While I understand that this is a horrible tragedy and have nothing but sympathy for the victims families, what i cant undestand is why people are still standing around scratching their heads asking themselves "Why would someone do this?" I am aware this man was mentally ill, it is no mystery why he did this terrible thing. He was constantly bullied and ridiculed, all because he wasnt what the "good kids" conidered "normal. He was obviuosly in pain and depressed, but the only thing people did was point and laugh, calling him weird and stupid. I'm no Phyciatrist, but I'm pretty sure thats the wrong way to go about helping someone. Oh, i forgot, It's High School. Not one "popular" or "normal" student is concerned with the well being of a "weird" student who might actually have real problems, compared to their tragedies such as their hair is too stright or too curly.

Matt E., Marbury, Alabama, USA

While I feel that there are many factors that came into play in this tragedy, one thing stands out that makes me physically sick is the bullying factor. As an adult who was bullied and tormented as a child in school, I was distraught that my own daughter faced similar issues in elementary and Jr. High school. Because of my own experience I feel that I was able to be empathetic to my own child, and thus, she was able to deal with the problem, and got through it without being terribly wounded. Yes, its the "jocks" and the cheerleaders...the "Queen Bees and Wannabees" still out there battering the self esteem of others to bolster their own self esteem. Teachers and school administrators fail to see the problem, in fact, many of them probably were in the bullying cliques in school themselves. People, that is the problem we have got to fix! Because these tormenters are the "popular" kids and "good students" their behavior is overlooked and the victim is usually blamed.

Denese, Jasper, Alabama, USA

I think a lot of you have overlooked something important. I hope PJ, Rockville of Maryland doesn't mind me copying and pasting his entry - it's too important to get lost in the dozens of comments:

"We must get back to the basics. You see someone sitting alone, join them. Don't just hello; How about how are family members doing. Let's try really being interested when someone is speaking. To be ignored is a dangerous thing!"

true.

stuart w d, Newcastle upon Tyne,

A. Brown, London writes "The shop owner is so concerned and grieving about the dead he continues to sell guns . Typical money grubbing Yanks. "

Both guns used by the killer were manufactured in Europe (Austria & Germany) and exported to the US...does that make Europeans money grabbing too?

Viv, London, England

Con Law 101: The federal government has no authority to enact the sort of gun control advocated by many here. The Constitution specifies what power the feds have. When Congress tried to restrict fire arms from school zones, the Supreme Court found that it did not have the Constitutional power to do so. Anything not specifically authorized to Congress by the Constitution devolves to one of the other branches or to local jurisdictions.

Janet from Tucson, Tucson, AZ

Why does this paper insist on calling the shooter a South Korean? The guy had been in the US since he was 8 years old and was a naturalised US citizen.

Adriano Albertazzi, Milano, Italia

itsa madness and frastratation, new generation wants to become rich and wealthy within a short time or they wants to become famouse in short time, no values, they dont know what they are doing, school teachers and their parents must teach them value of life but now its impossible because they themselves do not know those values.

satish chaphekar, Thane url, India

Bush said the student victims were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. They weren't, they were where they ought to be, in their classes. But they were victims of a gun culture that continually witnesses against the stupidity allowing these types of weapons to be available to strangers and madmen. Bad things happen when stupid people make bad laws. How many people have to die before the politicians take some responsibility. Bush ought to be leading the appologies not the eulogies.

john, Auckland, New Zealand

1. My prayers and condolences to all those affected. This was so wrong!! 2. A loner? Maybe because he was rejected for being different, ridiculed perhaps? Uni's can be cliquey, maybe all he needed was 1, just 1 friend!? 3. How is it that the average person can go and by a literal arsenal of weapons?! In a civilised society, where I'm sure we all agree that talking (basicaly democracy) should be the 1st step in any confrontation (we apply this to war so why not person to person) why should anyone feel the need to have a weapon of this kind in their possesion? 4. The problem is the mentality, the statement that "if the students had their own firearms on their person, they'd have been able to defend themselves" puts it in a nutshell!! This line of thinking is wrong and inevitably breeds more disaster!

I'm truly sorry for the events that have evolved here, but to be honest, America, you need to wake up to the problem of not only gun control, fundamental attitudes need to change too!

Julian, Bromley, Kent, UK

All this self-righteous blather about gun control is total garbage. Just like criminals in England or anywhere else, if someone is bent on committing a crime like this, they will find a gun. Guns are illegal in the UK, but gun crime remains a problem here too!!! If this sicko couldn't have obtained a gun legally, does anyone really think that he wouldn't have acquired it illegally? And the Brits who are so smug about this need to remember all the lunatics that regularly go nuts on the streets here, hacking people to death with axes and samurai swords - mostly because this pathetic penal system never kept them locked up!!! There is no room for the 'I Told You So' attitude that has been so rife since these horrible events took place in the US. This is not about gun control. Sincere condolences to those people who lost loved ones at Virginia Tech.

Moira, Lincoln,

If America is so "sick" as one of the previous writers stated, then why are so many people from around the world (including Brits) flocking to the states? Why do you people come to our country to get an education or a livable wage? As an American who has lived abroad (the UK and Germany), I see european culture as sick. You guys have lost your backbone. The people are treated like sheep by their governments. You equate tolerance with acceptance of the most abnormal elements of society.

The incident in Virginia was a terrible tragedy...committed by a sick individual. Who by the way was NOT AN AMERICAN. Nor was he representative of the typical American.

Travers, Dallas, USA

This whole thing reminds me a bit of FEMA in New Orleans.

The kid was exhibiting obvious signs of mental instability, yet no one bothered to investigate further, to offer help, treatment, whatever.

In terms of offering people in need help USA seems worse prepared than a Third world country. Little wonder it - literaly - fires back.

Hellen, NY,

>What is almost as worrying is that in the face of 32 tragic
> losses we have someone in China hopping that this does
> not harm diplomatic relations!!

>Chris Sellers, Woking, uk

Simple, Chris, Have you not read about a potential backlash against Korean / Asian communities in the US in the aftermath of the tragic massacre? As for diplomatic relations, initial reports soon after the shootings had led some newspapers to claim that the shooter was a Chinese who had recently obtained his visa to study at VTech. Knowing how Sino-US relations can easily deteriorate, it is no wonder that "someone in China" (no, not me!) had voiced his or her fears. Try to think out of the box sometimes, Chris!
P.S. I bet this reply would not be published in full if at all. The Times seems to censor all my viewpoints in "Have Your Say"!

Yang, Shanghai, China

Younghyun Kim, I can honestly say that the attitude towards Koreans and asians in general will not change due to this incident. I am not trying to be patronising or say what you may want to hear, its the simple truth.

We see this weird troubled kid as just an insane psychotic person who snapped for no apparent reason. The vast majority of spree killers in the US are white americans, and we've seen crazy murderers of other races, including black and hispanic. Very few asians though, which is a bit odd in itself. This week, the way most of us see it, the psycho just happened to be Korean, which is a bit of an odd footnote to the tragedy, but nothing more.

If this kid had come from the middle-east, it would be a completely different story, I can only imagine the serious repercussions if that had been the case.

Aaron, Des Moines, IA, USA

If you can imagine the absolute trauma and devastation that has been caused by one killer on a university campus, can you imagine how the Iraqis feel with several hundred thousand armed US soldiers in their country. The trauma caused by weapons and sadists takes years to recover from, if ever. Guns kill, they are designed to kill, they are built for no other purpose. No one should be allowed guns.

