Deadliest school shooting in U.S. History has just occured.

TheSuburbanLetdown · Post by **TheSuburbanLetdown** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 6:27 pm

TRI wrote:Haven't they also showed pictures of their neighborhood?

Yes, there was an arial shot. Totally unethical.

He has a sister that went to Princeton, and his parents ran a dry cleaning business. I can't imagine how they feel knowing their son was responsible for the deadliest shooting in U.S. history.

BrownEyedCat · Post by **BrownEyedCat** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 6:34 pm

theSuburbanLetdown wrote:
TRI wrote:Haven't they also showed pictures of their neighborhood?
Yes, there was an arial shot. Totally unethical.

That is frigging unbelievable. That's practically the definition of unethical.

TRI · Post by **TRI** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 6:39 pm

Wow. That's even worse than I was thinking of--I was thought I remembered some reporter standing in front of suburban houses saying "this is the neighborhood where Virginia Tech gunman...." etc. etc. before going onto scenes of the campus.

I can't imagine what they must be going through, but I know I'd sure be in hiding.

TheSuburbanLetdown · Post by **TheSuburbanLetdown** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 6:49 pm

I saw that too.

I read that the nation of South Korea appologized, even though I feel they shouldn't have too. Early on, Fox news was really playing the "creepy foreigner" card, despite the fact he lived here for most of his life. They fear it could cause a backlash of racism, and after reading the reports on the internet, it's a well-founded fear. Luckily most people are smart and know these were the actions of one individual.

Nyke · Post by **Nyke** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 7:19 pm

Nyke wrote:And Whacko Jack-o's right out of the gate with Video games.
Phelps plays his "God hates you and your heathen lifestyle" card, shows off new stick in his ass.

Creationist Ken Ham points his own finger at lack of religion in science class
Man, it's like everyone with a grudge against the world is using this shooting to justify it.

TheSuburbanLetdown · Post by **TheSuburbanLetdown** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 7:30 pm

With normal people, finding things to blame is a natural reaction to try and find meaning. But with these repeat offenders that use every tragedy to justify their garbage are detestable. I hope the rumor that Phelps and his self-righteous followers will "preach" at the funerals of VT are false. If they have the gall to do this, then they'll have to deal with 25,000 Hokies.

Terotrous · Post by **Terotrous** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 9:13 pm

I've been following this story fairly closely. It's never something you want to read about, but it's so atrocious that you can't help but want to find out more about what happened.

I know it's a hindsight thing, but it really seems ridiculous that someone who had numerous charges for setting fires, stalking, and was referred to a mental health facility and yet was still able to purchase guns with no background check still seems shocking to me. It's like was said before, there are two types of people who commit murder, criminals, and ordinary people who snap. Criminals are willing to go through illegal dealers to get guns, but ordinary people might not be. You can't possibly say that guns not being legally sold to people who shouldn't have them wouldn't deter some people from having guns.

Nevertheless, Rkolter makes a good point about how he'd likely find another venue, but guns generally do the largest amount of damage in the shortest amount of time. If he'd conducted this rampage with a knife there's no way he could have killed as many people. Relegating killers to use less-powerful weapons seems like a desireable objective.

I'm also shocked that they didn't close the school after the initial two murders. Murder on campus should ALWAYS make for immediate school closure, regardless of whether they think the suspect has been apprehended or what not. Schools are expected to be places of safety, and the moment even a single person is killed, a large-scale investigation needs to be made. This is not a "question the boyfriend and continue business as normal" kind of situation.

I guess there's probably no easy answer for stopping this kind of thing, though. No one wants this to happen, and yet school shootings are becoming disturbingly common. I do agree that the media blitz whenever it happens likely makes it worse, but on the other hand, it's a subject that captures public interest and I'm sure they do want to hear about it.

Enough rambling from me. Thank god I'm done university in a week.

MixedMyth · Post by **MixedMyth** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 9:17 pm

You know, I've been thinking about that. It might not even be the fact that they are reporting it so much as the WAY they are reporting it.

Yeahduff · Post by **Yeahduff** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 9:23 pm

Nice post, man.

theSuburbanLetdown wrote:With normal people, finding things to blame is a natural reaction to try and find meaning. But with these repeat offenders that use every tragedy to justify their garbage are detestable. I hope the rumor that Phelps and his self-righteous followers will "preach" at the funerals of VT are false. If they have the gall to do this, then they'll have to deal with 25,000 Hokies.

While they certainly are not above such a thing, they'd have to clear their busy schedules of picketing military funerals, trying not to get their asses kicked by bikers, and watching American Idol.

For real, don't bother getting pissed off at the Phelps set. Their sick people who thrive on your attention. They're more nihilists than Christians, and no one takes them seriously. If they start running guns and stuff, they'll be something to worry about, but until then, fuck em.

Grabmygoblin · Post by **Grabmygoblin** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 9:51 pm

yeahduff wrote:For real, don't bother getting pissed off at the Phelps set. Their sick people who thrive on your attention. They're more nihilists than Christians, and no one takes them seriously. If they start running guns and stuff, they'll be something to worry about, but until then, fuck em.

amen. a decade ago they were a threat, today they're a fringe cult. I hope the FBI is keeping an eye on them, because I suspect they may be a future source of domestic terrorism unless they're kept in check.

