A South Korean student was today named as responsible for the deadliest
shooting massacre in American history, in which 32 people were shot dead at
a university in Virginia yesterday.
The body of Cho Seung-Hui, 23, was found among a group of his victims in a
blood-spattered classroom at Virginia Tech university, said Superintendent
Steve Flaherty of the Montgomery County Police today.
A Glock 9mm handgun and a .22-calibre handgun were found at the scene. Other
bodies were strewn in at least three other second floor classrooms and in a
stairwell in the Norris Hall classroom block.
Supt Flaherty confirmed that the same gun had been used in both the classroom
shootings and another murderous incident two hours earlier, when two
students were shot dead in their dormitory half a mile away on the other
side of the university campus.
Before his killing rampage Cho, a resident alien who was studying English and
lived on campus in Harper Hall, left a disturbing note in his dormitory in
which he railed against "rich kids", "debauchery" and "deceitful
charlatans" on campus.
He died with the name "Ismail Ax" written on one of his arms in red
ink. Police also found a note warning of a bomb threat against the
university's engineering department close to his body. The university had
received two bomb threats in the past fortnight.
Investigators believe Cho, born on January 18 1984 and the brother of a
Princeton university graduate, had planned the attack for at least a month
having bought his Glock pistol on March 13 and the other weapon last week.
Police sources said that in recent weeks Cho had been treated for depression,
had begun to stalk women and had tried to start a fire in a campus
dormitory.
Students on campus talked of him as a loner who hardly ever acknowledged
passers-by while his course tutors revealed how his disturbed mindset had
been glimpsed in his English creative writing.
According to Professor Carolyn Rude, chairwoman of the university’s English
department, her colleague Lucinda Roy, the department’s director of creative
writing, had described Cho as "troubled" and referred him for
counselling, though she did not know how the sessions had gone.
"There was some concern about him," Ms Rude said.
"Sometimes, in creative writing, people reveal things and you never know
if it’s creative or if they’re describing things, if they’re imagining
things or just how real it might be. But we’re all alert to not ignore
things like this."
Those who knew Cho, whose parents run a dry cleaning business in Centreville,
Virginia, said he had little to say to any of those around him.
"He was very quiet, always by himself," Abdul Shash, his dormitory
neighbour said, adding that he spent a lot of his free time playing
basketball and would not respond if someone greeted him.
It also emerged that Cho had been caught speeding on April 7 - he was issued a
ticket for driving at 44mph in a 25mph zone, and was due in court on May 23
to face traffic violation charges.
At a press conference this morning on the Virginia Tech campus, Supt Flaherty
described the crime scene that confronted officers in Norris Hall as "horrific".
He also confirmed that a number of "heroic events" had taken place
inside Norris Hall, as individuals tried to protect others from the gunman.
In their panic to escape Cho, the victims had left their personal belongings
scattered chaotically all over the second floor, hampering efforts to
identify the dead.
Dr Marcella Fierro, the Chief Medical Examiner of the Commonwealth of
Virginia, warned that she would not be able to complete all the
identifications for several days, and that no names would be issued until
then.
Nonetheless, today the identities were starting to emerge of the victims.
University professors - including a 75-year-old with Romanian and Israeli
citizenship who was shot as he tried to protect his students - as well as a
host of college freshmen were among the dead.
Meanwhile, anger was growing at the college authorities who were accused by
one student of having "blood on their hands" for failing to close
the campus or tell the thousands of staff and students to stay away after
the first shooting incident, which took place two hours before the second.
The first shots were fired inside a dormitory at about 7.15am, killing two
people. Students complained they got no warning from the university until an
e-mail that arrived more than two hours after the shots were fired - by
which time the second rampage had begun.
"I think the university has blood on their hands because of their lack of
action after the first incident," said Billy Bason, 18, who lives on
the seventh floor of the dorm.
President Bush and his wife, Laura, were attending a memorial service at the
university today. Mr Bush said last night: "Our nation is shocked and
horrified."
The Queen said that she was "shocked and saddened "by the shooting,
and Tony Blair said that he was "deeply shocked at the terrible loss of
innocent lives".
Cho Byung-Jae, a South Korean foreign ministry spokesman, said: "The
Government expresses indescribable surprise and shock over this shooting
incident."
The massacre began when a lone gunman opened fire inside a fourth floor
dormitory in West Ambler Johnston Hall, one of the biggest halls of
residence with sleeping quarters for 895 students. There was "mass chaos",
one undergraduate said — "lots of students running around, going
crazy".
Two people died. One has been named as Ryan Clark from Augusta, Georgia, who
was an officer in the university’s marching band and a senior student due to
graduate this year. The second was a freshman in veterinary science called
Emily Hilscher, according to Collegiate Times, the college newspaper.
A British student escaped the shooting by hiding in his room. George Barnwell,
20, was in his dormitory with his girlfriend when the gunman opened fire in
the building next door.
At 7.15am the first emergency call was made, bringing a massive response.
Armed teams ringed the hall, on the southwest side of the 2,600-acre campus,
trying to find the gunman amid swirling snow.
Mr Steger met Virginia Tech's police chief, Wendell Flinchum, and it was
decided not to shut down the campus.
Instead a brief e-mail was sent out, which read: "A shooting incident
occurred at West Ambler Johnston earlier this morning. Police are on the
scene and are investigating." The message warned students to be
cautious and contact police about anything suspicious.
It was believed that the incident was "domestic" and was contained,
and that there was reason to believe that the gunman had fled, said Mr
Steger.
"We had no reason to suspect any other incident was going to occur,"
he said. "We concluded that once (the students) got to the classroom,
that was the best place to lock them down...
"Whenever you have got something like this you have 9,000 students on
campus, 16,000 in transit, 7,000 employees and 3,000 visitors, and if you
don't get it right with information you get chaos."
But at 9.40am, as police were interviewing a suspect they believed was
connected to the first shooting, gunfire broke out again, with a 40-second
volley of shots emerging from Norris Hall.
Police found the doors of the classroom block locked and chained from the
inside, presumably by the gunman.
Witnesses inside described how a gunman walked up and down the corridors,
entering classrooms and firing.
The highest death toll happened in a German class, where as many as 20 people
were killed or injured, according to a student's account in Collegiate
Times.
Erin Sheehan said that the gunman twice put his head into Professor Jamie
Bishop's 9:05am German class in room 207 Norris Hall, as if he was looking
for someone. When he came back for a third time he opened fire, she said.
"He was just a normal looking kid, Asian, but he had on a Boy Scout type
outfit," she said. "He wore a tan button-up vest, and this black
vest, maybe it was for ammo or something.
"I saw bullets hit people's body.There was blood everywhere. People in
the class were passed out, I don't know maybe from shock from the pain. But
I was one of only four that made it out of that classroom. The rest were
dead or injured. My professor, Herr Bishop, I'm not sure if he's alive."