FJL, Bethesda, Maryland

it is sad, i hope most American, when they go to church, prey for both the above people and people of Iraq.
The American's must be more ashamed of the number of people killed in Vietnam and the after effect it has even to present day.

harry maru, hayes, uk

If you don't regulate yourself, then you wind up with a government that will regulate you. We shouldn't need the president to tell us what programs we can and can not watch, or what we can buy at the store. We all need to be reprogrammed to think in a more loving, caring way. I do believe Cho's parents bear some of the blame here. He was conditioned over a period of years to become the way he became. Thousands of children, teens and adults are severely oppressed and they don't do such things. We Americans need to truly be more engrossed in God and family in a healthy way and not so much into looks and material things and status. MY PRAYERS GO OUT TO THE LOVED ONES OF THE VICTIMS. THOUGH OUR SOCIETY HAS FAILED YOU, GOD WILL NOT.

Celia, Liverpool, New York

You English should not talk about things you don't understand. It's scary how jealous you are of the US and the desperate, pathetic need you all have to jump on anything negative and exploit it to make yourselves feel better for being painfully inferior.

You keep on hating and we'll keep on doing what we do (for far less than half the time you've been around), inventing things, putting out the world's leaders, and generally just being in charge of everything.

Ellen, Colorado, United States

I think it's the problem of the national mind. It's the psicological problem. What the boy of another, not american culture can do? It's the question of adaptation. But it's really very difficult to feel yourself perfectly in the USA if you are a stranger. Nothing about The Green card - all about the mind and the cultural mental, asian mental. It's my opinion.

Kora, St Petersburg, Russia

Hate the players, not the game. Of course in Europ we have our own issues, but we don't shout all over the place that we ruled the world.... And Pete, sun DOES set on the US empire.

Wants to talk about your foreign policie and Irak? Al quaida? 9/11?

Matteo, Dublin,

I'm simply stunned that anyone can seriously try to equate mass murder with psychiatric drugs? The reason so many killers of this type are on medication when they commit their crimes is that they are exceedingly ill - the underlying illness causes the problem, not the drugs. Pharmaceutical companies are in many respects amoral parasites, but to blame them for this kind of tragedy is just bizarre. Stricter gun control would help, but not eradicate this kind of incident; if someone really wants to get hold of a weapon, they will. Sadly this kind of violent pathology is just an inherent part of human nature.

James, London, UK

If he had not had a gun, fewer people would have died.

Jon, London,

i think the U.S has some major issues.The gun laws are entirely illogical and bazarre. How does being a citizen with a clean record entitle you to possess a gun?! You have five hundred dollars and you are able to take thirth lives?! You may boast that this reflects liberty but is it really freedom on the part of the innocents who were just hoping to lead a normal day of their lives before they get randomly shot down?! I seriously hope that the government does something about this and if they don't then they are merely encoraging such acts further.

Human Rights, Egypt,

Why can't the gun sellers have access to information about people who have been judged "imminent danger to others?" My goodness, we have better control on people with bad credit!

Diane Schmoller, Madison, WI

But i don't think so. From other side, Cho's crime is just an accident. There's one time for many years, so how can we make this in control? The government? The murder? There's no solution to terminate.

Tonny, Guilin, China

As much as I have every sympathy for Cho`s victims,a mere 32 were killed. Compare this with the 200 plus killed today in Iraq and the dozens killed almost daily in Iraq as a result of the utter stupidity of Blair and Bush. Bush as the servant of the oil giants,and Blair as his lapdog. People get upset about American lives lost,are not the women and children of Iraq just as valuable?
7 lives lost for every American life. All by mindless violence,all avoidable deaths.

Stan, Adelaide, S.A.

The government of this country had better sit up and check the emerging gun and knife problem before we wake up to this sort of news at our own doorstep instead of pushing the problem to "the black community".

ade, london, uk

Does America not see the absurdity of allowing the private purchase of firearms? Why was his medical history, including the counselling sessions, not insisted upon being checked by the seller? How many other guns have disturbed students , or even perfectly sane ones, secreted around university campus? This is a woeful tragedy, and is even more excruciating as it is just another in a long line of similar incidents. When will the US government finally push through the reforms and laws that will stop this happening?

Lee Vessey, Barnetby, UK

see chow stupid people is.....
ha ! so, who's next?

master, port, minnesota

So what was he taking? (for his "depression")

bruce, edmonton , canada

I believe that the gun laws are too poor, i mean anyone could walk in and buy guns and ammo to their hearts content. These killings only back my view that the law is doing nothing on the gun laws. Cho Seung Hui I believe must of been having problems which no one was trying to help him with, if so he must of got so annoyed with them that he snapped causing him to kill his classmates in this brutal killings. It's also possible that the law failed to add 2+2 in time to save these students so the law better buck up in the meantime and try that bit harder.

Nicholas Crampton, Rendleshum, Suffolk

Just a quick comment to Marlene, Alexandria, VA, USA, you say 10% of the population owns a handgun, so that's 30,000,000 people (half the population of the UK, and the entire population of Australia) which doesn't sound entirely accurate to me considering that there is over 200,000,000 (two hundred million) guns in circulation in the continental USA. So even if 75% (3/4) of people don't own a gun, 75 million do (more than the population of Turkey, France, 2 and a half times the population of Canada). The question is - who are you angling for a fight with??

Chris, Leeds,

Dear Wes

Having lived most of my life in London where my home has been burgled twice, where I have been assaulted in the street twice, where I have been mugged, where I have been sexually assaulted and where I have been, on numerous occassions, racially abused, I find it laughable that you even think about criticising another country about morality. We have one of the highest crime rates in the world and gun crimes are on the increase despite guns being banned. Having spent much time in America I can say I feel much safer there than in the streets of London.

Viv, London, England

This is what happens when you pick on kids. My heart goes out to all the victims of this shooting but also to the gunman himself. You have to be incredibly screwed up to do sometrhing like that and have to have gone through some awful things to even contemplate doing that let alone carrying it out.

Visitor, London,

Has anyone actually read his play? It's disturbing! Surely University Counseling must have been all over this guy?

I think a good example of why there should be stricter gun laws is what's happening in London. Certain types of people carry knives for "defense". Others feel forced to carry them, as without a knife they are vulnerable to those with knives. However, serious stabbings have risen, especially, it seems, in situations where (without knives) a fight might well have happened, but been non-lethal.

My point is, you are never going to stop people fighting, trying to kill others/ themselves, but you can limit the damage. Arrest and punish people carrying knives, less people carry them. Does not mean less fights will happen, just mean less fatal/ serious injuries.

If gun control was tightened in America, similar horrific events might well occur, but would not be as tragically lethal. Imagine if combat-level handguns were banned. Would be hard to kill 32 people with a revolver.

Luke, Farnham, England

Agreed with Gerald Cassidy, I have extremely often seen it mentioned that someone - a woman who has killed her husband and 5 children in the States, and a Chinese woman in Japan last autumn, who killed two little children she was supposed to take to the kindregarten, and actually others that I cannot recall exactly - they all had it, "recently treated for depression". In fact, in Japanese newspapers I rread a warning saying that people who undergo anti-depression treatment should be vigilantly looked after because they tend to show a suicidal tendency some time after starting the treatment. Suicide is violence against oneself, but it can turn out the other way round - violence towards others before returning to oneself.

A different sort of treatment, more of a counselling or something natural - might have prevented this tragedy!

Elena, Fukuoka, Japan

Part of the problem is the stigma that attaches to mental illness. People who are sufficiently in control for sectioning to be inappropriate, but very marginal, will refuse treatment at the first opportunity, and parents and family may agree.

