Massacres happen when no one is there to return fire.

[Sled Puller]

I firmly believe, that if a law abiding student would have been carrying today, the body count would have been much lower.

 

[RDusch]

The Va Tech people were really happy when house bill HB 1572 that would have given the students on college campuses the right to carry a weapon for protection died in subcommittee.

I wonder how happy they are now??

http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/wb/xp-50658

Rick

 

[crobertson1]

You are correct. On Sean Hannity today, a police officer said campus police on a lot of campuses are not allowed to be armed!



My question is-are concealed carry permits good or bad for the permit holder? I don't want to seem paranoid or anything, but I don't want to be entered into that "database". See the other thread about the proposed law in Penn. making gun owners criminals if they don't register.



When do you choose to not follow laws? If you follow a law and it ends up taking away rights (gun ownership), was it good to be law abiding? If "they" are going to make gun ownership illegal, what are we going to do?

 

[Blu-meanie]

Sadly, you guys are right. The representives who killed this bill should appologize on Oprah then immediately quit. If any of them were Republicans, then haul their sorry butts to a Grand Jury and prosecute them. President Bush must have had something to do with this, ask Mrs. Nancy.

 

[crobertson1]

From the article RDusch linked:



Virginia Tech spokesman Larry Hincker was happy to hear the bill was defeated. "I'm sure the university community is appreciative of the General Assembly's actions because this will help parents, students, faculty and visitors feel safe on our campus. "

 

[Signal73]

Preach on brothers!!!#@$%!

 

[Jong]

I also love the decision to warn everyone through campus email. Very effective on letting everyone know.

 

[HighRanger]

You guys are so on target. If one person in the right spot was armed there only would have been one or two deaths not 33.

 

[JApol]

After the first incident the police thought everything was done even though no one was in custody. 2 hours later he strikes again across campus. Thats when the campus decided to lock down the campus.

 

[Sageair]

I firmly believe, that if a law abiding student would have been carrying today, the body count would have been much lower.

I agree completely and I'm a cop. I can guarantee you that a gun in your hand beats a cop on the phone. There is no way to have a policeman every six feet and it is far better for the citizenry being able to fend for themselves. The bad guys will always have guns so why shouldn't the good guys have one as well.

 

[SHobbs]

As far as getting in trouble for using your gun, thats why some states such as mine have re written the law to protect the armed citizen. Now in Texas if you feel that your life is in jeopardy and its kill or be killed lethal force is justified. No more fleeing if possible and a civil suit cleaning you out. If I read it correctly. Armed citizens are a good thing only if the laws are in your favor. I know now the anti gun zealots will be out in force.



Much better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6.

 

[Jumbo Jet]

You guys are so on target. If one person in the right spot was armed there only would have been one or two deaths not 33.

Do we want armed guards patrolling all the halls of colleges, etc. ?



Do we really want students carrying guns to class?



We all live in a dangerous world.

 

[JoshPeters]

Do we want armed guards patrolling all the halls of colleges, etc. ?

Well that's a bit overboard, but an armed officer or trained security guard, yes.

Do we really want students carrying guns to class?

Why not? If they are LEGALLY carrying. If they have gone through the legal hoops to get their conceal and carry, I think they should be allowed to carry. Perfect example is what happened today.

We all live in a dangerous world.

Yes it is. That is why I'd rather be ready for the danger than hoping someone else will come help me.



JP

911, a Government sponsored Dial-a-Prayer.

 

[MFalkinham]

I know now the anti gun zealots will be out in force.

They already are. CNN just ran a story about the "evil 9mm" handguns that are the weapon of choice by gang-bangers, and now apparently the choice of madmen as well. Blame the guns, not the evil hands that use them to murder.

Like the saying goes, when guns are outlawed then only the outlaws have guns. A lot of good it did making that campus "gun free".

 

[AMink]

Last I looked, murder is illegal and people still kill. Drugs are illegal and people use and sell. Make guns illegal? Anyone who thinks taking guns away from law abiding citizens will solve crime is not catching the point that bad guys don't follow the rules! What happened today is a tragedy. However, someone who is so angry and evil would have done similar damage without guns. He'd have used a car, a bomb, a sword, chemicals, who knows.

 

[Headshot zod]

Currently appears to be a Chinese National... .



Now how did a foreigner get guns legally? The anti-gun crowd response will be interesting on this one.



H&K and Mossberg here at home.

 

[Byershome]

"The anti-gun crowd response will be interesting on this one. "



They'll just ignore the facts, play on the emotion of the moment and demand guns be taken away from honest people... ... ... ... ... ... leaving guns only in the hands of criminals and government... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .



This tragedy probably never happens if the killer thinks some of these students or teachers are armed... ... ... ... ... ... ... if it does, the number of dead would have been far fewer.



Guns do not kill... ... ... people do.

 

[CMNS PWR]

I was a grad student at the Blacksburg campus VT for three semesters 04-05. I knew several folks who packed heat while on campus. I was a member of the Clay Target team, and most of us are quite savy with weapons. However, I am not alleging that those members do carry weapons on campus.

All of this hits very close to home. My office and most of my classes were in Norris Hall, the site of the second shooting. I have learned this morning that a professor, Liviu Librescu, that helped out on a project I was on, was murdered.

All of this could have ended if the "right" person were involved. Sadly though, most people who carry freeze in a situation where weapons are needed unless properly trained.

 

[BigPapa]

In one of the interviews I saw yesterday, and I can't remember who they were interviewing, but the reporter asked several times if the murderer used a "semi-automatic". He wouldn't back off after being told several times that they had not determined yet what was used and that they could not release that information yet.



It's like there was an AK47 or a couple of pistols just walking around by themselves killing people.



Scott

 

[AMink]

The part that bothers me most about politicians and reporters who talk about guns, is that they have no clue about what they speak. Semi-automatic. "Cop killer bullets". Assault weapon. High powered weapon. They throw these catch phrases around and the sheeple believe what they are saying without question. If people would take the time to educate themselves even a little, the misinformation could be corrected. For example, an assault rifle is defined in Jane's as a weapon that can be fired in one of several modes, i. e. -semi auto, burst, or full auto. Therefore, an AR-15 is NOT an assault weapon. No more than on of those Ferrari looking kit cars with a VW engine is a Ferrari.