Meanwhile Mr Librescu, a Romanian/Israeli engineering lecturer who was named
by his family as amongst the dead, saved the lives of several students by
blocking the doorway of his classroom from the approaching gunman before he
was fatally shot, his son said today. Students of Professor Librescu, an
engineering science and mathematics lecturer in at Virginia Tech for 20
years, sent e-mails to his wife, Marlena, telling of how he blocked the
gunman’s way and saved their lives, said the son, Joe.
"My father blocked the doorway with his body and asked the students to
flee," Joe Librescu said in a telephone interview from his home near
Tel Aviv. "Students started opening windows and jumping out."
Nick, a student in another class, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme of his
and his classmates' narrow escape after they heard gunfire outside. "Immediately
one of the girls in the class went and peeked down the hall and saw the guy,
and we barricaded ourselves in the room. The gunman heard the door close and
within five or 10 seconds he was was trying to get in.
"We had the door fairly well barricaded and he fired into the door two or
three times. A couple of bullets came through the door. It was fairly scary.
It was clear to me that it was a semi-automatic handgun."
Ishwar K Puri, the head of the engineering science and mechanics department,
told the AP news agency that Prof Kevin Granata was another victim of the
shootings.
Matt Maroney, a student, told Sky News that 43 people had been shot, adding
that students had thrown desks at a door and a teacher had been shot in the
arm. The gunman, he said, "had an ungodly amount of ammo on him. He was
just dressed in a vest filled with clips and started firing away at
classrooms".
Some students broke limbs leaping from second-floor windows to escape. Others
barricaded themselves in and prayed to be left alone.
The university has 26,000 students, many from Asia.
John Marshall, the Virginia state security secretary, today backed the
beleaguered college authorities, saying that Mr Steger and Mr Flinchum had
made the best decision they could at the time, and that now was the time to
focus on helping the victims rather than on recriminations.
Fourteen people have been identified by the college's newspaper as 'confirmed
dead', although the names have yet not been formally issued by the police.
They include Christopher Jamie Bishop, a German teacher, GV Loganathan, 51,
a lecturer in civil engineering, originally from India, and Caitlin
Hammaren, a second year student in International Studies and French.
Tim Reid, The Times's Washington correspondent who was today at the scene,
said that police had cordoned off Norris Hall. "The whole vast campus
is eerily quiet," he said. He added that the area was besieged by an
army of journalists.
As many as 300 television stations from all over the world had sent satellite
trucks.
I'm incredibly chilled and saddened what happened to Seung Hui and the victims. There's no forgiving his crime, and I'm sure he'll pay for it for many lifetimes. It's unconsciousable and deafeningly painful for the victim's families. But I'm struck that no one's putting much emphasis on how much psychic violence, how much blood-curdling hatred gets transacted day-to-day in this country..not by gangs, but by everyday people. Forget video games and gun laws. I'm talking about the turn-a-blind-eye, who-can-we-blame-for-our-troubles fascism that lives in the hearts of way too many Americans--historically and still now. Seung Hui is a product and reflection of that hatred, numbness, and selfishness, of our own inability to reach out a hand when a young soul goes horribly afield. His cold-bloodedness is our own; his manifesto, our own political posturing and justification for brutalizing and killing the world's innocent. It's our own finger-pointing at everyone else but ourselves.
Hanul, San Francisco, CA
Banning guns will in the end lead us to where we are right now with drugs. The only difference is that the law biding citizens won't have guns and the law breakers will still have guns in posession because law breakers will always break the law.
Saying that the gunmans motivation was because we was Korean is a silly immature blame game. The man was obviously psychotic in that he had no control of reasoning. Having no control over reasoning isn't just a Korean thing.
Josh, Wetumpka, US, AL
Im tired of this. Stop blaming guns for this. Im sure 1,000 people say this every day, but its the truth. You want to Take away guns? Go ahead. That wont stop anything. Take away guns, they will use sharp sticks, take away sharp sticks, they use rocks, take away rocks, nature will make more. And dont even start with all that v"video games and movies cause all the violence." You know why people blame these things for violence? Because they dont posses the phycological depth and capability, much less the humility, to turn the finger around to themselves. If you must have something to blame, blame humanity. If your kid is more influenced by video games or music, you need to take a look in the f_____g mirror and ask yourself " did i do the best as i could as a parent?" because if Jimmy listens to Marilyn Manson before he listens to Mommy And Daddy, you didnt.
Matt, Marbury, US, AL
Race is never an issue, he is actually more American than Korean living in the US 17 out of his 23 years. It's always a mixture of genetics and environment ,whichever played a greater significance we will never know now. I guess it's time people realised that when u spread hate u will get it back eventully. When all you have inside is hate . .you miss out on what other people can give and shorten your lifespan a good decade. I think happy people live longer, more friends, and less problems. So people. . start lovin' start livin'
M.Ong, Perth, Australia
What an event, I've never seen st so inhumanly . It's sad. My goal is going to study in USA. But when I saw this incident, I'm a little bit scared. That fear from people, the depress and I don't know.. . I think I could hardly believe people. Maybe your best friend pretend to be your friend or he become insane and get to kill people.
Nam, Cheb, Czech Republic
my thoughts are with the familys and the school kids who had to witness such atrocities. i hope something can be learned from this event and how people respond and react to them. for example the uni will learn they need to respond quicker to emergencys...police will need to take concerns from teachers more seriously.... i think these 'have your say' ruin international relations and create negative energy. please try and remeber there are some very sensitive people in the world and may be everyone could be abit nicer to people. then this might have been avoided STOP TURNING A BLIND EYE.
drew, england,
I read through Cho Seung-Hui's message, and my heart cried. What made him done that? People died, Cho died. All we can ever think of is Cho being the murderer and all our thousand trivial questions. Our fingers pointing on something to blame. Cursing Koreans probably. What is left in our morality? There's a deeper root to all of this and and there should be something left for us to look backand not to blame. No one has the right to take one's life. But we have choices. This event happened, Cho made his choice. And we all have to live with that like he lived with our choices.
Ashley, Aimes, IA
I am not surprised that there is so much finger pointing but I am still disappointed.
First of all, I always feel that anyone that puts the blame on others, does so because he/she feels responsible in some way, and needs a scapegoat. So the way I see it, by blaming another country, when your country is involved, you are only blaming yourself.
Second, the shooters of Columbine were caucasian. Did anyone care? No. So apparently it is perfectly fine for a caucasian to go on a shooting rampage in an educational environment, but anyone else that does not look American is automatically blamed for the actions of people that look similar to them.
Third. There are plenty of Americans that make America look bad, including some that posted here. Think about this. Suppose I thought that Jessica Simpson represents the American woman, and that Hulk Hogan represents the American man. Is my perception accurate?
Hu, Queens, New York
I cannot believe the bigotry displayed here by my fellowcountrymen and women, it's disgusting. There is not one ounce of compassion expressed here only hatred, intolerence and downright nastiness.
