Oh, Heavens No!

A shooting at Virginia Tech.  The death toll 30 minutes ago was 22.  Now they're reporting 30.

BLACKSBURG, Va. - A gunman opened fire in a Virginia Tech dorm and then, two hours later, in a classroom across campus Monday, killing at least 30 people in the deadliest shooting rampage in U.S. history, government officials told The Associated Press. The gunman was killed, bringing the death toll to 31.

"Today the university was struck with a tragedy that we consider of monumental proportions," said Virginia Tech president Charles Steger. "The university is shocked and indeed horrified."

It was not immediately clear whether the gunman was shot by police or took his own life. His name was not released, investigators offered no motive for the attack. It was not known if the gunman was a student.

Let's leave the police second guessing/gun control/terrorist/"friends should have known" comments aside until we actually know some facts.  My heart goes out to all of those families that have lost sons and daughters today.  These kids didn't deserve this, and they and the Virgina Tech community don't deserve to be made into a political football ever, let alone with warm blood still on the ground.

No life should be taken so senselessly, let alone lives so young and full of hope and promise.

4/17/07 0820:  Exactly.

This atrocity was the responsibility of one individual, one person who decided -- for whatever reason -- that this life was no longer tolerable and chose to leave it, and -- damn him to hell -- to take over 30 others with him.

This deed was not committed by a weapon, a political movement, or some failing of society. It was not carried out by a video game, a rap song, or pornography. This was, ultimately, the fault of exactly one man -- and we can't punish him for it, as he has already chosen to enact the ultimate sanction upon himself.

There will be a time to look at how to prevent such a bloodbath in the future.  And both sides have their points.  Yes, it's true that if there were no guns there'd be no shootings.  And if I had the ability to spit $100  bills I'd be wealthier than Warren Buffet.  And yes, if there was a concealed carry firearm in one of the classrooms the death toll could have been dramatically diminished.  But even if the law had said there could be, what if there wasn't?  And yes, if all mentally unstable people were able to be identified conclusively before the fact we could also stop these things from happening.  How many misidentified stable individuals mistakenly labeled would that take?

Let's hold off on the recriminations and finger-pointing for a little while, okay?

Comments

[Zsa Zsa]

God bless those victims and their families so much!...

[Angevin13]

No finger pointing, agreed. But as details about the killer dribble out, I'm shocked at how many red flags were up and people were aware of. The details are downright bone chilling. He was so deranged that his creative writing professor recommended to the authorities that he get counseling. Have you seen the copy of his "play" writing in creative writing class? Incredible.

May the innocent victims rest in peace and their families find comfort. Truly terrible...

[Assistant Village Idiot]

Angevin13, I found his drama chilling as well. But as Giacomo noted, we can't lock folks up for seeming odd and talking about violence. This is part of how I make my living, and as I read over the descriptions of his actions, I realized that under NH law, there would be no way to take this person into custody until he came out of his room wearing the bandoleers and carrying the pistols. We are all far more at each other's mercy than we care to think.

[Angevin13]

AVI:

"We are all far more at each other's mercy than we care to think."

Absolutely true, and a scary prospect indeed.