Worst Shooting Rampage In US History

Hey folks,

It has happened again. This time at Virginia Tech University. This time, 33 people dead, many others wounded. I have a lot of questions about this whole situation. The Virginia Tech University authorities have a lot of questions to answer. The families deserve that.

First, may the families and friends of those lost receive the peace and comfort they so desperately need at this time. May those that have been wounded both physically and menially receive the peace and comfort to heal. May God be with them all.

This will be the big news for the rest of the week. People will be asking the same questions that I’m asking. We need answers. We also need assurance that measures will be taken to ensure, not only here, but in every school that this can not happen again.

According to Reuters -33 killed in Virginia massacre, by Patricia Zengerle

A gunman killed 32 people at a Virginia university, many of them students attending class, and then shot himself dead on Monday in the deadliest shooting rampage in U.S. history.

Most of those killed were students attending classes at a hall at Virginia Tech, where the gunman apparently used chains to lock doors before shooting the victims, university and police officials said.

Fifteen people were wounded, included those shot and students hurt jumping from windows in a desperate attempt to escape the gunfire, officials said.

One student told CBS News the killer was an Asian male, about 6 feet tall, who walked into his German class and shot a student and professor before systematically shooting nearly all of the other students in the room.

I would like to know who this guy REALLY is. It goes on to say this.

The first shooting was reported to campus police at about 7:15 a.m. (1115 GMT) in West Ambler Johnston Hall, a dormitory housing some 900 students. It was followed by more shooting at Norris Hall, site of the science and engineering school that has given the university much of its fame as a leading technical institute in the United States.

During the two hours after the first shooting some students had ventured out again. University police were still investigating the first shooting at the dormitory when they got word of gunfire at the classroom building.

WHY was the Student even allowed to go out. Why was the school NOT locked down. Why were there no effort made to secure the school IMMEDIATELY?

"I'm really at a loss for words to explain or understand the carnage that has visited our campus," Virginia Tech President Charles Steger said at a news conference.

Steger, facing questions over the university's initial response, stressed that its efforts to alert students could not possibly reach the thousands of people moving around the campus at the start of the school day.

"We had no reason to suspect any other incident was going to occur," Steger said of the first shooting.

SO? You should have done SOMETHING. The failure of the school to act, at least at this point, seems to me, aided this idiot to continue to walk around campus for at least two hours before killing more kids.

NPR is reporting that the students received EMAILS about what was going on. NPR -E-Mails Notify Students of Gunman

Virginia Tech students began receiving e-mails about a gunman loose on campus more than two hours after the first shots were fired. Below, the text of the e-mails they received, sent to NPR by a student.

9:26 am

A shooting incident occurred at West Amber Johnston earlier this morning. Police are on the scene and are investigating.

The university community is urged to be cautious and are asked to contact Virginia Tech Police if you observe anything suspicious or with information on the case. Contact Virginia Tech Police.

Stay attuned to the www.vt.edu. We will post as soon as we have more information.

9:50 am

A gunman is loose on campus. Stay in buildings until further notice. Stay away from all windows.

10:16 am

Virginia Tech has canceled all classes. Those on campus are asked to remain where there (sic) are, lock their doors and stay away from windows. Persons off campus are asked not to come to campus.

10:52 am

In addition to an earlier shooting today in West Ambler Johnston, there has been a multiple shooting with multiple victims in Norris Hall.

Police and EMS are on the scene.

Police have one shooter in custody and as part of routine police procedure, they continue to search for a second shooter.

All people in university buildings are required to stay inside until further notice.

All entrances to campus are closed.

Who was sending the emails? Seems to me like it was the school. So instead of securing the school they were sending emails?

News all around the world have been reporting this. BBC -'Total shock' over US shootings They will continue for a while. Comparing it to Columbine and will most likely rekindle the whole Gun Rights and Gun Free Zones arguments. You are aware that even Police that are assigned to most schools are not allowed to carry their side arm?

President Bush is right. AP -Bush says shootings affect all students, He said,

"Schools should be places of safety, sanctuary and learning, When that sanctuary is violated, the impact is felt in every American classroom in every American community.

I told them that Laura and I and many across our nation are praying for the victims and all the members of university community that have been devastated by this terrible tragedy.

Today our nation grieves with those who have lost loved ones at Virginia Tech.We hold the victims in our hearts. We lift them up in our prayers and we ask a loving God to comfort those who are suffering today.'"

You know folks, my Son Joshua is going to be two in July. I’m seriously considering home schooling. It is a sad day in America. We have a rash or Muslims attempting to get School Bus Licences {But there is nothing to worried about} to school shooting increasing in both frequency and severity, one really has to wonder if the ever increasing risk is worth it.

I’m sure I will have more to say on this in the future, but for right now, may these involved just come to a place of peace in dealing with whatever it is they need to deal with. The more information that is released, and the sooner it is, the faster the healing can begin.
Peter


Souces:
Reuters -33 killed in Virginia massacre
NPR -E-Mails Notify Students of Gunman
BBC -'Total shock' over US shootings
AP -Bush says shootings affect all students