If we're going to discuss stuff like this, can we do it in that topic from this point onward?