Malcolm McLean, Bradford, UK

Once again there were very clear warnings that this person was dangerous....very dangerous.....and once again, the "authorities" ignored the warnings in any serious manner. We all know the recent tragic result. Unfortunately it will happen again in America and elsewhere in the world. When are the "authorities" going to finally listen and try to prevent the next gun related tragedy to occur?

David Ayers, Elkton, Maryland

I accuse this entire liberal, degenerate, modern society, in Europe and America for throwing away responsible freedom for libertarianism, common sense for psychobabble, punishment for parole, vigilance for touchy-feely trust, censorship for consumerism, and repression of criminals for criminal tolerance. Where else could the Sneeze of Death have squashed a whole family with his lorry and have only gotten fined 2,000 £? All the serious accusations made about this Virginia Tech sociopath were ignored by a sociopathic society.

Eugene, Heidelberg, germany

Please, it's nothing to do with 'hate America'. If it were, why would we want your young people to live? They're the innocent ones in this massacre.
It seems obvious that if you allow unfettered access to guns there will be more gun crime and more people killed.

I guess we all get the laws we deserve.

Rosemary , London, UK

Dear citizens of the USA,

What I, and many others not from the USA, are expressing is not a desire to tell you what to do (i.e. control the distribution of guns) but rather astonishment that you cannot see the answer for yourselves.

From many of the comments below, it seems that many Americans simply cannot countenance even a remote possibility that free and unfettered access to handguns might be causing more of your fellow countrymen to die violent gun deaths than in other countries.

Yes, there have been massacres in other countries with tighter gun controls. Yes, people die in gun-related deaths in other countries with tighter gun controls. But you simply cannot ignore the fact that there are more such incidents in the USA than anywhere else in the world.

I suspect that the rest of the world, like me, looks to the USA, shakes its head and asks: How, in the face of such eveidence, can so many people be so sure that this right to bear arms is right, just and good.

Wes, London, UK

You should be able to put $1 billion dollars worth of heroin and cocaine on a New York City street and it shouldn't go anywhere. You should be able to put 1 million hand guns in the street and no one should get shot. When are we Americans, especially our politicians going to wake up and understand and care enough? It's not about gun control. This kid and the kids at Columbine and the kid who shot and killed people at the mall would just plant bombs if they couldn't get guns. We have to kill the demand. God only knows what's going on with people raising their children and why their turning out like this. We need to get people like Anthony Robbins and set up programs at all levels in the schools, to reprogram people to think better of themsel ves and others and to handle their fear and anger better.

Celia, Liverpool, New York

Guns for sale over the counter will go on and on ..further news reports of deaths.
All in the name of GREED pay now KILL later !!Just another Friendly local store making money!....
USA politicians have much to answer for in this latest tragedy yet again...Therefore step up and enforce new gun laws.
world media blame the killer WHO armed him?
God bless the 30 souls lost

dan, london, uk

I can understand how these unfortunate events occur in America more often than in any other western country. America where only the rich and beautiful are successful put unwarrented presssure on the poor average kid. One only has to look at any america drama series, all good looking, rich succesful people, are there no ordinary people in America?
tom, London, UK

Tom, you *do* understand the difference between television shows/films and reality, do you not? Not all Americans run up and down the beach in swimsuits in slow motion all day long, nor are we all crime-solving lab technicians with Botoxed faces or tough New York City cops with gruff exteriors and hearts of gold. And what really should have clued you in that it's fantasy is that in "The West Wing," the president is intelligent. Too many Europeans not only fall for comical stereotypes of Americans, they buy them wholesale from our entertainment media.

T. Roth, Danbury, Connecticut, USA

The package was not sent to a "TV station." It was sent to the NBC network headquarters. Saying it was sent to a TV station is like saying someone who works at McDonald's headquarters in Oak Brook, Illinois works at a "fast food restaurant."

Chuck Roast, New York,

ismail ax is the name of the demon that spoke to cho...which is the same demon that spoke to the other similar murders thru out this world's history. so who do u know in this world's history that casted out demons like throwing paper in the fire...? it is obvious that this same demon likes to shoot up places where this demon hunter is not present...hmmm?

sunia, compton, calif/usa

Just a quick one to Marlene, Alexandria, VA, USA, you say 10% of the population own a handgun, by my reackoning thats about 30,000,000 people (about the population of Canada) and there are over 200,000,00 (two hundred million) guns in circulation. Even if 75% of the population dont own any sort of gun 75 million still do (thats more than the entire opoulation of the UK, France, Italy, Turkey). Who are you afraid of?? who do you want a fight with, 75 million people armed to the teeth, ever heard of the term "overkill". also, before you start talking about british citizens blowingthemselves up in the nam of terror, lets not forget people like Timothy McVeigh, Waco or the amish tragedy -

The UK has approx 4000(ish) guncrimes a year and a population of 60 mill, compare that with 475000(ish) guncrimes (118.75 times the level of guncrime) in the US and a population of 300 mill (5 times the size of the UK), i think the numbers speak for themselves.

Chris, Leeds, UK,

It amazes me how many non-americans feel they know what is best for our country and that we should change OUR constitution to reflect THEIR laws. The fact is most Americans are deeply suspicious of any change to the constitution. You must admit it has overall served us well for 200 years.
Many of us do believe stricter measures should be taken such as psychological testing before someone is approved and you will likely see some such measures being taken in some districts after this. This will likely remain in the various states hands.
One thing I would love to point out is that as Americans we are constantly hammered for not being accepting enough of other cultures/customs/beliefs. It seems it's not just us. The fact is the 2nd amendment is very much ingrained in American culture and is not going anywhere. This was a case of a sick individual. Please do not use this to further your -I hate the US- agenda. We are well aware of that already. Let us bury our dead in peace.

Valerie, cleveland,

What happened is a great tragedy.
It is important to learn from what happend and do our best so this will not happened again, anywhere!
My thoughts and feelings go out to the victims and their families and loved ones.
There are so many reasons for USA to make the gun control better; it should not be so easy to get weapons!
Weapons do not make the world a better place!

Bjarne, Silkeborg, Denmark

No ONE is to blame but we are ALL responsible. Community means 'together we serve' and this is a time for community renewal rather than finger pointing; for as we point one finger at others we point three at ourselves. Look to the general breakdown tracked by (e.g. Harvard)researchers into the decline of 'social capital'. Be-that-as- it-may an America that lives by the sword shall have more of these incidents - remember your eagle and revisit the very laurels you wish to export as the 'City on the Hill' - look away from the 'shoot first think later 'policy evinced in Iraq. Spend your $US350B on social restructuring, not blasting the Arabs back to B.C. A recent 'Foreign Policy' said the US basic emotion is fear ... if the politicians rule by fear it is bound to filter down to feeble minds like Mr Cho. Time to set a better tone; a caring community that is once again respected by the world as a friend and neighbour - not a noxious and capricious deliverer of death - for what?

Pierre Beautrais, Beijing, China

There isn't a whole lot that we can do "after the fact". When people are deeply disturbed, as Cho's professor worried, it is important we have the resources to ask the right questions and try to help. This was obviously done to some degree, as it was stated that he had been on anti-depressants, but we cannot be all knowing and all seeing.
I saw a snippet of President Bush's statement regarding "cracking down" on criminals. This also does not relate in any way to this situation. Apparently, Cho was a man with a speeding ticket. Are we going to go totalitarian and lock absolutely everyone down or monitor everyone's movements? I think not. This is absolutely absurd to even the youngest minds of this free country.
It is up to you and me, society not government, to be as aware of our surroundings as possible while assuring that we do not slip into paranoia or overreact. As America grows, it is up to us to Care about EVERYONE and not put Hate, or Alienation, or simple dislike first.