Viv, London, England
I am an American, born and raised in Texas. Many, many of us Americans oppose the liberal gun laws in our country. However, with the strong NRA (National Rifle Assn) lobby to Congress, our hopes of seeing tighter gun laws are pretty much wishful thinking. I was the senior staff chaplain in hospital when the Columbine incident occurred and certainly hoped that Congress would legislate stronger gun laws, but sadly, the NRA and other pro-gun lobbyists held sway. The latest incident in VA will do little or nothing to sway the pro-gun enthusiasts. Instead, many of them are now calling for anyone 10 yrs or older, to have the option to carry a handgun. Such an idea is utterly insane, but you can be certain that it will be considered.
Vanessa, Denver, CO USA
Over the last 5 years the problem as been foreigners coming to america and doing the killings. 9/11 and this; it's nice to blame America first forever thing, but all of the messes the euro trash got into in the last two big wars, millions killed by you good people of europe. You wont be putting 6.000.000 millions americans in ovens because we stand by and do nothing about bout it
The only reason you euro's have not had a war in the last 50 years is we would stop all your goofyness.
Should we have gone to Iraq, looking back nope, we should just help saddam pump all the oil out and been done with it.
True, America as no business being the world's policeman, and that includes europe. We should pull out of Europe and let putin run the show, and throw all the foreigners out of the U.S.
Would you like a world like the that? I would.
And as you may have guessed we should have stayed out of world war 2, only Japan attacks us, what was the U.S. doing in europe, least of all helping fr
brent, logan, U.S.A
I knew it wouldnt take long before someone posted that America's society is at fault of these horrific murders. And of course it comes from those who have no realistic concept of American society. In my 39 years as an American I have never been shot at, seen someone shot, nor had a gun pointed at me. America is not the wild-west where innocent people get gunned down on the streets. Most gun related murders occur in domestic situations or by criminal elements.This disgusting human being was hellbent on destroying himself and as many people as possible. So far evidence shows he was a loner and had planned it for sometime.There's no way to predict when someone like that will explode. As far as gun control is concerned: what if even one person in that building had his own weapon and shot this killer. Would that person be hailed as a hero now? People get murdered in GB and China every day you know. But in China the govt. just puts a bullet in the perps head and goes on as usual.
Cards, Columbia, SC
Banning guns? Evil people will find a way to kill if they want to bad enough. Guns were not allowed on campus at VaTech and this did not stop the killing. People kill whether it be a gun or some other kind of weapon. What this country needs is a strong wake up call to violence that is glamourized on tv and movies. When I was a kid I had no exposure to the types of material you commonly see today.
Prayer was taken out of the schools-what a HUGE mistake.
Violence and video games are common. We need to reevaluate our morals in this country.
martha long, ruffin, usa/nc
All I can say to Matt is, wow...what a truly perverse response to a horrible tragedy. Justifying America's current patchwork of generally weak gun ownership laws by declaring that gun control will herald the end of freedom in America is pretty silly. What proof do you have? Ah, all those totalitarian Western European nations with strict gun control laws, right?
Unfortunately, the U.S. is plagued by a section of society that believes that if America's armed forces were somehow used in a coup, they'd be able to fight off the M1A1's and smart bombs with their semi-automatic 9mm handguns.
Bob B., Scottsdale, Arizona
i truly expressed my deep condolences for the victims and their loved ones. i am still in struck and so in deep condolences. time will heal it all=) and God will heal all the pains in our heart. God Bless.
elisha, tel aviv, israel
One issue stands out starkly and that is the issue of guns, especially semi-automatic and the fact that a deeply troubled human being under the care of a physician (mental health practitioner?) could go out and legally buy a weapon that would destroy so many precious, irreplaceable human lives. There is something so deeply troubling about this picture. There were, according to media investigation, too many red flags along the way that this tragic soul was capable of harming so many: his writings, the voiced concerns of his professors and their colleagues, his mental health history and his parents voiced concerns in 2005, his antidepressants, his documented behavior with female students, his marked social alienation as described by his roomates, professors, fellow students...what else is yet to be uncovered. This is utterly heartwrenching and we need desperately to address the critical issues both in public policy and a university's role in insuring that this never happens again.
Donna Lopez, Austin, US/Tx.
I think this could have been prevented had our government not only renewed the Assault Weapon ban, but also had tighter, tougher gun laws. When wil our lawmakers stop taking money and pandering to the Gun Lobbyists in this country, and start protecting its citizens?
I hope that some good can come out of this and the Big Boys in DC will take a hard, long look at our laws. We need to ban guns. This should have been done years ago. We would see crimes like this prevented and violent crime with guns would go down.
Rachel Atkinson, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
I praying for all of victims.
and I hope every mankind's happiness.
no war, no terrorism, and no more victims.
J.S Lee, seoul, korea
To all the 'goody two shoes' Europeans posting their comments on how bad America is and how good Europe is, may I remind you that the two guns used in this massacre were manufactured in Europe the Glock in Austria and the other weapon in Germany...it seems you are quite happy to make money selling weapons and then readily complain when they are used. Pot, kettle, black...anybody!
Viv, London, England
Chinese, Boston - The victims were of different nationalities, not only American. You obviously have a chip on your shoulder about the USA and feel that Chinese is portrayed negatively in the media. Well let me share something with you. I was an English teacher in China at the time of 9/11. As the news broke on the TV that evening, my Chinese students cheered. China has negatively portrayed all Western society for hundreds of years, and continues to do so.
Let not the pot call the kettle black.
Tina , Dublin , Ireland
First of all, this is a terrible day in the United States and I greive with the families of the slain. Having said that, as I read the stories, everyone seems to want to blame the gun, or the easy access to guns. Let's put the blame where it belongs, ON THE GUNMAN. He wanted to do this and planned it out. If he didn't have a gun, he would have used a bomb or a sword or run a car into a crowd. When someone puts his or her mind to something, they will find a way to do it. Guns are used to save many more lives than people think. Often, just the thought that a person may be armed will keep a criminal from robbing or raping a victim. Thank you for your time.
Matthew, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
Bill: your attitude perfectly represents all the arrogance and pig-headedness played out by your goverment in everything from domestic to foreign policy - maybe the American people really did vote for their goverment after all...
Emily, Cambridge, UK
I'd just like to record my gratitude that Bill Harrison and his guns are currently residing in North America. He and his country are clearly aligned in terms of attitude and so deserve each other.
Thanks so much for finally helping us to rid the world of the Nazi State and its murderous leaders. Shame you turned up late (again).
Paul, Manchester, UK
First of all what happened was truly tragic my heart felt condolences go out to the bereaved.second need i remind the individual who posted the 1st comment that the media has nothing to do with trying to blacklist the Chinese in way shape or form. the media is just reporting the events that took place.THIS IS NOT A RACE ISSUE.
Tybe, Boston, MA
Probably the result of the debate (if it will be any debate) will be the tightening of the residence conditions for people wanting to study in the U.S. So, the conclusion (or the excuse) will be that the danger to be avoided comes from the East, regardless what is meant by 'East': Eastern Europe, Far East, and so on.
