Virginia Tech University Shooting

[JoStream]

The events unfolded very quickly and is now dominating most news networks. And there's a good reason it is :(

You would hope that this media coverage would help make a difference, identify a problem and offer a feasible solution for it. What happened is truly shocking, particularly because it was in an academic institution, where people engage in learning and ideas :cry:

One should be careful about pointing fingers. Even if the university had responded quicker, is that really the root of the problem? Or is it the gun culture (which has made the NRA a lot of money)?

What we should not do is say that this person had psychological problems and that is why all of this happened. The fact that he could get a semi-automatic weapon is in itself a troublesome thought, because it makes it seem like guns solve problems :wonder:

[saltysurprise]

I had to think long and hard about responding to this thread. And I hummed and hawed about starting it yesterday.
I could really go on a rant here, but for the sake of my fellow members (and my blood pressure) I won't. For now.
I'm sorry Jo, but I have to disagree with you. This kid had serious mental issues. Clearly.

[JoStream]

Don't get me wrong, I agree with you on that, but if access to weapons were more restricted, particularly a semi-automatic, especially a semi-automatic weapon, we would have seen less fatalities.

[Driverdb]

yeah, it was a seriously tragic event and the guy responsible should certainly have been in the padded room long before this event. But that's always easy to say after the event.

The mental institutions in Sweden have had to cut back on expenses the last couple of years and we've had a spur of violence which can probably be directly related to that. Some people just get a prescription of drugs and sent home eventhough they themselves feel it's best to keep them under observation. Thankfully mental cases in Sweden can at most time only arm themselves with kitchen knives.

[saltysurprise]

Don't get me wrong, I agree with you on that, but if access to weapons were more restricted, particularly a semi-automatic, especially a semi-automatic weapon, we would have seen less fatalities.

I couldn't agree with you more.
This guy was investigated by police earlier, the judge recommended a psych evaluation, and because the perp went of his own accord it had NO effect on his ability to puchase a gun. The judge even stated "he is a danger to himself". If the judge had ORDERED his evaluation, his ability to purchase a gun legally would have been a non-issue. But in the States especially, if you really want a gun, they're not hard to get by other means.

Here in Canada, we have reletively strict gun laws, but that doesn't mean some 'whack-job', isn't going to go about his business.
I've never owned a gun, have no reason to own a gun. But as the saying goes. "Outlaw guns then only outlaws will have guns".

yeah, it was a seriously tragic event and the guy responsible should certainly have been in the padded room long before this event. But that's always easy to say after the event.

The mental institutions in Sweden have had to cut back on expenses the last couple of years and we've had a spur of violence which can probably be directly related to that. Some people just get a prescription of drugs and sent home eventhough they themselves feel it's best to keep them under observation. Thankfully mental cases in Sweden can at most time only arm themselves with kitchen knives.

We have the same problem here. Specifically in BC. I can't speak about the other provinces. The province downsized, or even shut down mental institutions a number of years ago as an "experiment". Well, years later, violent crime, drug addiction and homelessness has ALL increased. And they still aren't doing much about it other than TALK about it:mad: .