“We have ... ensure that the government doesn't overrule the will of the people.” Is this a joke? I mean in a democracy usually the will of the people is expressed with their vote not with a gun. It would seem to me that even if guns were not so easily available there would be someone trying to kill (in London a number of young ppl were stabbed to death), but it would be harder and the death toll would not be so high. Yes criminal would be able to obtain guns, but it would be harder for everyone else, especially for a student such as Cho. Not having so many firearms around would also reduce the number of gun related accidents; it seem unbelievable to me that Americans do not understand such a basic concept.

Peter, London,

This is a tragedy that was waiting to happen and no doubt will occur again in the future. Hasn't the USA learned already that allowing guns to be bought as easily as candy, will result in these tragedies? Guns must be banned for the general public in inner cities, this is the simple solution. In my opinion they should only be allowed in farms and rural areas where they should be properly licensed and regulated. The state has blood on its hands, laws must be changed - but, it's up to the American people to choose. I certainly would never send my son to the USA for education, it would be the same as sending him to Iraq.

Ahn Jung-Hwan, Seoul, South Korea

I feel as though there are no good answers to why this happened. To keep and bear arms is a right that we have in the US, but maybe more than just a person's criminal record should be looked at when deciding on if they are fit to own a gun. However, if we make people's mental health records available, it becomes a privacy issue. All of that aside, my fellow students who study at Va. Tech the best in their recovery. You all can know that students at U. of Kentucky pray for you.

Jacob, Lexington, Kentucky, USA

I am from Virginia and I get so tired of people bringing up the gun issue at times like this! Our governer got very angry yesterday and lashed out at some guys, telling them how wrong it was to use this tragedy to further their political agenda. Virginia has a bad rep for guns, but the guy got his permit and passed a background check (though I don't understand why he got them not being a US citizen) There is a lot of drug violence and other crimes here, sure, but if some freak with a gun is coming, do you want to be armed yourself, or not? Time and time again, it's proven that you cannot stop the bad guys from getting guns. They'll steal them or get them some crooked way. It's the innocent folks who need to protect themselves who are hurt by gun control. Guns aren't allowed in campuses, but if another person had a gun, they may have been able to shoot the crazy guy before he killed anyone else. I know it's a worn out saying but guns don't kill ppl do, do & they can use other weapons

Sue, Richmond, VA

you are absolutely horrible. do you have no respect for the dead or for the family they've left behind? going through Facebook and MySpace (both of which are extremely personal, Facebook especially) to find more information to satisfy your "readers"? This girl is DEAD, and all you want to do is harass her friends and family for more information. Go rot in hell

Serena, Lynchburg, USA/Virginia

I see that not even a horrifying tragedy like this can stop the influx of anti-American sentiment; it only serves to push them further.

Wayne summed it up quite well. If somebody is deranged enough to kill somebody else, they don't need a gun to do it. And if somebody else wants to commit a crime and they need a gun, they'll go through any illegal means to get it.

Blake, Syracuse, New York

"Why to have guns is so easy?? It´s a stupid question, I know, but I am shocked" -- previous comment.

It's simple. Here in the states we have many peculiar institutions, one of which is the National Rifle Association which spends millions each year buying the votes necessary to keep firearm ownership legal, thus protecting gun manufacturers. The buying of votes is another peculiar American institution, but that's another subject.

Sam Thornton, Burwell, Nebraska, USA

Hearing things like 'Guns do not kill people kill ; people kill' is wearisome. Lives get lost in the meanwhile whether in Virginia or elsewhere. It is difficult ot comprehend something like ' Guns are illegal there so only the criminal could have one! Thats what gun laws do." The problem is not the law; it is not enforced.In any civil society such laws, if rigorously enforced, will prevent such murders.Is it practical to expect to have around 'permitholding lawabiding gunmen' to prevent such masacres?

Acharya, Bangalore, India

I am proud to live in a country where any psycho can buy a gun.

God Bless America

Karen Kraft, Santa Cruz, CA, USA

What informs those naive souls who think that private guns can be used against the Govvernment with any hope of prevailing? Government is, indeed, defined by many as the entity with a monopoly of coercive force. Those who think otherwise are doomed to the fate of David Koresh et al. As for "will of the people", I have yet to see a head of state who doesn't think s/he personifies that "will". And sadly, guns rarely make one safe: they are as likely to be used -- on purpose or by accident -- to kill and maim family and friends. It would be nice if owners of guns were required to prove a knowledge of gun safety, and indeed the NRA sponsors excellent gun safety classes. Which they, ironically, would fiercely oppose being made mandatory.

Andy, Orlando, FL

I guess I'm stupid too, why do you have men get in a ring with a bull and get gored running with the bulls?

Seriously, nothing stops crazy people, including gun control. It just means I can't defend myself and also it keeps a government from becoming a dictatorship.

Alice, Sanford, FL USA

It is crazy that a random person can obtain a gun so easily and then use it to cause such chaos and grief to others. Why on earth are guns' legal? Is it because its the constitutional right to "bare arms"? What a pathetic excuse, society evolves. The day in which the U.S constitution was scripted was a different time. In that time people were using guns to invade and steal land from the Native Americans. It was a different time and a different generation and that is no where near where we should be today. Peace and Harmony can never be constructed as long as guns are to be found at every corner

Matt, Tipperary, Ireland

I know that american readers don't understand our puzzlement but i have to agree with Carla. Most people in the rest of the world can't understand why it is so easy to get guns in some states. Only 2 forms of Id! It's such a shame

Georgios, Athens, Greece

It seems that this tragic shooting is becomming a debate about the USA's gun laws.Virginia Tech. I understand is a "gun free" school. So 33 people were killed by this madman because NO lawful student was able to legally possess a firearm... to try and stop the carnage!! I am a former police officer who owns a Glock 9mm. Everyone in my family (wife and 2 sons) can shoot the firearm. I can carry the firearm concealed as I am a permit holder.If only someone like me was at Virginia Tech. on that fateful day.Maybe just maybe a few lives could have been saved.It's not about the gun...its the person holding it that matters.Guns are illegal there so only the criminal could have one! Thats what gun laws do.

Wayne, Kennebunkport, Maine USA

with washington firmly under the grip of the rifle association, nobody is going to bat an eyelid. It was a great publicity stunt of bush to pay his respects personally, seeing as thats all his capable of doing!!
Its so infuriating to watch Bush push pro-gun legislation through while gun rampages grow to even bigger scales.
So much for the land of the free

Shabana Saleem, London,

We have guns so we can protect ourselves, and to also ensure that the government doesn't overrule the will of the people.

Alice, Sanford, FL USA

I am so sorry about that. Why to have guns is so easy?? It´s a stupid question, I know, but I am shocked

Carla, Ferrol, Spain