Miklos Kadar, Budapest, Hungary
Milos, I'll be gentle when I say this, because it may shock you, but I suspect most Americans can tell the difference between Hungarians and South Koreans. Since Americans, unlike Europeans, are used to looking at other Americans in a variety of ethnicities...white, black, Hispanic, Asian, Indian and mixed-race, most Americans understand that that the perpetrator's South Korean background is of no importance to the event. Sociopaths, killers and psychos come in all shapes and stripes, religions and races. South Korea is hardly known to Americans as a frontier of ultra-violence.
T. Roth, Danbury, Connecticut, USA
Bill Harrison's comment is interesting So the rest of the world should mind it's own business. That's sweet coming from a person living in a country that wants to meddle oin everybody elses business, Iran, Iraq, North Korea etc. And as for running to the US every time the UK needs help, I seem to remeber we did this in WWII and the UK was refused, until Pearl Harbour.
If you carry guns then expet to die by them.
Derek Young, Berkshire, England
i think that this is crazy and they need to shut down the place until they find out something to do for the safety of the stundents and the teachers of the school and not to open the building until they do it because the gang could come back again and i think that it is partcially the president of the school's fault that all those people died because he didnt tell them to lock the doors and because of the actions he made a whole lot more people where killed and the lifes of many people were injured and all the families were missing there husbans or sons or wifes or daughers and it is hard for somebody to lose someone like that
bob junior, kingsport', united states/tennessee
I only want to express my deepest sorrow and sadness for the events taking place in Virginia. I would like to be able to give some comfort to the families affected, but I'm afraid I can only pray for them and the victims. From Spain, our heart with with those American families who are suffering this horrible nigntmare.
Sonia Gonzalez, Bi, Spain
So many people are saying that he was an angry young man and that they were unsurprised he'd done it - one teacher is quoted on another site as having reported him to the authorities.
Why did no-one think to suggest to this young man that he should see a councillor? Why did no-one try to talk to him? Maybe then the root of the problem could have been found, before this happened.
And OMG, al, HK, the young man was South Korean, not Chinese.
Helen P, Reading, UK
Don't blame guns.
How many guns were used by McVeigh in Oklahoma? None.
How many were used by the 9/11 hijackers? None.
If he had no gun, the killer could have used a bomb, a knife, a gas, poison...
Instead of taking this column as a chance to direct your beliefs about American law and constitutional rights, perhaps we could use it to send thoughts and prayers to the victims and their families. You can rage against America another day, eh?
Steven, Dallas, TX, USA
Since 1966 with the Texas Clock Tower tragedy, we've had example after example in the US of why guns should be illegal, but the NRA starts mis-quoting the Constitution and getting panties all a-bunch. The Second Amendment clearly states:
A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.
A well-regulated militia, not a bunch of yahoos and drug addicts and pissed off spurned lovers. A shotgun is for hunting animals. Anything else, the prey is human.
MBL, New York City, USA
i believe that you Americans have a problem with paranoia, you believe your own government is out to get you!
so you stock guns to protect yourself? thats rediculous. im sure if your people didnt carry guns and shoot each other randomly, then you wouldnt have to worry about any retribution!
freedom is not carrying a gun, its the ability to be yourself, without some idiot shooting at you
Patrick, Plymouth, England
I do agree that the shooting was a sad thing.But I think that there are alot of things in the world that are much worse,starvation torture slavery terroists ect... these things happen everyday not just in one day. As for the gun laws in the U.S. I dont think taking guns away will stop people killing. there are many other ways to kill remember 9-11.Other countries have taken guns away in recent history I think people should look at what has happened to their freedoms the crime rate and how safe they really feel. I would feel better knowing that my neighbor had a gun than only the police and govenment and criminals ,I would trust my neighbor .Freedom has its ups and downs but to have any rights taken away is a step closer to not having any .Do you really want to be told what you can do like a mindless drone or decide for yourself. Check the history books they do teach us about ourselves good and bad. I do hope I have given someone something to think about.
Doug, Brooklyn, WI U.S.A
but Bill, how can you say 'mind your own business', when your country (and ours) goes to war in order to rid the Iraqi government of / 'meddle with' their weapons of mass destruction? your country "had a problem with [Iraqi people's] rights" and took some action - albeit slightly misguided. Sometimes it's give and take. you can't dish the dirt on other countries without accepting it yourself. sometimes we have to speak out, otherwise innocent people may continue to be killed for no apparent reason. is it reason enough to say the possiblilty of future americans being killed, is justified so as to satisfy the somewhat selfish/ self centred desires of your 'forefathers'?
izzy, sendai, japan
Probably the result of the debate (if it will be any debate) will be the tightening of the residence conditions for people wanting to study in the U.S. So, the conclusion (or the excuse) will be that the danger to be avoided comes from the East, regardless what is meant by 'East': Eastern Europe, Far East, and so on. Sounds cynical, but the events in Virginia serve very well those who do not want foreigners in the U.S., who perceive them as a potential danger.
Miklos Kadar, Budapest, Hungary
They should told the students throw a beter way than just sending an e-mail there could have been more life's saved and could have helped spread awareness.
Zachary Cortinas, Bryan/College Station, Texas
The university president should resign after 9/11 we are all too aware we are targets of these hateful people who are welcomed to the US and given every opportunity to improve their lives but only resent us .The first killing tool place at 7:15 and the president called a meeting at 8:30 instead of getting the word out now he and his administration are muddying the waters to cover their own mistakes.
Meg, DC EX Pat, USA
its sad and i feel for the victims families, but now the uk wants to critize the the united states because of our gun laws. i say to you mind your own business run your country not ours. when free sociaties take away guns from law abiding people what you have is a goverment that does what it wants when it wants people are powerless to stop them. yes our forfathers realized this and gave us a constitutional right to own firearms. i think the rest of the world should mind its own affairs they have enough problems of their own without trying to meddle in americans right to bear arms. we will not change our constitution because others countries think we should. so many other countries a quick to pass judgement on americans but who do you call when times get tough and you need help. any country thats has a problem with our rights here in america just stay away we dont really need you for anything anyway
bill harrison, salem missouri,
How do we define FREEDOM? I think freedom is to feel safe and secure. I may not get to do everything that I wish, but with the sense of peacefulness in my mind, I think this is the greatest gift of FREEDOM.
FineCountry, Singapore,
If people are given such easy access to guns then people will use them, our thoughts must be with the victims families and friends.
The American Government have to act now, before this happens again. Americas 'gun culture' must be made to be a thing of the past.
sunny, Greenwich , England
I'm sorry, Matt Smith, but do you really believe that the government will take over your country if people don't fill their houses with guns?