Tony, Eagan, MN

I Live in America Chicago, Ilinois for every one on earth here what I want to say is the guns in american cities go hand in hand with the drugs unemployment take Detorit for example car plant closes guess what VIOLENCE on the street see what you people around the world need to understand is that its a high price for Freedom like we have in the states I mean just two weeks ago in Milwaukee, WI the (dairy Land)LOL a white guy at a gas station busy time of day 3:00pm to be exact busy street on a wensday GUNNED down because a 15 year old male wanted his wallet the guy didnt give it to him and well you know how the story ends the man is DEAD! America was built on VIOLENCE and will destory its self and every one on earth with our arrogance. Dont get me wrong I love being from amercia but lets just say I dont know where im from get it my people were brought over on boats to be used and abused for 400 years see built on violence will destory its self by violence.Lordhavemercy!

Professor Truth, Chicago, IL

Im sorry to say that when i saw this story on the news the other day I wasn't particularly shocked or surprised. Stories like this are becoming so common now they are no longer as shocking as they once were because we see news reports of shootings, stabbings and bombs everyday we are becoming desensatised to violence which is a sad thing.
That goes for the war in Iraq as well, everyday hundreds of people are dying and its not even headline news anymore.
Condolances to the families of all the victuims, including the parents of Cho

B, London,

Oh please. Violent rap music and video games. Or is it Americas gun
toting violent past. We have heard all the excuses before. Funny that
England and France have the same video games and same rap music
we do and I can't think of two countries with more violent pasts. We as
Americans need to realize that there is something fundamentally wrong
with our society. What it is who knows, but one cant help but wonder why
these things keep happening here. Fear and consumption, fear and consumption.

Todd, Denver, Colorado/ USA

This is one of the most saddest, disturbing things I can really ever say has marked me deeply. My thoughts are with the families and students involved, so many innocent people killed. It makes you lose your faith in the world.

Gemma, Wiltshire,

its a madness of society, and a picture of todays ugly society, from to bottom everyone become selfish, and self conentrated, our society is responsible for that.

satish chaphekar, Thane url, India

The Virginia Tech mass homicide is a problem of improper access to a firearm by an individual suffering from mental illness. It is not symptomatic of a general problem intrinsic to private firearm ownership.

If a general problem with the private possession of firearms existed in the States, then why did the Virginia Tech story become such big news? If there really is a problem with the individual ownership of firearms, then considering the huge number of firearms currently in private possession (millions), wouldn't we expect to experience mass homicides much more frequently, maybe every week or two? Shouldn't there be a veritable epidemic of mass killing? The fact that we do not experience frequent mass shootings is why these extremely infrequent episodes make the news cycle and shock us at all. It's far more likely one will be injured or killed by an automobile than a firearm. Why not ban automobiles since they're incredibly lethal, or maybe aircraft since they can hit buildings?

Thomas, Atlanta, GA, USA

It is re-assuring from the comments made from all over the world that most people abhor and extend sincere condolences with lhose loved ones who have lost family in Virginia, and of course the on-going Iraq and Dafur bombings

It remains disappointing that there continues to be those who compare what has happened to the Iraq conflict with the Virginia massacre.

The USA and their allies have got themselves in a mess in Iraq, but the setlling of olds scores amongst Shia and Sunni's plus the complete barbarism of other extremists cannot be blamed on US and Allies.

The USA is no angel and it's foreign policies like those of Iran and the UK has often been wrong as history proves, but this is a time for prayer and hope for peace wherever hate and evil raises it's head.

Gavin, London, UK

One thing to consider is the effects of environmental toxins on Cho's development. For instance, his parents ran a dry-cleaner shop. One of the previous chemicals in dry-cleaning is perc. Here is an excerpt of the effects of perc: "Chronic, non-cancerous effects from inhalation include neurological effects, impairments in cognitive and motor neurobehavioral functioning". These effects are worse in exposure to children. Just one thing to think about in Cho's poor psychiatric condition.

Claudia, Atlanta, USA

dave, of Washington, DC, points a watch-dog finger at typical media scapegoats, but as is usual in this country, neglects to remark on the state of psychological alienation between Gen X and Y. There is, amongst the 18-25 set (especially male), a growing apathy twords both family and social interatction brought about by being raised with the television set as a nanny. But whereas dave has uncovered the culprit, he sadly misrepresents the cause: Exceptionally Bad Parenting.

Buck, Seligman, MO

I can't believe what someone just wrote; it seems the problem is actually not guns but music and playstations.
I struggle to understand how evoking arms and violence can encourage violence more than actually guns available for sale in supermarkets.
Apropos the more relaxed gun control laws in Europe, this is news to me and somebody will do all of us a favour by mentioning a single one (Chechnya and Bosnia excluded).
The fact that any psyco is able to have access to guns is alarming. The current legislation in the US does allow essentially all people, including the mentally ill to turn their occasional delusion (which in other parts of the world are controlled by a healthy dose of Prosac) into a mass killing.
Instead of banning rap and videos for kids, someone should thing about wiser solutions

Clay , San Francisco,

The entertainment industry is too often blamed for violence in society even though countries like Japan are famous for the violent nature of its video games & movies, & yet violent crime is rare there (there is a clear delineation between the cartoonish violence of Hollywood & the reality). There needs to be an urgent review regarding the ease at which guns guns can be acquired (check out Michael Moore's Bowling For Columbine for example). The NRA is a strong lobby group in the US, so it's highly unlikely that the 'right to bear arms' will be suspended. Most importantly, as a psychologist, I would urge communities to invest in support services to combat depression, & other symptoms of alienation suffered by many people, for a variety of intricate reasons.

Dion, Dublin, Ireland

Time to divide America up between the rest of the world. There is something a bit perverse about having metal detectors fitted at schools.

Alfonso Parelli, London, UK

to sk8rgurl, amsterdam, the fool who blames the guys parents - they are not directly responsible for the actions of their son. He was obviously disturbed, this was appparent to more ppl than just them. Responsibility shouldnt just lie with the parents. We must bring an effective procedure by which incidents like this are not only pre-empted, but actually resolved. Why was he allowed to buy a gun despite mental health problems, in fact why was he allowed to buy a gun regardless. People with the quickfire judgements against his parents and his ethnic community (i am not s.korean or asian) should stop and think, such massacres are carried out by a wide demographic. We as a society ( i am not american) need to wake up and smell the coffee this guy should have been helped a long time ago. I do not feel sorry for him, but he was obviously troubled. My thoughts go out to all of the victims families

Pierre Alexander, London, Middlesex

Take the guns away and what does that accomplish? Nothing! You either get them illegally or you can kill with vehicles and bombs, terrorists prove this all the time. The man was mentally ill and had all the red flags of a mass murderer deemed by an expert criminologist. This is not just people making comments of an "outsider" or a "loser." The man's behavior was disturbing to the point that teachers and roommates shared their concerns to the police. We are not talking about a normal individual who was tormented until he was deranged we are talking about an individual with serious mental health problems.

I don't understand hatred of countries and people on an emotional level. I don't hate countries and I try hard not to hate in general. I don't even hate the killer in this article but it does make me sad that our society failed to get him help. Love thy neighbor. A simple commandment I try to live by. It saddens me to hear such derogatory comments directed to my nation.

