Why does this happen so often?

[HerbieZ]

It's called infamy. I did see a curious little statement on the tv before from the president of the US Gun Federation or something like that. When asked "Do you now see that guns should not be sold to the public" his response was "On the contrary they're should be more guns out there, if everyone of those students were armed, none of this would have happened." Read into that what you will, but im just going to use this as an example that everyone is going to hear alot of mis-information and odd comments, reviews and opinions from everyone all over the world. We can all interpret these however we want but please bare in mind that we are not going to know all the facts of this for at least a few months.

[Ray Jones]

I don't need to know any facts why what happened, because it happened. And no matter whether or not he got only half a brain from birth on, a stinky toe, or various other issues

 

In the first place he shot people, not with mental illness, pink ladies underwear he likes to wear, dog poo in his pockets, dead parents which abused him sexually, a missed Simpons episode, HE DID IT WITH A WEAPON.

 

And I don't need to know any more fact when someone comes along and says "Oooh, that sucker is now famous, why can't I be famous too?"

 

That all speaks for itself.

[Prime]

that could work, people have got off using the excuse "junk food made me do it" >.>

Wait a minute. I thought the banning of trenchcoats would prevent this sort of thing from happening.

 

Some of his writings (plays in this case). Viewer discression is advised (seriously).

[Totenkopf]

Damn shame for certain. Saw an article that said Cho's parents were hospitalized for shock, even rumored to have attempted suicide. I don't really believe that he'd have been remorseful if caught alive. He was, for whatever reason, probably too far gone. Given his overwhelmingly obvious guilt, it's probably just as well he killed himself. It does sound cynical to state that, I know. I'll also say this, though: if there's a God, may He have mercy on Cho. No doubt the media jackals will subject all to exhaustive and often banal coverage of this tragedy for the foreseeable future. Lets hope they show a modicum of respect (probably TOO much to ask for, I know) for the victims' families.

 

Sidebar-actually visited VA Tech a number of years ago when my uncle taught there (computer science, I think....though no longer sure). Was a quaint looking area.

[Achilles]

Just heard on the news (but haven't confirmed it anywhere else) that he was involuntarily committed in 2005 and lied about it on the background check.

[Bimmerman]

Wait a minute. I thought the banning of trenchcoats would prevent this sort of thing from happening.

 

Some of his writings (plays in this case). Viewer discression is advised (seriously).

 

 

Whoa... That's seriously messed up. And this kid refused counseling?

[Jae Onasi]

Just heard on the news (but haven't confirmed it anywhere else) that he was involuntarily committed in 2005 and lied about it on the background check.

 

Yes, he was involuntarily committed: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,266683,00.html .

I heard he had stalked a few women and and police had had enough reports to seek the commitment. The question is whether he followed up with treatment after he was released from inpatient care.

[dewayne26]

Yes, he was involuntarily committed: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,266683,00.html .

I heard he had stalked a few women and and police had had enough reports to seek the commitment. The question is whether he followed up with treatment after he was released from inpatient care.

 

after everything i heard today and seeing some of the photos and video. i think VT should bare some blame for letting him stay almost unchecked. i applaud the english department chair for what she did. and everyone else to brought him to attention of the college. sad thing is they are right they cann't do anything really......bull he stalked three women the college i attended you would of been gone. my opinion that was threat too others.......

[lukeiamyourdad]

Oh yeah, my life, being a European, is much more eeeaaasier, especially compared to that of the Chinese doctor, driving this Benz, living in a lakeside house, having four kids. Bullocks.

 

 

And how many are successful? People only see the nice ones getting the success, the big life and everything. For everyone who gets to that point, many fail. My guess, at this point, is that this kid was one such "failure".

 

It could be that being mostly immigrants, the cultural shock between generations is too great, the older one clinging to old ways and the newer one seeking emancipation. Mixed messages are being sent. One from the family and an opposite one from the rest of society.