In the UK we have licensing laws which prevent guns from falling into the wrong people with such horrific regularity. You say that it will be 33,000 dead instead of 33 - well, if you look at your country's statistics of firearm mortalities, you will see a similar number, as opposed to a mere 2-figure number for firearm deaths in the UK.
We are not scared of our government taking us over (and how will immigration stop that, I wonder? You seem undecided on what the real threat is).
You can stockpile your guns all you want, but next time there is a massacre at a high school or college, and it will happen again, and again, and again, wonder why it is happening in the one country where it is every man's right to bear arms..
Flabbergasted, Sheffield,
It may be unpleasant, but the truth is if you saturate people's minds en masse with violence through TV and cinema, if you allow them to practice killing people in the "murder simulators" that many modern video games have become and if you then make real weapons so easily available, as America does, then the weaker minds in the populace will become distorted and prone to this sort of outrage. So it is terribly sad, but of no suprise, and it will not be a suprise when it happens again.
The US must ban guns to all but law enforcement, the military and very strictly licensed private citizens (with psychological profiling), and the US must also clean up video games, cinema and TV. This is not about thought control and loss of freedom. It's about common sense measures to stop training impressionable youth to kill.
Incidentally, I'm not some old fogey luddite. I'm early thirtes, grew up with video games, and run a technology company.
John Corry, London, UK
Even if people in the United States insist on holding onto the "right to bear arms" which we in Britain relinquished in 1487, surely there can be no possible justification for the legal ownership of 9mm automatic weapons.
simon garrett, Black Bourton, Oxfordshire, England
Gun control by itself is not the solution. There are similar per-capita levels of gun ownership in other 1st world countries outside the US. The reason why upwards of ten thousand Americans are shot to death each year (almost 100% by other Americans) is a purely United states malaise. There is something within the national psyche that permits this to happen and this is what needs to be adressed.
In short, I don't believe that there are any easy answers, particularly where self-analysis is involved. But when you figure that somewhere like half a million United states citizens have been shot to death by other United states residents since 1950, the answers have got to be worth finding.
That particular task can only be done by the United States populace. Good luck to them, I hope they can do it.
Dan, Hampton , UK
God bless and be with all at VT.
We Americans are not racists and know there are many Koreans who are kind and loving. It doesn't matter what nationality one is, this person was mentally ill and that happens in every nationality.
Our constitution guarantees the right to own a gun....but are guns that shoot 15 bullets or more really necessary? The right to bear arms to defend our families came about when the nation was very young.
Please also remember that the "gangs" roaming our towns and cities are largely foreign, i.e., Mexican, Chinese, Russian, etc. Yes....we have American monsters also. Every country has their undesirables.
We have 20 million illegals and our jails and prisons house 300,000 of them for committing felonies. Hundreds of thousands more of them are threats to the decent law-abiding citizens/legal immigrants of the U.S.
By the way, the VT murderer had been in the U.S. for 17 of his 23 years. His parents must be heartbroken.
Mary Lewis, Muncy, PA, USA
I would like to see a study done showing how many UNJUSTIFIED shootings there been by persons that have concealed weapons permits. Some people believe that people with weapons permits are trigger happy. I have a permit and carry a weapon but the deterant that keeps me from using it is that I know that if I shoot someone for ANY reason, I will be investigated and possibly go to trial and could spend life in prison or be put to death if it it determined to be UNJUSTIFIED shooting
Randy Griffin, Merritt Island, Fl.
I can only hope that the ethnic origin of the person behind this tragedy will not become the focus of a polemic Stateside. Consideration must be given to mental illness, depression, desperation... an other causal factors. It is not the colour of someone's skin that determines their capacity for great or terrible acts.
The USA surely must know by now that ther is no such thing as "Terror"...
Charlie, Toulouse,
Could this be a failing of the US state community mental health care system ?
This young man was reportedly mentally ill, and probably acted as a direct result of his mental illness, possibly with delusional thinking.
This is not necessarily a failing of those treating him, but perhaps rather the lack of an adequate community mental health care support system.
The possibility exists that American society is to blame for violence like this, for its focus on materialism and relative disinterest in those who cannot afford to pay.
British and South African psychiatrist, London, UK
The shooter was South Korean
Diana, Raleigh,
As has happened in many such incidents, I would suspect
that he was on mood altering drugs prescribed to him by
a psychologist or psychiatrist. The investigation should
look closely at this possibility
Tom Shuster, East Grinstead, West Sussex
What am I missing in these comments?? What do the Chinese have to do with this tragedy??
Claw, Amesbury, Ma
he was korean..
dPF, london,
Please, who cares if he was Chinese or Asian. Is this really relevant? People of all ethnic and racial catagories go nuts. Why do we first try to determine that the shooter is "not like us"?
Generally speaking, the US is wound way too tight, a mania for ever greater and greater productivity ... hyper competitiveness ... longer work hours. This is a society obsessed.
Mix this with the ready availablity of hand guns and you have a real problem.
The wonder is why there aren't more shootings.
Brian Larson, San Luis Obispo, USA/California
To all the world leaders who decry America's "gun culture" and call for tougher gun laws, no guns are allowed on campus or within university limits. Even those that have concealed weapons permits are not allowed to bring weapons on campus. Furthermore, the weapons used had the serial numbers filed off meaning they were probably obtained illegally and the user did not have a permit. All the gun control laws in the world would have not stopped the maniac from obtaining those guns. As far as America’s culture as gun wielding crazies, this person was on a student visa and not raised in our "culture". An unfortunate tragedy, my thoughts and prayers to all the families involved. As an the perp was not raised in America, probably had illegal weapons, lets keep the America bashing to a minimum.
Daniel, Richmond, Virginia, USA
The Americans have only themselves to blame for lax gun controls.
Until they do something about gun control, there will be endless massacres.
Gazza, Hammersmith, London, England
The name reported in other news sources is Korean, not Chinese.
haz, Oxford,
This scares me deeply. It makes my mother's fears of me going away to college being unsafe a reality. I can only imagine how the families must feel.
Kim, Fl, U.S
This is a tragedy in it's gravest form. My heart goes out to the family members and friends whose loved ones lives were cut short by this horrific event.
There is a feeling of great sadness and anger that something like this could happen. That even though students and faculty aren't allowed to arm themselves, there is no gun registration or 90 day waiting period in Virginia as there are in many states. How are we to protect students from other students? Would background checks be sufficient by not allowing those with troubled pasts into our schools by saying that past behavior is an indication of future behavior? Was there any indication at all of the probability of this happening?
I have school children and find this event very disturbing with little comfort having to explain how and why something like this would happen.
J. Cotton, Cincinnati, US
First, my sincerest sympathy to you all;the students, staff & families of the victoms. My heart is filled with sorrow & grief & wish I was there personally to share your pain & support you. I commend you, Dear ones to our Heavenly Father through our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Mercies & the God of All Comfort II Corinthians ch.1 vs 3-4. Savior Hebrews.ch,7 vs 24-25. support Heb. ch.2 vs17-18. touched Heb. ch. 4 vs.15-16. console Heb. ch. 6 vs 18-19. mediate Heb. ch. 12 vs. 22-24.& ever the same Heb. ch 13 v 8. Far away but NEAR in heart. Love in Christ,
R.O.(Bob) Styles, Box 626 Tumbler Ridge, BC Canada V0C 2W0
al, HK -- the perpertrator was Korean, not Chinese.