Kathy, Tampa, Proud to be an American

First of all please let me express the greif and sadness that i feel. This was was a terrible tragedy that i wish would have never happened but it did. Having said that I would also like to express a few thoughts and experiences.
1) I am a person who suffers from chronic depression. I have had a major tragedy in my life, my daughter was taken from me by a state that does not recognize she has civil rights. I went into a major nervous breakdown. I know how that feels and let me tell u its not pretty. 1 out of ever 1,000 people suffer from depression (or so i have heard) in some form or another its not uncommon.
2) Instead of concentrating on the race of the person who committed this terrible act why don't we stop and think about his family who is now suffering a terrible thing in loosing their child. About the families of the victims who were killed by this person who was ignored and put aside because no one could bother to listen for a while to a person who may have been burdened.

Brenda, Phoenix, AZ

In the news here today, Cho's latest roommate was extensively interviewed. This guy, who seemed like friendly guy, a foreign student himself I believe, said that he and his three other roommates tried very hard to be friendly to Cho in the beginning and talk to him and ask him questions. He said Cho barely responded and ignored them, so after a month or two, the roommates just gave up trying to be friendly and ignored him back. I also had a mentally ill person in my family who spent much time alone and we also tried to reach out to him, basically to no avail and we were always rebuffed. Such extreme antisocialness is not the result of "bullying" or people who weren't friendly enough, but mental illness. "Friendliness" would have made little difference. I agree with many that I wish we had a more agressive system here in the US to identify the mentally ill and force them to receive more treatment.

Claudia, Atlanta, USA

I love the heart felt feelings toward us in our time of hurt, then the backhand about our society with knowledge based on Hollywood movies. Its as if the world thinks every American carries guns and shoots up the saloon. What is this crazy talk overseas about a "backlash" against the Korean communties? With so many people here from all over the world i didnt think of him being anything but American. He was a disturbed, sick child. No gun shop owner would know that and he planned it out for weeks.
My home is miles out in the country. The USA is a huge place. Like at Virginia Tech, it would take a bit of time for the police to get there. If i was to rely on the state for protection I would be dead by the time they got here. So, like 80 million other Americans, I registered with the government and I have a gun. There is a whole other America outside of Hollywood movies, NYC and L.A. We are just people living and working like others over the globe. Get to know us people first.

William Carson, Loxley, Alabama, USA

The right to bear arms by other students would have prevented these deaths. The second amendment is vital.

Sara, helena,

Those that continually say that now is the time to grieve and pay our respects...can you not see that most people are able to commit to more than one task at once...can we not sympathise, yet act to create change at the same time? A tragedy occured. We can never know the true reason for this isolated incident, but we can endevour to change any aspect that may have contributed. If we focus on the right to bear arms, if we accept this right, as it is unlikely to change soon, then maybe make the rules tighter across the nation, enforce the laws more heavily. The greatest act of kindness and understanding in our capacity as humans that we could show to those victims and their families is to work together instead of fighting in order to help change the world in which we live in; ensuring no others are put into their position.

Hephzibah Perry, Cheltenham, United Kingdom

He was a very sad person who hadn't got appropriate attention and treatment. According to the reports, he had shown mental conditions, which were not dealt properly. Physical illnesses get attentions while mental problems get easily ignored. We need to take this serious. Otherwise this kind of tragedy can happen anywhere and anytime.

Sookyeon, Seoul, S. Korea

When rage and frustration ferment within a twisted perception of life's misplaced realities,it unleashes venom of a mad and manic order.This kind of mental aberration was frighteneing enough and he should not even have been on the campus.If he had a `mental history 'it should have been dealt with off campus and not on it.The sadness about personal vendetta is its denigrating and devastating degrees of damage.The worst damage can be that of wanting to get even.then even American Universities must have the power to be able to tell an Asian that he cannot partake of its education and curriculum and culture.After all education in an American University is a privilege,it must never be allowed to turn into a prejudice that becomes a perogative of power.This is senseless killing!

uma nair, delhi, india

It is time that the Europeans get off their high horses! Yes, it is easier is some states (not all) to purchase handguns. But 3/4ths of US adults do not own handguns. A great percentage of the US population would like to see changes that further tighten the laws. But if you knew something about our system of government, you would know that the process to change or add an amendment to the US constitution is a complicated procedure.

You don't see American sport fans running rampant at events. What is the percentage of minorities in France's elected government. France has a simmering racial problem. Perhaps they could learn from our experiences 40 years ago. Does France have an Affirmative action program. Does the French government require a percentage of contracts for agencies working with the government come from minority-owned firms. British citizens carrying bombs tried to commit mass murder on the subway. No country is perfect.

Marlene, Alexandria, VA, USA

To Clare in Ireland,


Purchase of guns is regulated by state, not by the country. Each of the 50 states maintains its own laws regarding gun purchases. Some states have strigent laws. Vermont is one of those states. On the other side of the coin, Virginia's law is lax. One can purchase a handgun every 30 days. But may I remind everyone: less than 10% of the US population owns a handgun!

But it would be difficult for Congress to pass stronger legislation due to the Constitution's Second Amendment. Pigs would have to fly before this Amendment is overturned.

Marlene, Alexandria, VA, USA

All killed were beautiful and innocent. My heart and love goes out to them, their relatives, friends and loved ones. Cho Seung Hui committed a heinous crime, but the fact that he was not confined to a mental instition when a judge ruled he was an "imminent danger to others" is equally disturbing. Why do we live in such a world where we can't trust our own judgement and judges? Our society has some very troubling, deeply rooted issues that need to be treated, positively and well.

It's all very sad. His death was swift, pain lasting only for a short moment, but he will recieve the ultimiate judgement by the ultimate Judge. Justice will be served.

Aura , Gainesville, FL

There must be some underlying reason why America does not make the purchasing of guns more difficult with more checks on mental health. Guns and bullets should be MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE. Supposing every gun cost many thousands of dollars and every bullet cost, say $1,000. How many students could afford that. I know it would make a few people very rich but heck, if the gun shops were properly regulated and the guns were highly taxed, the money would go back to the community.
Question - Why does America not even try to address this problem of guns in the community? People in high places with vested interests?

A Browne, VA, USA

Qutoting one poster: "I thank God I live in Europe where we know how to create a more civilised society."

I have lived in both American and Europen societies. What a silly statement. I would presume coming from a person never living beyond thier borders.

This is a tragedy - pure and simple. Many things could have been done to avoid it and I hope my country learns from it. All of our countries, Eastern or Western have suffered from avoidable tragedies. To point fingers and criticize is not the proper reaction. But to support.

brian, Atlanta, ga, usa

10 articles about Virginia, 1 about more than 170(!!!!) people blown up in Baghdad.

Figures.

starling, Lancaster,

Everyone is looking to point fingers. Lets all realize that the facts point in the direction of this person being mentally ill. Guns aren't bad. Bad people with guns do bad things. We need more extensive gun control if anything. The movies are not bad either. People who use the ficticous violence as a motivator have the issues. Why should everyone have to suffer a consequence for what one troubled indavidual accomplished. My condolences to the love and lost. Best wishes.

Arthur Cox, Fullerton, CA

Less than 10% of Americans have handguns Three fourth of American adults do not own a gun! This has nothing to do with music or violence in video games (which are played throughout the world). This has to do with a sick individual who never got the help he needed. He was an adult. A very sick adult.

