Gunman kills 21 on Virginia Tech campus...

[TireSmoke]

POSTAL!!! 

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070416/ap_on_re_us/virginia_tech_shooting



By SUE LINDSEY, Associated Press Writer 11 minutes ago

BLACKSBURG, Va. - A gunman opened fire in a dorm and classroom at Virginia Tech on Monday, killing 21 people and wounding another 21 before he was killed, police said.

"Today the university was struck with a tragedy that we consider of monumental proportions," said university president Charles Steger. "The university is shocked and indeed horrified."

The university reported shootings at opposite sides of the 2,600-acre campus, beginning at about 7:15 a.m. at West Ambler Johnston, a co-ed residence hall that houses 895 people, and continuing about two hours later at Norris Hall, an engineering building.

One student was killed in a dorm and the others were killed in the classroom, Virginia Tech Police Chief W.R. Flinchum.

After the shootings, all entrances to the campus were closed and classes canceled through Tuesday.

"There's just a lot of commotion. It's hard to tell exactly what's going on," said Jason Anthony Smith, 19, who lives in the dorm where shooting took place.

Aimee Kanode, a freshman from Martinsville, said the shooting happened on the 4th floor of West Ambler Johnston dormitory, one floor above her room. Kanode's resident assistant knocked on her door about 8 a.m. to notify students to stay put.

"They had us under lockdown," Kanode said. "They temporarily lifted the lockdown, the gunman shot again."

"We're all locked in our dorms surfing the Internet trying to figure out what's going on," Kanode said.

Madison Van Duyne, a student who was interviewed by telephone on CNN, said, "We are all in lockdown. Most of the students are sitting on the floors away from the windows just trying to be as safe as possible."

It was second time in less than a year that the campus was closed because of a shooting.

In August 2006, the opening day of classes was canceled and the campus closed when an escaped jail inmate allegedly killed a hospital guard off campus and fled to the Tech area. A sheriff's deputy involved in the manhunt was killed on a trail just off campus.

The accused gunman, William Morva, faces capital murder charges.

[Dan]

Damn, talk about going apes***. That's sad.

[Chris Wilson]

Wow!  It's going to be something seeing how this plays out and what changes are made as a result. 

[TireSmoke]

it may seem f-ed up, but I dont think a damn thing could prevent this short of placing metal detectors and cops at all the campus buildings.  Even then, the kid could have walked out to his car, packed, walked into the building and shot the security guard in the head.

[Dan]

Unless I'm blind, the article didn't say if the gunmen was a student. If he isn't, the security for the dorms is definitely questionable. I know here on campus you can't get in unless you live there and the RA's know everyone's faces like second nature.

[Chris Wilson]

There is no competent security on any college campus in the U.S. fwiw.  They write tickets to make money for the campus in most cases and generally just harass the students. 

This may change things.  Columbine was 12 dead as I recall.  VT has something like 26k students, that's a bunch, but not the most by far. 

[1FastDoc]

There is no competent security on any college campus in the U.S. fwiw.  They write tickets to make money for the campus in most cases and generally just harass the students. 

This may change things.  Columbine was 12 dead as I recall.  VT has something like 26k students, that's a bunch, but not the most by far. 

Arm all the students.  Well, except the quiet ones; can't trust the quiet ones with weapons.

[EVIL5LITER]

This may change things.  Columbine was 12 dead as I recall.  VT has something like 26k students, that's a bunch, but not the most by far. 

Unfortunately enough, the Kennedys, Kerrys, Feinsteins, and Pelosi's of the world will be riding their corspes around to try and further their own agendas. 

I have no doubts in my mind, it's going to change things for the worse.

[foureyedstang]

they are saying 32 dead now

[TireSmoke]

man... 32 bodies... thats gotta be a gruel scene...

I'm sure the cops killed the kid...if they didnt they will...

[EVIL5LITER]

It's up to 32 dead and 28 wounded now.

[Chris Wilson]

Wow, this was obviously someone that was proficient as well as pissed off and in a target rich environment.

[Gravel]

This may change things.  Columbine was 12 dead as I recall.  VT has something like 26k students, that's a bunch, but not the most by far. 

