Virginia

[impressive]

*sigh* I have such good memories of visiting that campus.

 

[Sherry Hawk]

*sigh* I have such good memories of visiting that campus.

It's an absolutely beautiful campus.

So sad.

 

[impressive]

It's an absolutely beautiful campus.

So sad.

Very.

However, the abrasive bitch ranting on CNN is really pissing me off.

 

[FatDino]

They're starting to talk about gun control now. Just as predicted .

 

[impressive]

They're starting to talk about gun control now. Just as predicted .

And porn Porn is to blame!

 

[Just-Legal]

And porn Porn is to blame!

I'm waiting for it to get to music and videogames.

 

[Guest]

Horrible news.

 

[Sherry Hawk]

I'm waiting for it to get to music and videogames.

Wonder what song they'll play backwards to find the warnings/instructions this time.

 

[FatDino]

And porn Porn is to blame!

Precisely, porn raises the level of sex steroids or so-called hormones, which in turn, enhances energy, puts the body in a stage similar to "fight or flight."

It's so to blame

 

[impressive]

I'm waiting for it to get to music and videogames.

They cut from coverage of the events in Blacksburg to do a little segment on Muslims spewing hate.

*sigh*

There's a reason I don't typically watch television. I've gotta turn the damned thing off.

 

[Just-Legal]

They cut from coverage of the events in Blacksburg to do a little segment on Muslims spewing hate.

*sigh*

There's a reason I don't typically watch television. I've gotta turn the damned thing off.

*goes back to CSI and cake*

Want some birthday cake Imp? Good for what ails ya.

 

[MagicaPractica]

Too sad for words.

 

[Trombonus]

This is beyond sad and scary. I would think this sort of thing would be more likely at my school than at VT. The worst part is we'll never know why this happened. We can speculate and make educated guesses, but we can't know the truth now since that coward took his own life. The families of those that were lost may never get closure now. My heart goes out to those families.

 

[Huckleman2000]

Not to start a whole discussion, but I heard someone on the radio mention that 64 Iraqi people were killed or found dead yesterday, and that's a typical day there nowadays.

I realize it's not totally analogous, I just thought it was a poignant reminder of just how horrid these random acts of violence are, and yet how common.

 

[Liar]

Not to start a whole discussion, but I heard someone on the radio mention that 64 Iraqi people were killed or found dead yesterday, and that's a typical day there nowadays.

CNN just went from, "33 dead" to "and in other news, 58 dead" (the iraq thing) thus proving the world sucks wherever we turn. Not exactly a mood lifter.

 

[rgraham666]

You're a braver man than I am, Huck.

 

[MagicaPractica]

Not to start a whole discussion, but I heard someone on the radio mention that 64 Iraqi people were killed or found dead yesterday, and that's a typical day there nowadays.

I realize it's not totally analogous, I just thought it was a poignant reminder of just how horrid these random acts of violence are, and yet how common.

That was actually the first thing I thought of when I saw the report. Hearing everyday so many people dying there and now, even closer to home. So many people every day.

 

[Huckleman2000]

You're a braver man than I am, Huck.

Probably not. I'm something-er, though.
I just thought it was an interesting observation, and it made me think twice, at least.

 

[wordofvirtue]

I'm sure it was the gun's fault, not the poor guy who was pulling the trigger.

Yet another argument in favor of concealed carry. Had someone in his path also had a firearm, the death count would likely have been lower. This guy outdid the body count in Killeen, Texas in 1991 at Luby's cafeteria. One of the victims had a gun in her vehicle but did not bring it into the cafeteria because doing so was illegal. She wished that she had not played by the rules that day. Her parents were among the dead. No, you cannot count on the police to save you.

 

[SimpleGifts]

Still waiting to hear about the status of some acquaintances...children of friends are safe and accounted for.

I think the point about Iraq is perfectly valid, if ill-timed. People must deal with manmade tragedies every day. It IS a waste.

SG

 

[Huckleman2000]

I'm sure it was the gun's fault, not the poor guy who was pulling the trigger.

Yet another argument in favor of concealed carry. Had someone in his path also had a firearm, the death count would likely have been lower. This guy outdid the body count in Killeen, Texas in 1991 at Luby's cafeteria. One of the victims had a gun in her vehicle but did not bring it into the cafeteria because doing so was illegal. She wished that she had not played by the rules that day. Her parents were among the dead. No, you cannot count on the police to save you.

Well, at least my dead Iraqis post beat the first Concealed Carry post.

We all knew it was coming, didn't we?

I know I'd feel SO much safer if everyone I saw walking around campus was packing heat.

Oh, and those guys downtown? Yup, they got my back, for sure. And there'd be a whole new respect for the '15 items or less' line at the supermarket. "You, with the lump under your jacket. Go ahead. No, really.'

Yup. Just give everyone a gun, and that would cure nutjobs who flip out. Maybe take out a few epileptics and schizophenics, too, not to mention some bipolars and even a few simple depressives. If it'd get rid of ALL the pathological narcissists, that'd be okay. Let all those people with delusions of grandeur just have it out, kill each other off.

 

[S-Des]

Yup. Just give everyone a gun, and that would cure nutjobs who flip out. Maybe take out a few epileptics and schizophenics, too, not to mention some bipolars and even a few simple depressives. If it'd get rid of ALL the pathological narcissists, that'd be okay. Let all those people with delusions of grandeur just have it out, kill each other off.

The thing that gets me about conceal carry law proponents is the idea that 10 citizens will pull out guns on a crowded train or street, then begin firing. Yes, it might keep the shooter from hurting more people, but if you or your family has someone injured or killed by an overzealous civilian trying to shoot under duress and with people running for cover, how would you feel? It's an argument that will keep me forever on the other side of that debate. West Wing had a brilliant episode about it with a man killing a little girl in a church, trying to take down a spree killer. That episode was one of the most haunting of any to me.

I understand people's desire to protect themselves, but what happens when they accidently hurt an innocent? It's a sobering thought and I doubt anyone will ever change my mind on it. But to be fair Huck, reporters were asking about strengthening gun laws before the facts were even being reported in this case. These things always bring out the partisans on all sides, who are anxious to say, "I told you so..."

 

[3113]

I understand people's desire to protect themselves, but what happens when they accidently hurt an innocent?

I'm actually fine with people owning weapons--I just hate the fact that they can get them without learning anything about shooting or using them. Does this make sense? You can't drive a car without passing a test, why can you own a gun without passing a test? Fer' Christ's sake, it's a deadly weapon!

I was at a panel recently where a former military officer and policeman explained your point exactly, by the way. They said that police officers who can hit a target dead on while practicing will still have hands that shake and tremble when they're in the midst of a gun battle and aiming at a human being--a moving, shooting human being.

Makes perfect sense, yet for some reason people imagine that in such a stressful, chaotic situation, they'll stay calm, be able to shoot a human being with no hesitation or qualm, and that their aim will be steady and on target. Oh, and that there won't be any fragements or ricochet.

Or maybe they just think the bad guy will hold still for them?

 

[Antfarmer77]

 

[lucky-E-leven]

It might interest some people to know that around 10% of officers killed each year are, in fact, killed with their own firearm. 3113 made the point I always try to share: If people who consistently train in the use of a firearm stand a 10% chance of being killed with it; what the fuck is the average schmo thinking about arming him/herself?