Shooting at Va Tech, Largest school shooting in US History

32 dead so far, including the shooter. This is about an hour and a half or two hours from me. This is an atrocity. What a shame.

I just saw a news report on line about it. The killer shot several people in a dormitory building, then, two hours later, went to a classroom building and killed more people.



A person who can do something like this is sick.

What a tragedy. At Columbine High School, 12 people were killed. Now there are about 31 killed in Virginia.

and I believe this latest event is not far off that anniversary.

The gunman in the Virginia Tech shootings has been identified as an Asian male student, which is surprising, since Asian-Americans have low rates of violent crime.

An article by James Alan Fox, a professor of criminal justice, in today's Los Angeles Times titled WHY THEY KILL made these points:

CNN also reported that this shooter was very violent, shooting most of the victims 3 or more times.

Scarey stuff guys.

If I ever get to the point where I think I understand this stuff, I hope I have the sense left to get help. The only good news is at least there won't be years of trials and appeals with some team of lawyers trying to show how this was society's problem, and their client isn't really guilty of anything.

My sympathies and prayers to the victims and their families. (Since there's no Canada flag).

As a new parent (my twins just hit 12 weeks), this kind of stuff is a painful reminder to me that sometimes their lives are completely out of my control. These students weren't "raised wrong" or doing things to put themselves in harm's way, instead they just attended class like they were supposed to do and were taught to do. That's just so sad to me (much like the drunk driver who kills an innocent driver or pedestrian).

Part of me wonders why we (as a society) haven't learned anything since Columbine and another part of me wonders what is there to learn???? I don't know how anyone can identify or prevent someone who crosses that line to cold, calculated killer. I'm sure that there are way more than 20 people who match Replicant's 5 criteria above. Obviously all but a select few truly "snap".

Anyway, I am so saddened by this that I've stopped watching and decided to spend some more time with my babies.

These things happen regularly. It's getting rather frightening. It's also rather frightening that we don't address the issues that make people capable of mass murder.

The hosts of the morning radio show I listen to were commenting that we are getting used to reports of things like this happening. We might still be shocked and sad, but no longer are we outraged.

These shootings are caused by sociopaths. A sociopath is a person without a conscience - someone who lacks empathy for others, and lacks a commitment to doing what's right.

Psychologists aren't certain what causes sociopaths to form, but the general findings are that children who are loved by parents who teach them standards of right and wrong rarely become sociopaths. Most sociopaths have been brutalized or neglected by their parents, and the brutal treatment sometimes causes the young child to lack empathy for others.

The mystery behind sociopaths is that although some brutalized children because sociopaths, most brutalized children do not become sociopaths. Rather, most children who are treated badly develop post traumatic stress disorders and become afraid of the world. Yet, in spite of being harmed, they still have a conscience and will not mistreat others.

It appears that it is a combination of mistreatment and not being taught ethical values that causes sociopaths. New Scientist Magazine's recent issue had an article about the UK starting a program to try to rehabilitate sociopaths. So research in this area is increasing. Here is a link to New Scientist's article:

http://www.newscientist.com/channel/being-...redemption.html

But why do we seem to have so many sociopaths these days? It seems like the number of people who do evil things like this is on the rise. What is the cause of this increase? And what can we do about it?

Here is the face of the killer

The whole sorry incident it's proof if proof be needed that though firearms can provide wonderful entertainment, they can also be used for terrible purposes.

We must learn to spot and act on the signs that someone may be looking at firepower as an answer to their personal issues.

It ticks me off that students in American universities these days are taught to worship 'The State,' to turn to the State for their every need.

Yesterday, the State let all those students down. First, the police were unable to protect them. Second, the campus administration downplayed the seriousness of the first shooting, in the dorms. Rather than locking the school down and telling students to stay away, they told them to go to class as usual, thus putting them in harm's way.

Finally, VA Tech bans guns on campus, even though Virginia law says they cannot. The penalty for possession of a gun on campus is expulsion. So, the campus leadership not only failed to protect these kids, but wouldn't let them protect themselves.

The image that sticks in my mind is that big fat cop trying to run up to the school with a rifle, that summed up the States response. Is it any wonder so many died?!?

This post has been edited by Doug McGrave on April 17, 2007 02:48 pm

It's why I'm a conservative. Many people think the police will protect them. They don't realize that U.S court after U.S. court has ruled that the police don't have to protect them. The police in America don't have to protect anyone.

Their main job is to come after the shooting is done, draw a chalk outline around your body, and then (maybe) arrest your killer.
No matter how good they are at this job, you're still dead.