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Apr 17, 2007, 13:19 GMT

Shock and grief as families face aftermath of US school shooting


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angela s from wvApr 17th, 2007 - 14:08:44

I think it was awful what happened and I personally wouldn't know what
to do if such a thing ever happened at my school. What scares me the most is
that I don't think that my school has any type of plan for this sort of thing. I'm not upset with administrators at VT because I know it's hard to respond in this sort of thing. After all, the shooter was carrying guns that can be easily consealed. My personal opinion is that schools aren't safe enough for children or adults. Come on America! The children who are in schools now are the future whether or not you like it! Are you gonna help protect your future? I know I want mine as safe as possible!

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cop = U.S.-_pistolero_ out of law on the lawnApr 17th, 2007 - 14:35:57

The pictures of the Korean I saw nearly twenty-four hours ago and his letters of justification of this event I found on the net. A ridiculous American U.S.-gunmen [call it police or whatever You like]closed into a sport coach dress with several pistols put in his leather belt bends itself half-kneeling over an intact Korean[
the Korean was not hurted at all] lying on the Virgina-Tech lawn. This American super-hero shot dead then the Korean student without any need of self-defence the Korean student lying on his belly on the Virgina-Tech lawn from behind[distance =
5 centimetres !!!!!].

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Old SchoolApr 17th, 2007 - 15:26:13

Carry a gun, I do all the time. Screw the permit....Save yourself and carry a small revolver, 22 caliber revolvers 'DO NOT JAM' and are very easy to use with a bullet call a 'STINGER'. This type of bullet is very effective.. My Girlfriend now carries this type of gun..It's light with no kick.

Save yourself and your Tree of Life

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FredApr 17th, 2007 - 15:52:28

Hey Old School - move to a civilised country and you'd have no need for your weapons

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yang yuApr 17th, 2007 - 16:00:37

use metal detectors at the entrance of all schools.

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CocoApr 17th, 2007 - 16:29:44

These incidents will happen over and over again as long as weapons are readily available. Some people are blaming the university while the ones to blame are the gun-friendly republicans. I hope not to hear statements from the White House about how much they are praying for the victims because it will make me puke. They are the ones with blood on their hands. They are the ones responsible, not only for what happened in VT but also for the daily shooting victims all over the US.

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LouisApr 17th, 2007 - 16:41:32

Before suggesting 'moving to a civilized country' consider that these things do happen in all the developed countries.

Canadian gun laws have been mentioned a number of times since this tragedy yesterday since many consider Canada to be a model for control of violence. The types of weapons used yesterday are legally available in Canada and many other first world countries. Just last fall at Dawson College a gunman shot 20 people, killing one. The weapon he used (a shouldered carbine) was potentially deadlier than the pistols used yesterday. The reasons that the Canadian event was less deadly had not to do with gun laws but due to very rapid police response, and (I don't mean to be blunt) poor tactics and aim on the part of the Canadian shooter.

Blaming the availability of firearms -IN THIS CASE- is a cop out and ignores many realities and issues.

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Tori OhnoApr 17th, 2007 - 16:53:21

What happened had nothing to do with guns. I'm a gun owner, and was raised by a military father who was a licensed National Rifle Association gun safety instructor. I'd never shoot someone unless it was in self defense, but then again, I'm stable. It's not the guns, it's our younger generation's inability to deal with real life and it's disappointments and let-downs. Something is happening in our society that's creating young people that are getting more and more violent each decade. Something needs to be done or the next 'upset kid' is going to plant a bomb or two (or three)in his/her school instead of using a 9mm bullet. Bombs would do vastly more damage to human life and limb than a gun, think about it. And while you do, think about the victim's and their families, positive energy focused in their direction is what they need right now.

What's wrong with our kids?

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tonny from belgiumApr 17th, 2007 - 17:36:20

I'll tell you what is wrong with your kids .They live in a country where you can buy weapons eveywhere,in which it is considered normal to see at least ten people get killed a day on TV but where sex is considered obscene .In Europe there is a strict gun control and if ever something like this horrible incident would occur,the governments here are quick to respond by tightening the laws even stricter and making it even more difficult to obtain one .Here you will find nobody ,absolutely nobody to claim there will be less killings when more guns are available .Statistics and common sense prove us right .

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To tonny from belgiumApr 17th, 2007 - 18:23:58

Then just make sure you stay out of our country!!! U.S.

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williamApr 17th, 2007 - 18:45:24

The figures make the case -
America with about 300 million population = over 10,000 gun related murders a year.
UK (with strict gun control and only a very few policemen armed) population 60 million = around 165 gun related deaths a year

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SamsApr 17th, 2007 - 18:48:28

First of all my prayers with the families of the victims of this horrible tragedy. There nothing more horrific than sudden end to those beautiful lives that were lost yesterday. These young kids were our future and those professors the architects of that future.

For god's sake NRA, please come to your senses. No Guns means Nu Lunatics with guns. Yes there would be lunatics but at least they will not lunatics with weapons. These people who scream about protecting the cosntitutioanl rights are the folks who fail to see the reality and see the change world. Do you think if our forefathers were writing the constitution today, they will making gun owning a right?? Thier motivation for this was based on the times when we feared forgien powers taking over our country. They did not mean to gaurantee the right to hunt with automatic weapons or 'shoot in the yard and drag'em to the porch'.

