Posted on 04/17/2007 3:40:18 PM PDT by NapkinUser
A gunman who shot dead at least 30 people before killing himself at Virginia Tech university was a resident Asian student.
Police have named him as Cho Seung-hui, a 23-year-old from South Korea.
Survivors and witnesses have expressed anger towards the university and the police for waiting too long to alert people a gunman was on the loose.
President Bush said the US was shocked and saddened by the attack, while in the UK Prime Minister Tony Blair expressed his profound sadness at the terrible loss of innocent lives.
How can such incidents be prevented from happening again? Does this incident raise questions about gun control? Is this a problem unique to the US? Send us your comments.
Added: Tuesday, 17 April, 2007, 21:16 GMT 22:16 UK I feel sad for all the victims of this senseless masacre.I just don't understand why gun control is a political issue in the US ? It does not make sense that a student can walk into a shop and buy a gun. How many more must die before the 2nd amendment is over turned. Why is it so obvious to everyone outside the US but thought of as being anti American to many Americans. Is being American being pro gun...I cannot believe that. They just said 30000 people die each year because of guns.
Martin Spedding, Basel, Switzerland
Added: Tuesday, 17 April, 2007, 21:15 GMT 22:15 UK While making the "world safer" the US govt has forgotten its own back yard. How long are they going to wait?? until more innocent lives are lost in such incidents
Ajith, Ghana
Added: Tuesday, 17 April, 2007, 21:14 GMT 22:14 UK Massacres in the US are tragically too frequent and the unfortunate Dunblane massacre in Britain has never been repeated although gun crime is still a problem here. However in the US it is argued through the powerful firearms lobby that every American citizen has the right to own a gun. Tougher control should be put in place to stop massacres or shootings of any kind and politicians should acknowledge the desperate need for this.
Beth Mortimer, Leeds
Added: Tuesday, 17 April, 2007, 20:48 GMT 21:48 UK One report said he was identified from the receipt for the guns in his backpack. Another report said the University was concerned and had recommended him for counselling. If the store had had to check "is this is a suitable person to be carrying firearms" then the result would undoubtedly been different. Why doesn't the gun lobby promote and maintain a voluntary but effective code of conduct for purchase, storage, ownership, and use of guns? How many have to die?
David Singer, San Francisco
Added: Tuesday, 17 April, 2007, 20:41 GMT 21:41 UK Obviously no society is free from violent crime. Incidents such as Columbine and Dunblane were planned and a problem all societies are burdened with. Yet if the US cannot swallow its pride and stop the wide avaliablity of guns then these people would have died in vain.
Carter Taylor, London
Added: Tuesday, 17 April, 2007, 20:38 GMT 21:38 UK This is terrible, my thoughts go out to all the families effected by this. Surely it's time to re-write the constitution, the public have no need to bare arms. This 200 year old law is irresponsible in these modern times.
Steve, Manchester
Added: Tuesday, 17 April, 2007, 20:37 GMT 21:37 UK if people are allowed to carry guns with them, these incidents do happen and will happen again. No one should be surprised at all.
Eric, HongKong
They can't.
Back in Jan. 06 there was legislation concerning concealed-carry in VA after a student got in trouble for bringing a legally registered concealed gun on the VT campus. The legislators apparently decided that different rules apply once you walk on campus...
It’s not the only campus where normal-people laws don’t seem to apply.
With all that I have seen in the news over the last several years, leads me to believe that the evil one is either here or on the way soon.
I have no proof of this but just my “gut” feelings, which has not failed me yet..
I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience. I know of no way of judging the future but by the past.
Patrick Henry
This tragic event is the start of the next one.
That’s a good point. Students are citizens and have the right to defend themselves. The organization that spearheads issues like this is
FIRE:
Foundation for Individual Rights in Education
Yeah, I know. That’s where my Constitution-free wisecrack came from.
:)
That his roommate didn’t know him says more to me then this being a gun problem. 22,000 students and not one knew this follow! We’re are just too much into ourselfs and what is in it for me.Am I my brothers keeper?
Who cares what these serfs think
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