Marlene, Alexandria, VA, USA

I dont believe in guns. Why is it that in America you have to be a certain age to buy a beer, but you only have to be 18 to buy a hand gun or a rifle!!!!! I think the law in America should be changed. If the law made it harder for people to get guns, there would not be as many people with them. Also this man was an American, but whatever race he was from, what he did was wrong. My thoughts are with the people that died, and more so for the people who survived, they will have to live with the memories forever. The Police should have done more and acted quicker.

claire, wexford, ireland

Twelve years ago, a sixteen year old boy went on a shooting rampage in the high school I graduated from. He killed two people, including a former English teacher of mine. He held 26 students hostage for six hours, while the police negotiated his surrender. He was an abused kid, who happened to have access to his father's gun. His was a very sad story, but nobody would have been shot had he not had a gun available to him.

The year before I was born, my first cousin loaded a gun and shot his brains out in my grandparent's home. He was thirteen. Perhaps, my cousin would be alive today had he not had a gun available to him that day.

America's love affaird with the gun is an obscenity. It is an ugly part of our "culture."

Watts Taylor, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

Everyone acts like gun control would be able to change here with a quick snap of someone's finger. This isn't an issue that can just be voted on during an election. It is in the constitution and that cannot just be changed. Then when you have the right wingers who interpret their right to bear arms (although I do like bare) the way they do with the support of the NRA it isn't easy. The only thing we can do is elect government officials who support our views.
Also as someone who previously worked in a store that sold firearms I know the process that buyers have to go through to attain guns in my state. Each state is different though which should be changed to be the same everywhere. You cannot get a gun as easy as you can get candy like one poster notes. It is not that simple. However if there is a person who does not have any prior criminal record the background report will not come up negative on them. There are other measures in place but they only can prevent so much.

Kevin M, Bloomington, IL, USA

Dear Ann of Pueblo, USA

1. It's easy to be top of the aid table when your the worlds richesty nation. The US gives a stingy amount as a percentage of its GDP - less than 0.5%!

2. The London bombers used a mixture of hydrogen peroxide & flour - commonly available ingredients

3. The bomb that blew up Pan Am 103 over Lockerbie was boarded in Malta

4. Fox hunting with hounds has been banned. (cos you are right - it was entertainment for the elite minority only)

The UK has plenty of problems but if you're going to criticise please get your facts straight!!!!

Colin H , Lancs, UK,

Yesterday I posted a comment that stated the guns were probably obtained illegally and that Cho's murder rampage would not have been affected by any changes in our gun law structure.

I humbly retract my statement. This morning I discovered Cho had purchased the 9mm Glock through a legitimate dealer and had been unstable for some time. This changes my feelings about this ordeal.

My previous stance on this subject was in error. Obviously, there IS something wrong with our gun laws in the sense the laws were obeyed and such an event still happened.

We need to rethink our gun restrictions. You need to know this is coming from a person who has been very pro-gun for a very long time. Maybe you are right in the U.K.

But there will be awesome resistance. Something this engrained into the American psyche will not change easily or overnight. Give us some time, please.

James P, Sacramento, California

this will happen again and will continue to happen until america changes it's gun laws. if guns don't kill people but people do kill then we have one of two options. we either remove all people or remove all guns. which is easier? there is much to admire about america but there is much for america to change. why should a college student have the right to buy a 9mm pistol? what is he going to hunt with that? i just don't see why the majority of people in america cannot see the correlation between their ludicrous gun laws and the propensity for mass murder at educational establishments. this is exactly the time to debate it and exactly the time to change it. i would be petrified if i thought my neighbour owned a gun or the guy i had an argument with in a bar or someone else who may be unhinged but fortunate enough not to have a criminal record. laws chage continually, why can't these amendments? this amendment is no longer valid and has caused suffering, pain and death. wake up america.

andy, newcastle,

How in the the world could a gun shop sold few weeks ago a firearm to this sick guy?

I know that almost anyone in the US. can purchase a firearm but it should be like in others countries (i.e. in my country) where the buyer need to PASS a psychological exam performed by the police or a mental health institute. Also since civilians can not keep or bare firearms without permission, one from the Armed Forces is Requiered!

In my country, every certain time police pulls over cars in any street or avenue and search you for guns and if you have one and don't have the permit, they take te arm and I belive you can go to jail (I'm not sure since I do not need to carry one).

So if there is a psycho or angry person who wants to buy a gun to go and KILL PEOPLE, by the time he takes the exam and gets the permit by the Armed Forces, he migh have cooled down a bit... Don't you think so?

Andres, Guayaquil, Ecuador

Apparently, in Europe, "common sense" is an oxymoron. I get so outraged every time I hear some whiny little socialist/communist crying about how guns are responsible for crimes. Maybe they prefer suicide bombers or gas chambers instead. Since banning gun ownership, Washington D.C. has become the murder capitol of the U.S. Statistics show that for every gun crime committed in the U.S., approximately 8-10 crimes are prevented because the intended "victim", usually a business or home owner, was ARMED.
History lesson..........anyone? The first thing any evil empire or dictator does is to disarm it's citizens. Then you lower their educational standards. Next you keep them preoccupied with mindless games. Finally, you give them all the "free" government handouts (health care, food stamps, welfare, social "security", condoms, drug needles........). Now you own and control them, for without your "generosity" they shall be lost. MWAWHAHA !!!!!

Good luck my fellow SHEEP

Kevin, Vancouver, Canada

The assassin's list of dysfunctional behaviour had been red flagged to authorities not once but numerous times. Those in charge were complacent and the results are worse than terrible. Adolph Hitler's parents were also called in by the school authorities to discuss their son's dysfunctional behaviour. His parents were in denial and refused the remedial help This resulted in the greatest humanitarian crime of all ages, the Holocaust. Did the killer's parents witness any abnormal behaviour? Have we as human beings stooped so low in the 'I'm alright Jack stakes' that when the tell tale signs are hitting us between the eyes, we walk away for fear of 'getting involved'.....common sense aint so common anymore!

Jeanette Grace, London, United Kingdom

Any foreigner with an accent, or apparent different physical features,who lived in America recently can attest to the fact that the American Society is moving away from the inclusionary "melting- pot" society to the xenophobic exclusionary one.This became very evident after 9/11.You sense it in every day dealings,you see it on t.v. sit -com's ,you hear it on radio's talk shows.You can expect it, and feel it,as many Americans lament the lack of gratitude they received on 9/11.Many Americans will tell you:( we accepted them in our schools,we supported them,we were good to them,and what did we get in return?) .
This problem becomes particularly hard on second generation immigrants,who were born,raised and went to school here.They are American in every way,and they expect total equality from their peers,but their physical features still set them apart.They have to work extra hard to fit in,but America,and especially in the South, is still resistant to grant them the full "White" status.

Sam, Dallas, USA

Stuart, I guess you sort of missed the period 1990-2003 if you think the Iraq war was begun "for no apparent reason." To bad, the 90s were fun.

I also like how you ask us not to pontificate two sentences before you do so yourself.

Andy, Atlanta, USA

I am British born but I am always disgusted by the English anti-Americanism. You no longer rule the world and England has some horrific history so don't be so eager to demean the US. They give more money and more effort to the rest of the world than the rest of the world put together.
Everyone around the world can sympathise with the families, friends and relatives of the victims and we can all pray for a better world. It is up to everyone in the world to improve the world not denigrate the victims of tragedy.
We are in the 21st century - the world has changed and the UK is just a tiny nation with all its own problems with the Asians - your turn will come and you are encouraging them!

Sylvia, Niagara, Canada

With my grave grief and heartfelt sadness, I would like to offer my sincere heartfelt condolences to the victims and my sympathy to their parents and relatives who were lost their beloved ones wil go on until my global colleagues, that is, all Americans' fury will be disappeared and alleviated against his homeland' people and Korean residents in the U.S.