The sad is part is NRA is ooposed any sensible control on gun ownership. Now what is wrong with
- Limiting the numbers of guns one can buy in a certain time period
- Limting the ammunition
- Putting serial numbers or some other tracking info on the ammunition
- Waiting period for first time gun owners
- Limitations on concealed weapons
- Bakcground checks for gun shows too.
- Banning automatic weapons
The list goes on.......

NRA is not about gun rights, it is about profiting from guns. It is about being able to sell guns to anyone regardless of their motives. It is about selling arms to aferican nations so that they can kill each other...NRA is about making money over dead bodies of innocent victims.

Only a low-life from NRA can suggesst that one way to avoid Virginia Tech would have been to give guns to all students to defend themselves.

Stop spreading misinformation that gun controls do not work...They do. Murder rate in European countries is much lower. even lower if we were to consider innocent victims...













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edwardApr 17th, 2007 - 18:55:44

How right you are - gun control IS possible, with a strong government and a sensible population.
However, I've just seen a TV (in England) which illustrates how the debate on these matters is stifled in america - radio stations do not raise the subject for discussion with their listeners because as soon as they do 'rabid members of the NRA organise mass phone-ins to swamp our lines'.
Similarly, the politicians are frightened to take up the case because of pressure from the gun tooting elements.
Well sensible americans - its up to you to stand up to these gun fixated loonies.

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SamsApr 17th, 2007 - 18:56:33

Just a proof of how demanted these wingnuts are, Texas recently passed a law extending immunity for people using deadly force.

'The law extends a person's right to stand their ground beyond the home to vehicles and workplaces, allowing the reasonable use of deadly force,'

The law takes no account of the other peron's ability to inflict harm. It allows use of deadly force on say someone netering a property illgelly....so now texans can shoot not only in the yard but pretty much anyhwere and drag the victim to thier porch, thier car or thier workplace...well done you idiots..

Oh the hallmark of a civlized society !!!

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gerryApr 17th, 2007 - 19:08:59

The main difference between Virginia Tech and Dawson College was the police had the guts to enter the building and confront the gunman. Virginia police simply hid outside behind their cars. Shame on them.

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Fed up old manApr 17th, 2007 - 19:15:55

Civilized is blaming the lunatic and finding a cure for the lunacy, NOT, the inanimate object in that lunatic's hand. If I hadn't been armed with a pistol, the man with a knife that broke into my home wouldn't have ran, he could have raped and murdered me and my wife! He ran away instead. Kudos to Tori Ohno for asking the right question!! WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE KIDS?! What weapon could they (he) have used instead? And what's wrong with a society that doesn't hold the individual responsible for their actions? Instead, you blame a piece of metal?! Take that metal away, and pipe bombs WILL be used next time. Even back in the 60's we knew how to build them. I wonder what kind of explosives the kids nowadays can build? This whole argument is as ridiculous as blaming alcoholism on the fact you're allowed to buy beer once you turn 21! Quit quibbling and pray for the victims and their families. PEOPLE KILL PEOPLE. Inanimate objects DO NOT KILL PEOPLE. A PERSON has to be HOLDING IT.

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SamsApr 17th, 2007 - 19:21:21

Sorry forgot to add that I am not surprised at Texas...Dubya is from texas..

Texas tends of 50 years behind a typical civilized society. Some xamples
- Weren't they defending racial seggregration as 'our way of lie'
- Weren;t they defending the ban on inter-racial marriages as 'our way of life'..


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brianApr 17th, 2007 - 19:21:28

when is the rotting corpse that is charlton (KKK) heston going to raise its
decaying head and have a NRA march in the College. Will he wait for the funerals as he usually does. It is crazy to have so many stupid people in charge of fire arms. Even at the Height of the struggle in the north of Ireland
there was never as many gun deaths as the average american city.
In Ireland The army, very few special branch Gardai (Police) and farmers
are the only people permitted to own a gun. Farmers and gun club members are allowed to own a gun with a licence which is rigourously researched prior to
issue. They can only use their gun (shot gun or 22 rifle) for sport hunting.
If any of them were to turn their weapon on an intruder in thier home they would face a life sentence in prison.
The nra loons and the american government have created an atmosphere of paranoia
and convince people that they are not responcible if they do not own a gun.
I fear that these tragidies are going to become far more frequent and deadly.
One other point would the media have mentioned the ethnic background of the american kid who did this if he had been of european decent. I think not.
More paranoia, more calls to close the borders, just what the president ordered.

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young motherApr 17th, 2007 - 19:24:48

I can't believe the police would stay outside fully armed and protected with flak jackets while students were yards away desperately trying to defend themselves with desks..and dying in droves. This is unbelieveable.

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charlie.Apr 17th, 2007 - 19:30:13

People are so fragile, and inch of doubt and they break. Weakness is promoted in schools and such because the tutors are not aware enough of a students mentality. Events like this will continue unless someone notices what really goes on, Columbine was a shocking event of which i will never fully understand. Living in England myself, the risk is of course very unlikely. But people are so volatile, and i wish this could be realised by the authorities.

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