TJ Cassidy, Arlington, VA, USA
As a gun owner, I need to share a few things about this: 1) the gun was legally bought and needs addressing on hand gun sales. Hand guns are very different from rifles in that the concealled natrure of them meks them much more dangerous. With that being said, 2) over 60% of handguns owned in the US are owned by women. The concealled nature of the handgun and its small size make it ideal for a woman to defend hersels against any man regardless of size, motivation, or strength. To my UK friends, banning handguns will only keep law abiding people from owning them. This case is very isolated since it is the first in memory that a handgun was legally purchased. It is the thinking of many that more needs to be done before handgun purchases to evaluate the individual. In the end, don't blame the gun, blame the criminal. In a society of individuals, you cannot blame a system and not the person when things like this happen. The government cannot take the place of personal actions.
byron, redwood city, USA
Here's a novel thought: Maybe responisbility for this mass murder rests solely with THE MASS MURDERER WHO MURDERED 32 people and then took one for the team! For god's sake, people--the most important thing I've learned from this thing so far is that the very notion of "personal responsibility" no longer exists. Anywhere, it seems.
32 people have been senselessly murdered in cold blood and the murderer is solely responsible. Period. Guns were his weapons of choice, that's all. All of this-- HIS PERSONAL CHOICE.
Pete Scarvelis, Lakewood, USA/Ohio
I am about sick to death of people judging individuals who do not show the "right" emotion during an incident such as this as was said of the police chief of the university, i.e., "dispassionate," according to some reporters. What do you want the man to do - - what emotion would satisfy you? A lot of people do not show their grief, i.e., they take care of problems or etc at hand and grieve in private later. Too many times I have heard juries make a remark about how a person "acts" on the stand, i.e., they did not seem to be sad, and that always scares me because that person could be convicted on just that "dispassionate" testimony. Like all others I grieve for the students and for the shooter's parents and hope not too much hindsight statements will be made, only something useful and caring.
Carole Jones, Granada Hills/Los Angeles, USA/California
This was another case of a "Gun Free Zone" becoming a kill zone. Looking at all US massacres, it is easily noted that all were in places where firearms were prohibited. In Virginia, where the shooting took place, trained individuals who complete a background check may legally carry a concealed firearm for defensive purposes. Virginia Tech banned them from carrying on campus. What a shame.
Collin, Cincinnati , United States/Ohio
The racial/ethnic angle on all of this is simply a red herring, and is being overplayed here in your news organ. No one in the US gives a toss about the fellow's ethnicity at all, and that's not what is being talked about. What folk are talking about are (a) the heroics of many, especially the prof who blocked the door; (b) the oddity that two hours passed between the first incident and the second, hence the likelihood of incompetence and of litigation in response; and (c) predictably, what if anything should be done about the ready availability of firearms in the US, which facilitated this horror as it has facilitated many others before it. Note how characteristically 'American' these preoccupations are (as, alas, is the all too familiar calamity itself): First, edifying fixation upon inspiring acts amidst the horror; and second, practical fixation upon 'what went wrong' and how to prevent recurrence.
Maynard, NY/London, US/UK
unbelievably shocking. our hearts go out to the people affected by this tragedy. Mr Bush and his government need to fix the gun laws in their country. How many innocent people need to be killed with weapons that you make legal to purchase? How can America "fight a war on terror" in other countries when they allow citizens to buy firearms for any particular reason on their own soil. Guns are just bad news, for defensive purposes or otherwise. sort it out mate.
Will Jones, West Kirby, Merseyside, Wirral
Having recently finished Lionel Shriver's ' 'We Need to Talk About Kevin' this spree is all the more chilling:
-He chained the doors, trapping the students
-He was wearing overly small and tight clothes
victoria, paris,
To all the world leaders who decry America's "gun culture" and call for tougher gun laws, no guns are allowed on campus or within university limits. Even those that have concealed weapons permits are not allowed to bring weapons on campus. Furthermore, the weapons used had the serial numbers filed off meaning they were probably obtained illegally and the user did not have a permit. All the gun control laws in the world would have not stopped the maniac from obtaining those guns. As far as America’s culture as gun wielding crazies, this person was on a student visa and not raised in our "culture". An unfortunate tragedy, my thoughts and prayers to all the families involved. As an the perp was not raised in America, probably had illegal weapons, lets keep the America bashing to a minimum.
Daniel, Richmond, Virginia, USA
More security is a short term solution Dean Wilson, despite its lucrative benefits for your personal business. Root causes of civilian massacres, however, elusive, are in dire need of confrontation. While social causes are easy to drag out and argue about, this is bound to muddy the waters of the real issue here. The simple scientific fact remains: less guns would inevitably mean less deaths.
George Belfield, Buenos Aires,
Probably we must not blame either the university or the authorities. But yes, the university could ve alerted after the first incident. But with a place so huge and crowded its difficult to co-ordinate during times of crisis
Jaiyant Cavale, Bangalore, India
WOW! Another foreigner in the US commiting terrible crimes against the people. What a shame other sutdents were not adequately trained and equipped to defend themselves. Just one other student with a legal firearm and proper training could have stopped this Korean bastard long before he killed so many others. It's time people realize (American here) that we must use our God-given right to defend ourselves, that the government can not and will not ever be able to stop all the crazy people before they can do such harm.
W Stratford, Goodyear, AZ/ USA
A tragedy has occurred and instead of allowing a grieving process for all the families, news reports start blaming someone. Indeed hindsight is 50/50 and I'm sure Virginia Tech would have done this totally different had they known. News reports need to understand Virginia Tech is in an area where crime is nonexistent. I live in Roanoke, Virginia and this is the largest city closest to Blacksburg, our city is also crime free basically. We are fortunate for this, but because of this we also weren't prepared for this tragedy. Virginia Tech will now have to become a fortress, and the media will be happy, and Virginia will always be known as the place that had the deadliest shooting in history. I just wonder are we supposed to keep a tally? Instead of putting blame at this time please grieve for all the victims and families, their lives are changed forever. Blaming someone will not change this. God Bless Virginia Tech as they encounter the days to come.
Claudia Ramsey, Roanoke, Virginia
This is a terrible situation, and I send condolences to the victims' and their families- but when will this country I live in realise that if there were no guns, innocent lives would be saved, and you wouldn't need "a right to protect" yourself in the first place!!
Lilly, Hereford , AZ, US
This event saddens me, but also renews my anger at our government. When are we going to get tougher gun laws here? How many more people have to die before our lawmakers decide to stop taking Gun Lobbyist's money?