At this tragical situation, in my tragic voice, I would like to look forward to healing all Americans' painful wounds up for a short time. I wish to all global axes of extreme violences and brutal acts will be given in to all mankind's humanitarian spirits and will be converted to extinguishe or annihilate under the control of all mankind's firm convictions that can face up to the same felony criminals and that can bring them to justice and upright characters in terms of living up to be aware of the importances of liberty, equality, and fraternity.

Younghyun Kim, Seoul, South Korea

the right to bear arms is fine, but every state should have similar rules to NY, its just too easy to gain access to guns in other states, especially the south.

dean, nyc, ny

How very typical that, although most people have valid comments, some fell the need to be aggressive and bring in inter-continental disputes into a debate which has nothing to do with them. It is an embarrassing American trait to lash out at others (especially Europeans) who have points which are anti-American. This is a time for self reflection and taking stock of what is wrong with our society and admitting that we do have problems, not lashing out at thosewho point them out. It's pathetic and embarrassing that everything has to be turned into nasty squabbles about race (I think by 'outsider' they mean socially, not because he was Korean) and terrorism and past conflict. Its at times like this that I am ashamed to be an American.

Charlie , NY,

Ban all Guns, Europeans are superior, American culture is trash...Sounds like a forum for those who might, themselves, be on the edge...What's next, a diatribe on the dynamics of the Asian immigrant mind?!

He needed real help. Enough said.

kirk, Wash. DC, USA

Mark from Ireland

He was NOT an American citizen. Not that I think it matters.

He was severely mentally un-stable and , short of locking him up (not an easy thing to do), he was going to create carnage. Forget about gun laws people! Look at Timothy McVeigh, the Unibomber, the Tylenol murderer!!! These people will ALWAYS find a way.

Mary Catherine, Elmhurst, USA/IL

why would he kill so many people

raheel, slough, u.k

As the saying goes.... 'the right to bear arms' is only marginally less ridiculous than the 'right to arm bears'.

Hugel, London, UK

Don't point to Gun Control as the answer. There are countries in Europe with more relaxed gun control laws than in the US. I think we need to examine the violent nature of the entertainment industry. We in the US are deluged with violent rap music, violent video games and movies. This must affect our children more than we are willing to admit.

dave, Washington, DC

america needs to wake up.......
It is illegal to buy or consume alcohol before the age of twenty one but you can legally buy firearms as young as sixteen in some states! In britain ,the laws are constantly re-written,albeit at the pleasure of the 51st state and we have no say over it although we live in a "democracy" so come on americans......do the same and revoke the "right to bear arms" and make it illegal to do so!

john bonar, watford, england

Why haven't this little twit's parents shown their faces? They must be ever so proud to have spawned this offspring.

sk8rgurl, Amsterdam, NL

Firstly and most importantly, sincere and heartfelt commiserations to all the families and friends of the victims. Secondly, please let us not pontificate or beleive there are simple answers. It is in the nature of humans -especailly men - to want to put issues in clearly labelled boxes and then react. Thirdly, one thought - today more than 164 men, women and children were murdered in Iraq in a war that has been created and propogated by the US and their allies for no apparent reason. Does anyone think that these actions may affect the actions of others in the US?

Stuart, Johannesburg,

Even though the university was aware and frightened by a clearly-troubled student, it was possibly more frightened by the political and legal repercussions of removing an emotionally challenged Asian immigrant from its campus. It is difficult not to believe that political correctness did not rear its ugly head once again and prevent a more pragmatic response months ago which might have avoided the bloodshed that ensued this week.

David Ruppert, Arlington, Virginia, USA

I think American society and culture is simply a two-way mirror. Obviously there is interest in violence in death, I mean look at some of the movies that have come out lately...Saw, Saw II, Saw III, Hostel, I could go on forever. Our society is so saturated with violence that hearing about an incident like this is not surprising in the least. Gun ownership in this country is an issue that will never be resolved. The lobbies want to keep guns in Americans hands, and many Americans simply don't understand the point that gun control (at least of handguns) is something that needs to happen if this country is ever to be remotely civilized and mature in regard to its social policy. I love my country, but our inability to solve problems which seem so simple to point out, is very disheartening. What is it going to take for any real change to ever occur? I don't think I want to know the answer to that question.

AS, ATL, USA

It is terrible. 32 innocent young students killed by a single gone crazy person. It is dreadful. Hope we all take our lessons and hope we WILL ALSO consider hundreds of other innocent blood spilled every passing day of God just for the whims of a gone crazy superpower in Iraq. THEY ARE PEOPLE AND AS DEAR NO DOUBTS..

Ebrahim, Ardebil, Iran

A well-armed society is a polite society.

Guy Quedens, Bedford, Texas, USA

"Outsider" in the title suggest something different in the writer's mind.

Why is he outsider? Just because he was South Korean, so blame can be put on "outsider".

One has to take into to account his education was in American public school from the age of 8/9. His spend 14 early developmental years in US society.

Sam, NY, USA

What the hell do you mean by "Outsider.." How can you say he is an outsider when he has been raised, lived most of his life in this lawless United States.

swift, portland,

Why does it matter what his parents do, or where they live? I think they should be left alone. And what is this focus on immigration? I think there is almost more in here about the fact that Cho had a green card than about what went on there. All of the news stories about this seem to have no problem pointing out how "un-american" this shooter was. Why on earth does everybody have to insinuate terrorism for every act of violence nowadays? There are pissed off, bad people everywhere, from everywhere.

L L M, Sacramento, CA

i feel very upset about this terrible event i would just like to send a message to mr bush instead of sending all your soldiers to iraq put some in your schools as nothing been learnt from the past even basic policing of your peoples schools checking who goes in and searching im sure if their nothing to hide they will be fine with it. my thoughts are with the familys involved

chris, clacton on sea, england

Poor Korean! U should have had someone to understand you! Too late, rest in peace!

Xiamen man, Xiamen,

You wonder whether or not he was bi-polar and not treated or diagnosed.

steve salinas, Salinas, California

Umm, so non-Americans are claiming that Americans are "typical money grubbing Yanks". Yes, that is why we "Yanks" provided the most $$ for foreign aid and we allow more foreigners to immigrate to the USA than all other nations on earth combined.

We Americans don't forget that London was hit by terrorists who blew up your underground and buses. Anyone concerned about the items sold to make these deadly weapons? Or, what about the horrible group of people in your midst that planned to board planes and blow them up in mid-flight? Any concern about selling these goods to such deranged people? Of course not!

And, while we are at it how about those groteseque fox hunts that entertain the British elite? Dogs trained to rip apart small foxes while the elite ride along for the fun? And, need we forget the Royal Prince who slaughtered a small deer like creature in Africa for sport?

An American -- With Constitutional RIGHTS.

Ann, Pueblo, USA

This horrible incident is another sign of the disarray that confronts American and many other Western societies. To respond to this with the naive "we have a right to bear arms" type of statement is making a bad situation worse.

The shooter seems to be a very disturbed young man, and any society that allows such individuals to bear arms should be taking a long hard look at itself.

Eric Khong, Perth , Australia

We must get back to the basics. You see someone sitting alone, join them. Don't just hello; How about "how are your family members doing". Let's try really being interested when someone is speaking. We should stop acting spoiled and start involving ourselves with people who are different. Everyone wants to be included and loved. When you have nothing to lose, you have nothing to live for. To be ignored is a dangerous thing! Columbine & VTECH.
You can start today by talking to someone in your building or neighborhood who sits alone.