 

People start the gun control debate again, but a gun is only an instrument. I don't want to start that debate here, but being so shallow and only looking at the surface of the problem might not bring any solution.

[dewayne26]

And how many are successful? People only see the nice ones getting the success, the big life and everything. For everyone who gets to that point, many fail. My guess, at this point, is that this kid was one such "failure".

 

It could be that being mostly immigrants, the cultural shock between generations is too great, the older one clinging to old ways and the newer one seeking emancipation. Mixed messages are being sent. One from the family and an opposite one from the rest of society.

 

People start the gun control debate again, but a gun is only an instrument. I don't want to start that debate here, but being so shallow and only looking at the surface of the problem might not bring any solution.

 

thank you i agree.

[Totenkopf]

Just saw some footage on the news that Cho mailed his 1800 word manifesto and photos/videos to NBC prior to this incident. Sort of reminiscent (sp?) of the suicidal jihadist type. Perhaps if his psych history had been accessable to the instacheck system, he might have had to look elsewhere for his guns. Probably wouldn't have stopped him though. Afterall, the guns were purchased over a month before his killing spree. And, Luke, I concur that trying to reduce this to an argument over the efficacy of gun control fails to address the human part of the equation. It appears likely that if he hadn't had guns, he'd very likely have tried some other method.

[Ray Jones]

People start the gun control debate again, but a gun is only an instrument. I don't want to start that debate here, but being so shallow and only looking at the surface of the problem might not bring any solution.

I don't think it's "looking only at the surface". Of course, the gun is only an instrument. A tool. And of course HE pulled the trigger, I'm not denying that. He did it. And he might be gay, depressive, and totally gaga. Of course, and I'm not denying that either, there is something wrong when people start to act like that. This is clearly an issue that has to be addressed, no question about that.

 

But at the end of the day, he used (like all others before him) a weapon. A weapon he was able to obtain without any obvious problems. A weapon persons like him should not be allowed to have, or have easy access to.

See, there is a reason why not everybody is allowed to fly planes. Or drive a bus full with people. There is a reason why not everybody is allowed to obtain and handle toxic substances or explosive. There is a reason why none wants Iran or North Korea to have atom bombs. Do you know the reason? I think you do.

 

Let's say it together: BECAUSE THESE THINGS ARE DANGEROUS!

 

IT SIMPLY IS DANGEROUS. It *is* dangerous and irresponsible to give things like that to people or organisations without control and nobody can make sure to at least a certain level that these things are handled and used in an appropriate and responsible way. That is, why there are so many restrictions for so many dangerous things.

 

P.E.R.I.O.D.

[lukeiamyourdad]

Fine. I've got a bit of time to lose later on today so I'll start debate on this in Kavar's corner.

[igyman]

D-amn. I heard about this yesterday, but I didn't know the specifics. When I think about it, it's not the idea of massacring a bunch of people that worries me the most, it's the fact that in America a kid can buy a rifle and ammo off the street and actually go through with the massacre idea.

[Son of Skywalker15]

it's the fact that in America a kid can buy a rifle and ammo off the street and actually go through with the massacre idea.

 

The fact is that kid was going to kill. Weather it was with a gun, a knife, a fist, he was going to kill.period. Thus, I'm not sure selling guns or not is the real core of the issue here....

[swphreak]

D-amn. I heard about this yesterday, but I didn't know the specifics. When I think about it, it's not the idea of massacring a bunch of people that worries me the most, it's the fact that in America a kid can buy a rifle and ammo off the street and actually go through with the massacre idea.

 

Except he didn't buy a rifle or on the street. He went to a gun store and bought a hand gun and ammo, and apparently lied on the application/background check or something. Isn't the point of the background check to check someone's background?

[igyman]

That's even worse. As if selling rifles on the street wasn't bad enough. Obviously America needs a more rigorous gun control and age verification policy.

[lukeiamyourdad]

A thread about gun control is up in Kavar's corner.

[Ray Jones]

Here. ;