It is time to renew the assault weapons ban here in the USA. I think that we need to also enact a law that will ban all guns, period. They are not needed in today's society and only escalates the murder rates in American cities.
I hope that one day, we will see guns banned in America. Maybe that way, this incident won't have to happen again elsewhere.
Rachel Atkinson, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
And your crime rate in England goes up despite no guns. I have a license to carry a concealed weapon. I am not big, and it gives my wife and I our Constitutionally guaranteed right to defend ourselves. World opinion on our gun laws is unwelcome. If you choose to let only the bad guys have guns, that's your affair. Think outside the box- if the students or profs were allowed to carry concealed weapons, they could have defended themselves. Probably sounds dumb to you, but Europeans have thought their opinions superior to ours for over 200 years. All rights have benefits and consequences. If Congress wants to remove the right to keep and bear arms, then freedom of the press needs to be revisited also. Not only were there just cannons and flintlocks in 1776, there were single page printing presses and no porn. Maybe we should just look at scrapping all our rights to protect us from ourselves?
Tony Harkin, Copperas Cove, Texas
To the victims and their families I send you my deepest sympathy in this time of tragedy. To the US in general, and to the people who have left posts saying "it's people who kill, not guns" in particular, I say get your heads out of the sand. If guns were not so easily available, if ammo was harder to get, and if there were tighter restrictions on every step of the process events such as these would not be as prevalent. Yes, criminals will still get their hands on weapons, that's the sort of thing they do. But a university kid who seems to have had serious emotional problems may not have gone to all the trouble, had there been anything to stop him. But there wasn't, was there? And all because the US has it in their constitution that they have the right to shoot themselves and others. That's what it comes down to, isn't it? What a wonderful statement of freedom.
Andrea Jacobsen, Toronto, Canada
Our good friends in Europe and elsewhere need to realize that the US is made up of 50 individual states, each of which is more or less the size of any country in the EU. So that, on balance, yes, the state of Iowa for example could brag they haven't had any such shootings just like the UK may brag, or the Netherlands or Belgium et cetera. But when taken as a whole, that is our 300 million persons, I don't think there are any more unprovoked psychotic shootings here in the US than elsewhere. If you say differently, then you’re saying there is something unique about people in the America that makes them prone to psychotic violence, and that just doesn't make any sense. I am certainly for stronger gun control that may prevent some of the spousal homicide/suicide tragedies that we hear about, but not the infrequent, bizarre mass murders
Pieter Kreyns, Bethel Park, PA/USA
i was saddened to read the chinese boston comments...race has no point to this..it may be unfair that innocent asians were detained or taken down but that is because the killer was of that origin..if he was white caucasian would someone be complaining????? ..we are all born as empty books waiting to be filled with life and experiences..people like you put the wrong type of experience into our offsprings..this is about pointless killing because someone suffered from some 'illness' and i use this as i do because no well person would kill innocent people as he has done....for the sake of the people who have suffered and will continue to do so we need to put race aside and give compassion to all in this sick world we have created.....thoughts to all.....
michelle, south yorkshire, england
Virginia's laws allow one gun purchase per month. This guy bought his guns legally, and even had the receipts with him. He was willing to purchase one, and wait the other month to buy another. By diverting the attention to gun control, you miss the real story here. This guy was flagged by teachers and students alike as disturbed. According to reports, some students were just waiting for him to do something like this. More emphasis needs to be on developing interventions that could have been employed to prevent this. Interviention, whether in the form of mandatory counseling as a condition of continued attendance at VT or physical removal from society, of clearly disturbed individuals, is the 400 pound gorilla sitting in the room that no one is willing to tackle. This pattern of warning signs appears over and over again at every school shooting and nothing is done. And the killings continue...
Eileen, Fredericksburg, VA/USA
Tim:
A gun is an inanimate object, incapable of conspiracy or hatred.
What you have written is ludicrous. You assume that a man who has no regard for his own life or the lives of others, who has it in his heart to commit murder, would be disuaded by gun control laws. Do you honestly believe that a suicidal madman will think to himself, "I've no problem with murder, but I'm not going to break the gun control laws and purchase a weapon illegally." Is that what you think?
Seamus, Chattanooga, Tennessee
What is common to virtually all these tragic massacres is the shooter usually kills himself. Psychologists believe it happens (at least in some cases) because the killer is trying to put right or deal with some wrong he feels has been done to him, that he feels a victim. I find the parallel with terrorist suicide bombers around the world, especially in Iraq at present, to be both significant and very disturbing.; the religious extremist feels a sense of victimization; yet it happens in Iraq daily. That does not lessen the awful impact the Virginia massacre has on the families and loved ones, but we should turn our thoughts to the thousands of innocent Iraqis who have been murdered in frightningly similar circumstances, and try to figure out what more can be done and can be learned - wherever it may occur..
Alan, Singapore,
I presume al and chinese do not understand that there exists a country called Korea, where Koreans live.... I see no mention of Chinese anywhere.
Bob, baldock, Herts
When you live where i do, (America's Deep South), it is like beating your head against a wall attempted to talk about gun control. "Hunting" is such a part of the culture that many believe that anyone suggesting gun control is an "alien." Even discussing eliminating semi-automatic weapons is viewed as a "slippery-slope" that will untimatley end up with the U.S. overrun because every redneck doesn't have a gun to defend himself with. America has a lot going for it, its pigheadedness regarding this issue is not one of them.
James M. Waltman, Hurley, Mississippi, USA
Actually none of the US news outlets reported the shooter was Chinese. The student/shooter was South Korean. Irresponsible that the UK Times found it credible to mistakenly identify the shooter.
Chris, Boston, MA,
Why do we always have to blame race for these acts of pure violence. Step back and take a moment to pray to God for strength to the families during this tragic time.
The color of skin, religion or belief does not kill people. Hatred does....we all have the same color blood even though our skin may be different.
My heart goes to the families of the victims along with the family of the shooter. Tragedy holds no color, race or belief.
May God be with you all.
Deanna Bezanson, Nova Scotia, Canada
All the killing going on in Iraq, at Virginia Tech, and in many homes around the world is done by men.
I don't see anyone suggesting that men should be banned--or perhaps interned to keep them under control. If this were done, there would be few murders.
Chris Strauss, San Francisco, CAlifornia
How is it possible for a foreign national to be studying in a US university on a visa without undergoing further checking before the visa was granted? My understanding is that the US have tightened up +++ on security; does this not apply to people with entry visas to study?
It seems that individuals with troubled psychological backgrounds - which the perpetrator clearly had - have not been sufficiently monitored before he was allowed to enter the country. There is a very rigorous checking system for UK citizens - this ought surely to apply to other nations where there may not the same criteria for psychological wellbeing, and where unbalanced individuals may seek and gain entry with ease.
Kate King, Oxford, England
The USA is a gun-culture. It seems to me that they had this coming. Irrespective of the pain caused to the bereaved relatives - and my genuine concern for them - overall this is nothing more than America deserves. I'm sorry, but you've brought this upon yourselves - yet again.