Unfortunately enough, the Kennedys, Kerrys, Feinsteins, and Pelosi's of the world will be riding their corspes around to try and further their own agendas. 

I have no doubts in my mind, it's going to change things for the worse.

Yup




As for the actual tragedy, unreal... So many people are going to be directly touched by this.

[my92gt]

It really makes you wonder what's going through someone's mind when they decide to do something that horrendous.    Where are you seeing the info on the 32 dead?  All I've seen so far is 22 dead.

[Gravel]

Foxnews.com has it at 32 right now.

[foureyedstang]

fox news

[my92gt]

OK.  CNN and Yahoo news are both still saying 21 or 22.  Thanks.

[foureyedstang]

reports on fox news say it was a heavily armed asian student

[foureyedstang]

they said it is unclear if he was killed by the police or if he took his own life

[KillerGT302]

Just talked to a friend who lives there and works on Campus... He says that its the worst thing he has ever witnessed. He could hear the gun shots and screams of "Don't kill me." The gunman was using 2 9mm handguns. This is awful.  

[Kevins89notch5.0]

Man, this "security analysis" they have on Fox News is a freakin' idiot.  He wants jail style lock downs installed on campus.  He said "with the push of one button, every door could have been locked, think of what that would have saved."

[Chris Wilson]

Think of what that would have cost when passing a single peice of legislation could pretty much have the same effect.

[Kevins89notch5.0]

Think of what that would have cost when passing a single peice of legislation could pretty much have the same effect.

You talking about students being able to carry guns on campus?

[Chris Wilson]

or Teachers for that matter.

[Chris Wilson]

Gun bill gets shot down by panel
HB 1572, which would have allowed handguns on college campuses, died in subcommittee.

By Greg Esposito
381-1675

A bill that would have given college students and employees the right to carry handguns on campus died with nary a shot being fired in the General Assembly.

House Bill 1572 didn't get through the House Committee on Militia, Police and Public Safety. It died Monday in the subcommittee stage, the first of several hurdles bills must overcome before becoming laws.

The bill was proposed by Del. Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah County, on behalf of the Virginia Citizens Defense League. Gilbert was unavailable Monday and spokesman Gary Frink would not comment on the bill's defeat other than to say the issue was dead for this General Assembly session.

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."

Del. Dave Nutter, R-Christiansburg, would not comment Monday because he was not part of the subcommittee that discussed the bill.

Most universities in Virginia require students and employees, other than police, to check their guns with police or campus security upon entering campus. The legislation was designed to prohibit public universities from making "rules or regulations limiting or abridging the ability of a student who possesses a valid concealed handgun permit ... from lawfully carrying a concealed handgun."

The legislation allowed for exceptions for participants in athletic events, storage of guns in residence halls and military training programs.

Last spring a Virginia Tech student was disciplined for bringing a handgun to class, despite having a concealed handgun permit. Some gun owners questioned the university's authority, while the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police came out against the presence of guns on campus.

In June, Tech's governing board approved a violence prevention policy reiterating its ban on students or employees carrying guns and prohibiting visitors from bringing them into campus facilities.

[Kevins89notch5.0]

OUCH!  Thats even from Virgina.  Hate to say it, but I can fore see a couple people saying, "Look, I told you so!"

[BadAndy]

OUCH!  Thats even from Virgina.  Hate to say it, but I can fore see a couple people saying, "Look, I told you so!"

That's what I was thinking when I read it!

[EVIL5LITER]

Not only is it from Virginia, it cites an incident on Va. Tech's campus.  

You know, before, HR1022 was looking like it was not going to make it through.  Now I bet they have an emergency session with all kinds of riders on the thing.  Ammo tax, magazine cap, safety locks, ballistic fingerprinting, this is an Anti's wet dream.  

[TireSmoke]

the best defense against this kinda crap is an armed public.  I say it over and over... if everyone had guns, this kinda crap wouldn't happen .  Maybe the gunman would have killed a few people, but not 22 plus another 20 some wounded.  He would have been shot in the back by some kid CWC around campus or in the dorm.

[MdniteDrftr]

Wow...