PJ, Rockville, Maryland

He was an American, but heaven forbid the media could ever admit to that. Instead, let's brand him as 'Korean' some foreign race that we can associate less with and blame more easily.

Mark, Dublin, Ireland

Another answer to Peter Emmerich's comment: I've lived in Germany for nearly fifty years and have never felt the need for a gun or indeed never known anyone to carry a gun. Peter Emmerich must be referring to red-light districts or other shady areas which exist in most countries.

alan, cologne,

In a tragedy such as this we immediately want to assess blame. It was the lack of gun control...it was the people that ignored the warning signs of this troubled individual...it was a lack of security...etc.
The cold hard truth is that if you're an individual determined to do harm, you can always find the means. Just look around yourselves today in almost any situation and imagine how easily another tragic incident could unfold. If recent history has taught us anything, it's that Life...and Death, unfortunately, happens beyond our control and even in the most secure of situations.

D. Miller, Bristol, USA/CT

first of all i would like to point out that although it is unlikely that he would have killed as many if he did not have acess to a gun, he would most likely have killed anyway. Within this i would also point out the 'problems' that European countries, the UK in particular, are having with illegal gun crime within the younger fractions of society.
Therefore it is unlikely that the introduction of strict gun laws into the USA would have had a great impact on this tragedy.
Secondly i would like to point out that the majority of mass shootings in the US are by High School/College age people, and often it has been after prolonged isolation and/or bullying. Whilst i do not condone Cho's actions in any way, i do think that the administrators and teachers in American schools are well overdue in a change to their system of live and let live.
Lastly i would like to send my deepest regrets and sympathies to all those who lost a loved one in this horrifying event.

Fran K, Tonbridge, UK

If you read Cho Seung-Hui's 'plays' it seems quite clear they are the revenge fantasies of a pedophile victim.
For heavens sake, didn't anyone notice THAT angle?

The plays (they are very short, don't worry) can be found here:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/17/us/17play-one.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Peter Friedrich, Altdorf, Germany

A simple spelling change in the constitution could alter 'bear arms' to 'bare arms' so saving tens of thousands of American lives each year as well as promoting the sale of T shirts.

America's regular sacrifice of the innocent is entirely voluntary given the refusal to act in a rational maner to severely restrict guns. When people deliberately, wilfully and repeatedly pursue a self evidently disaterous course of action it becomes more and more difficult to maintain sympathy (except for the particular set of vixctims) in any general sense.

Phil, Hong Kong,

Surely someone who has been treated for depression or other mental health problem should not be permitted to carry a weapon.

How many more tragedies before America changes its gun-control laws?

Hannah, Leamington Spa, England

Not one mention of the "thousands" being shot, and even burned to death, including women and children in IRAQ, and all over the Earth. I know what it's like to be "different in school." I never knew my birth parents. I was dangerous, but joined ww2 at 16, then lived in Japan learning of real friendship, trust, and compassion. How many were killed on the same day, in the Middle East? The poor killer just needed one intelligent friend. I know what it's like to be just "different" in a group of affluent children.
The boy just needed an understanding friend. Life is like a RR engine on "tracks." Fantastic energy, heading toward, "destruction." All one needs is one intelligent friend, to "throw a switch." Or - - to be in an enviorement where many others have "worse problems." I was at Nagisaki, shortly after the "Bomb." The shooter was in mental pain.
Who loved, and cared "for him?" All he needed, was a close friend, with strength, intellect, and compassion, to "throw a switch."

Harry Bryson, Columbus, OH

I love all the Germans on here criticizing the US and calling it uncivilized. One the victims at Virginia Tech was a Holocaust survivor. You can blame the US for the final great tragedy in this man's life but who gets the blame for the first? Hmmm?

Charles, Houston, Texas, USA

With the amount of weapons that are availble both legally and illegally in the US, there is no way that the constitution could be changed effectively so that gun controls were in place similar to the ones we have here. The US has a "gun culture" it always has and despite this tragic incident I have agree with the right to bear arms. In Iraq , I have seen that they live within a gun culture too, which I am sure to most is obvious, after the main hostilities ended, people were not allowed to carry weapons in public unless they had authorisation and they were allowed one rifle with ten rds of ammo in order to defend themselves. These rules were and still are in place in a country as law-less as Iraq, yet in the US a 23 year student can walk into a shop and just buy a state of the art weapon system with 50 rds of ammo, he lives on a college compound which I am sure is protected by armed guards, I think justification of the need to own a weapon for protection/sport or whatever is required.

John, Liverpool, UK

We must get back to the basics. You see someone sitting alone, join them. Don't just hello; How about how are family members doing. Let's try really being interested when someone is speaking. To be ignored is a dangerous thing! Columbine & VTECH.

PJ, Rockville, Maryland

Can it be that there's been an awful mistake with the 2nd amendment. Was it a mis-spelling. It should have read "the right to BARE arms" - In other words, to roll up your sleeves and get to work. Oh dear, what an awful mistake.

alan, cologne,

I detest that you say the the Europeans are being smug. The reaction over here has been one of shock and alarm that the University authorities allowed this to happen. If what the press is reporting is true, that the Uni was aware of Cho's previous behaviour, then it is even more horrific. To say we are smug before the families have even buried their children is disgusting. We have problems as does every nation and continent on this planet, including the USA.
And by the way if you dont have race riots then what happened in LA with Rodney King. Also, you dont have to be a skin head to riot at a sports event. Remember the Stanley Cup a few years ago.

I think you proved your own intelligence quite well in your comment, or lack of it.
I for one would not group all of your compratiots together with you as that would be an injustice to them.

James, London, UK

Americans rule the world ! That's an odd thing to say. The tainted view of America is not without some justification & you're not perceived as the most enlightened people in the world. The spread of American culture throughout the world is simply a disaster and I find it hard to believe that you are proud of your cultural heritage. As for the wandering around schools every other month & killing of random students, that speaks volumes about your country.

Brian, London,

I am sad about the whole tragic story. I think it could have been prevented if he was included and felt a part of the group. If you see some one sitting alone, you should try to talk to him/her. In the US, we form clicks in high school and carry that all through college. If you don't belong to a group, you are an outsider. The more you are ignored and left alone, the angrier you get. We have to embrace those who are different and let them into our groups or else this type of tragedy will continue. Did we learn anything from Columbine? The shooters said they were bullied and ignored. We have to include everyone and ignore no one.

PJ, Rockville, Maryland

Should've sent him to Iraq.

What was the Chinese Proverb?

"Kill one man and you are a murderer, Kill one thousand and you are a hero."

We really needed him out there, boys.
Perfect cannon fodder, too.

*sigh*

Onion Peeler, Hicksville, Washington DC

Reflections of a school teacher:

1. Blacksburg is Colombine all over again. Indeed, the same group, just 4 years older. And the cause of Colombine has, to date, never been addressed by American educational bureaucrats. And I doubt it will ever be even acknowledged at Virginia Tech.

For Colombine was and remains a school with, of, by, for jocks. Ditto, from what I can tell, for Blacksburg. Not to be a jock is to be, at best, marginal and peripheral – even to academicians at such places. And if one is Asian – be it South Asian or the Far East or the Near East -- then one is likely to be in an ethnic group that finds basketball and (American) football less absorbing – to say nothing of marching bands, cheerleaders, baton twirlers, flag wavers, dancing girls, funding for large stadia, booster clubs, lots of attention, lots of recognition, beer blasts, and lawn rollings. So who gets shot first?: athletes.

School ought