John Hagen, Dunstable, UK
Not Chinese.. Koreans. But you know how we Americans do it.. We don't care what you are...if you LOOK Asian, you're going to get some back-lash. I wish that weren't true, but it's going to happen. Watch...
Marco, Dallas, TX
Of course this is a tragic situation, no question.
And of course if the shooter didn't have as easy access to the weapon(s) this would not have been as bloody.
With the current popularity of hating everything American, I'm sure we will see a huge focus put on America's culture being to blame for this.
But let's not forget that the same thing could happen with a car and a crowd, or a can of gasoline and a match, anyone who is bent on killing will.
In the same day, 100's died in motor vehicle crashes in the US and Europe alone, maybe we should realize that the news focuses on only the salicious and dramatic sometimes...
Gus, Los Angeles, USA / CA
Lay blame where it belongs, President Bush and the Republicans who back the NRA and the insane protections of the right to bear arms!!!!! We need gun control, any madman can get a gun in the society. Stop the madness!!!!!!!!
Lou, Maple City, Mi
wow
Earl Beasley, nEW yORK, usa, NY
We are a VT family and have faith in the VT system. We have two nephews on the campus and will put every one of our future generations there if they are accepted. This is not a time to check out personal agendas. It is so important we all move forward from this. No one has a crystal ball to look into and predict the consequences. One works with estimates. The security did what they did based on the information that emerged at AJ. The armed and crazed kid was loose on the campus and could have returned to AJ or any other dorm or lunch hall and done worse damage than what he did in the classrooms. We have to make a serious effort to question the "right to bear arms" vs. "right to maintain safe schools." We dont need arms and ammunitions today to get ahead in our daily lives so dont make it available so easily. Whenever we need to assert the "right to bear arms" it should be available to us but not instantly. Let this never happen again. He was just an angry kid.Dont arm him
S.Chaudhry, Herndon, Va
How many more lives will it take before America repeals it's gun laws?
These laws that made sense in the 19th century, have no place in today's world.
Samir Bharadwaj, Mumbai, India
American society, under all the veils of civilisation, is full of tragic elements, upon which the rich government never looks down.
Racial discrimination... that is what the normal people need to face everyday.
ok, san diego,
Having worked in the Security Industry for many years I have become frustrated with some of the Universities way of thinking.
I have proposed security systems that with a click of a mouse can lock down the whole campus and surveillance systems that can be monitored by Law Enforcment agencies or SWAT Teams from anywhere including their PDA's, SWAT vehicles etc. only for these proposals to be put on the back burner for more important projects like kitting out the Sports teams with the latest and greatest gear.
Its time these Universities were given minimum security requirements by a government agency and audited for compliance.
Dean Wilson, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Everyone keeps blaming the US gun laws. But, reports show the the guns he used had the Serial Numbers filed off, meaning he bought them ILLEGALLY.
Guns can be obtained illegally in any country around the world, even in the UK too.
Even if America changed it's gun laws, psychotic murderous criminals will find a way to break those laws. That's part of what makes them psychotic murderous criminals.
In the last ten years there have been school shooting all around the world, including Europe. This is not an only-in America phenomena.
Laura, New York, NY US
He was Korean, not Chinese, and it should be recognized that people of all races and ethnicities have been responsible for acts of terror.
E, Ft. Worth,
All those media which printed that the killer was a Chinese student from Shanghai without any confirmations should have the courage to apologize.
DF, arcadia, usa
I've never felt so horrified in my life. To know that the one place you're suppose to be safe, is no longer safe. School is a place where you are suppose to get along with everyone, like another home. I guess you just can't trust people anymore. This country is turning into something monsterous, and something needs to be done. My school, Conroe High, isn't the best and sometimes it's hard to feel safe in the hallways going to classes, but I pray that nothing like that will ever happen. My boyfriends friend goes there, and he hasn't heard anything from him. I hope he is alright, please keep an update, I'll be reading.
Bri, Conroe, Texas
I have scanned asian newspapers and also Korean and no mention of this Korean man and details of his origin. If he was in fact South Korean or North Korean, but I presume South Korean.
The behaviour of lone gunman loner as the Americans are now portraying this man is not atypical of an Asian male, so the motives for this massacre have other implications. Is he related to a North Korean?
d, vancouver, canada
We humans have been given these gifts..
Free will and the power to use our minds. We are using these gifts to destroy the human race and the very world we live in. What a tragic waste of a gift!
My heart aches for all the individuals , families, and friends that have been affected by this senseless tragedy. The country mourns with you!
Colleen Barlage, Mullica Hill , New Jersey
Right, then. The police at the University and at Blacksburg were unprepared. There was minimal video surveillance
to identify buildings under attack. The police protected no one, and innocent students were slaughtered. Some parents are reluctant to acknowledge the spectre of mental illness in their children, hoping the problem will resolve
itself somehow. Yesterday the problem exploded. Mental health is truly a community concern, but it begins at home.
As a Foreign Affiliate of the British Psychological Society,
I commend my colleagues in the U.K. for their efforts in this field.
Joe Roberts, Jackson, U.S.A.
Why we fight to keep our constitutional right to keep and bear arms can be expressed in one word -FREEDOM! It is the freedom that protects all others.
John Carter, Los Alamitos, California / USA
Really sad news...
Cindy, Huang, Hong Kong,
Police and the Authorties failed
Andy, Berkeley,
wow
Earl Beasley, nEW yORK, usa, NY
i feel sorry for the people that attended that college may all the victims R.I.P
leah, lisburn, northern ireland
Dear Al,
Is that all you have to say on the matter? How odd and insensitive.
Lucy, West Sussex,
In the future, this could easily be a terrorist that unleashes such mayhem. We need immigration reform now. If we give up our guns, the government will take us over in a matter of months, we can't give them up, in fact, all law abiding citizens should now be collecting weapons that could be used in case of government anarchy. If we remove guns, then in do time instead of 33 dead, there will 33,000 dead. Unfortunately guns made this country free, and will be needed again in the future, by armed citizens, to keep it free, from within and or abroad.
Matt Smith, Newark, Ohio
This USA society is responsible for this.
Although I am very sorry for those killed and their family.
The stupid and ugly performance of those American medias to direct hate towards Chinese prove for itself that this USA society is responsible for this.
If those killed really have spirit, they should realize that the hatred
is the origin of their fate.
chinese, boston,
All terrribly sad - when will the United States learn that guns kill people and by making them readily available only increases the chance that people will die like this.
tim, london,
American law on guns has gone so far ahead of itself that no matter how many innocent people are killed each year it will never be banned.Americans are split over the banning of guns and so this incident is just a minor glitch.
ELIAS AMOANI, CHADWELL HEATH/LONDON, MIDDLESEX
OMG... I think there will be racial discrimination against the chinese if it is going to be true... Hope it won't happen...
al, HK,