Posted on 04/16/2007 1:58:00 PM PDT by FoxPro
As I drove past the Virginia Tech campus just a few minutes ago, I could see the line of ambulances, queued up to receive the dead. It seems that every Virginia State Trooper is here in our little corner of the Appalachian Mountains. Blacksburg is a wonderful southern town. Think Mayberry in the Andy Griffith show. On July 4th they have the hokey parade down Main Street with the fire engines, police cars and restored Model T’s. This is the place where I once walked into city hall and asked to see the mayor. The man I asked said “I am the mayor, what do you need?” Try that in your town.
I live a few hundred feet from Norris Hall on the Virginia Tech campus. If I was outside this morning I would have heard the gunshots. What I did hear around 10 am was the loudspeakers on campus blaring out “EMERGENCY, STAY INSIDE, STAY AWAY FROM THE WINDOWS”. I immediately barred my doors with a pair of skies (no dead bolts) and set a butcher knife next to my mouse pad. There are times when you really wish you owned a gun.
So this is what Blacksburg will be known for, the worse mass shooting in history.
Will they tear down the building where this took place, Norris Hall? Could you concentrate in a room where you knew a dozen people were shot to death recently?
It just seems so unfair that one deranged man could plunge such a nice little corner of Virginia into infamy.
And the ambulances continue to queue up at Norris Hall.
You two should meet!
You might want to invest in a decent lock as well.
L
Thank you for your report. I’m glad you’re okay.
I’m glad for those that were not hurt and my prayers to all those who dies or left family suffering from death or injury.
It is too early to be casting blame (that will come later) but, assuming the two young women shot earlier were taken by surprise, I am still trying to get my mind around how some 39 people, even if they were unarmed, basically allowed themselves to be shot by a man with two handguns.
Is this the result of all the conditioning we receive to just be nice to the deranged man with the gun and the police will be along shortly to straighten it all out and no one will get hurt?
That attitude allowed 3 of 4 hijacked airliners to be flown into the WTC and Pentagon without any effective resistance from the passengers. Today this. After 5 years, you would think people, especially young people, would be a little more aggressive in defending their lives. Instead, while the lone gunman is inside for hours shooting students and faculty, we get to see pictures of the police crouching behind cars and trees outside trying to figure out what is going on. Hell, even if the police charged in with guns blazing, it couldn’t have been much worse than this.
The scales have dropped from these eyes. Screw the “don’t be a hero, don’t make the situation worse” advice. Armed or not, rush the SOB and at least die with the knowledge you valued your life enough to fight for it when the time came.
< /rant>
Indeed it does.
If I were you I would invest in a quality pistol or shotgun and take some training with them. Scumbags are everywhere. You just never know and all it takes is one freak.
This time it could have been you really means it could have been you.
>> If I were you I would invest in a quality pistol or shotgun
In the morning.
A gun won't guarantee that you won't be a victim but they will guarantee you won't be a helpless victim.
Let me know if you need any advice or help.
As resident, you’ll find it easy to buy a weapon in Va. You should invest in one, and practice.
Bravo! Well said! We have been teaching each other to obey and not do anything to cause the criminal to get upset. What BS! I have daughters, and I have taught them all to resist on the spot, to fight, to force the criminal to make his move where he doens’t want to make it. To be sure, the risks are high, but not nearly as high as they would be if he made you cooperate with his plan.
“I am still trying to get my mind around how some 39 people, even if they were unarmed, basically allowed themselves to be shot by a man with two handguns.”
My husband and I have been asking that very same thing all day. VT is one of only two land grant colleges that still has a Corps of Cadets. Hard to believe that no one stood up.
On the other hand, it’s easy to judge from my sofa.....
A prayer for you and your town folks.
Virginia Tech, and Blacksburg are wonderful places to be, and to all the Other Hokies out there Prayers are with you today. I emailed everyone I knew and asked them to pray for you , the victims, the victims families, and the alumni of VT.
I am still trying to get my mind around how some 39 people, even if they were unarmed, basically allowed themselves to be shot by a man with two handguns.
***People panic in situations like this.
Bill
VPI&SU
Class of '86
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.