TheSuburbanLetdown · Post by **TheSuburbanLetdown** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 10:12 pm

I do my best to ignore these people, but just the sheer audacity to even think of protesting at VT is unthinkable. And protest what!? They're already fucking dead. It comforting to know practically no one takes them seriously (I think there're only 100 of them, and most of them are related).

Grabmygoblin · Post by **Grabmygoblin** » Wed Apr 18, 2007 10:47 pm

theSuburbanLetdown wrote:It comforting to know practically no one takes them seriously (I think there're only 100 of them, and most of them are related).

yeah, like I said, a decade ago they were a threat, today they're just cultists.

Phelps used to practically run politics in that area of Kansas. floating around the internet are pictures of Phelps and Al Gore, because Gore had to court Phelps for votes. Gore even invited Phelps to the '92 and '96 inagural balls. Phelps protested the second one, which was about when people began to recognize they are insane.

Killbert-Robby · Post by **Killbert-Robby** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 12:51 am

They just released the guy's final video. I dont know, its all to convenient. NBC is the only building to recieve one. He burnt a DVD from compiled footage in his 2 hour break. It only arrived today because he used the wrong address. The reaks. I think they took his footage and spent time editing it to their story.

Rkolter · Post by **Rkolter** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 4:13 am

Just my morning miscellaneous thoughts on this shooting...

I'm a little concerned that people are taking all this person's personal quirks and suggesting they're all hints he could be the kind of guy who kills lots of people in a rampage.

KrisX makes a good point about his writing - violent writing doesn't necessarily mean anything.

And the Question Mark Kid? I signed my name "Evil Incarnate" for several years, starting in about 1990. It was a nickname my friends gave me. The college I was at even accepted it - I got talked to one time for signing out a basketball that way, but it was more of "If you took the ball we wouldn't know who to go after" and not "This is seriously creepy."

I don't like that the news is making a big case about the company that sold him the Glock 19 either. That company did everything by the book. It wasn't a case where they snuck him a handgun. They requested all the right documents, got them, sent them in, waited for the federal government to ok him, and only then sold him the gun. But the store owner is being berated...

Also, we had a threatening email go to one of our high schools here in St. Louis today.

That's just not cool.

Post by **Kisai** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 4:19 am

Forget what anyone says. People are DEAD. who cares why, you can't stop someone shooting someone if they intend to do anymor ethan you can stop someone from using drugs, or stopping hurricanes and earthquakes. If bad stuff is going to happen, IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

It happened to Montreal... Twice, cripes.

This is the same reason why 'war on drugs' and 'war on terror' just erodes personal rights in the name of preventing something that will happen anyway.

People ARE going to do what they intend to do, if you want to stop it, lock yourself in your home and never leave, cancel your tv, cable and internet, newspapers and anything else you have contact with the world. You are far more likely to die in a car accident everyday then you are going to get shot going to school.

No sense -not living- life just because "you might get killed" by something random.

MixedMyth · Post by **MixedMyth** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 6:47 am

Killbert-Robby wrote:They just released the guy's final video. I dont know, its all to convenient. NBC is the only building to recieve one. He burnt a DVD from compiled footage in his 2 hour break. It only arrived today because he used the wrong address. The reaks. I think they took his footage and spent time editing it to their story.

Actually, I read in an article that they held off reporting on it for some time at the FBI's request so that they could go through the package thoroughly.

Rkolter · Post by **Rkolter** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 6:50 am

This Westboro Baptist Church thing by Phelps... I just read about it.

There are a few things in this world that are actually evil. Not the fun kind of evil (Mad Scientists, grim humor, etcetera), but actual, down to earth, real evil.

These guys are that.

They're wanting to protest at the private family funerals of those killed because they were killed for "not being good chrustians" (and are in hell because of it) and also because the United States is in moral decline. They say the shooter was doing God's work (but is in hell anyway because he killed people).

It makes me go all cold and mean inside.

RemusShepherd · Post by **RemusShepherd** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 6:57 am

Kisai wrote:Forget what anyone says. People are DEAD. who cares why, you can't stop someone shooting someone if they intend to do anymor ethan you can stop someone from using drugs, or stopping hurricanes and earthquakes. If bad stuff is going to happen, IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.
...
This is the same reason why 'war on drugs' and 'war on terror' just erodes personal rights in the name of preventing something that will happen anyway.
...
No sense -not living- life just because "you might get killed" by something random.

Well, those are your choices -- and the choices that a government has to make when deciding how to protect its citizens. They can either accept that random things happen that can make the world dangerous, or they can try to prevent random things from ever happening.

Since 9/11, the US has swerved very far into the 'prevent everything' state. I think it's foolish, myself -- you get safety or liberty, choose one.

TheSuburbanLetdown · Post by **TheSuburbanLetdown** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 6:58 am

It's amazing how people abuse the right to freedom of speech like that.

Is it really a blow to freedom of speech if funeral protests were banned? I think we'd be better off.

MixedMyth · Post by **MixedMyth** » Thu Apr 19, 2007 7:19 am

Much as I dislike Phelps and his nutballs, yes it would be. Our system opperates a lot on precedent, and this would set a really bad one.