Virginia Tech, Our thoughts are with you. - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

**MolsonGirl** · 04-17-2007, 04:44 PM

I just want to send out my thoughts and hopes for all those affected by the events at the university yesterday. It is a huge tragedy and I hope people can get through it as best they can.

**Brookers13** · 04-17-2007, 04:51 PM

I wanted to post something about this but actually I didn't know what to say. I've been really in shock by this. I layed in bed for like 4 hours today just watching coverage on TV and crying. I can't get it out of my head. I can't imagine what these people are going through. My heart and thoughts go out to VT.

**juliagulia** · 04-17-2007, 05:02 PM

I was so disturbed by this. We were pretty isolated in Canada (not because it's Canada, but because we had no television, radio, internet, etc. virtually the whole time), so we didn't hear anything about it until we stopped for lunch in New York.

It was really a shock, especially since it's much closer to home than Columbine, and it brought back the whole sniper experience.

My condolences to all affected

justme · 04-17-2007, 06:02 PM

I have very few words with which I am able to express my myself at this time, my thoughts and prayers are with all affected.

lemlern · 04-17-2007, 06:14 PM

All I can say is "what is this world coming to... where the only way to express pain, anger, and loneliness is to kill innocent people?" Things like this makes me not want to start a family because I will be so afraid when I send my children to school.

rousseau5550 · 04-17-2007, 09:00 PM

What is the World coming to?? Heres a question, would gun control have made a difference in this case or are there more pertinent reasons (i.e. parents, societal issues..) to understand as to what happened at Virginia Tech?

My thoughts are with the families and students of Virginia Tech. I attended Dawson College, and was lucky enough to have graduated before the Massacre on September 13 (1 dead, 20 wounded), though many of my friends weren't so lucky, as they witnessed the shooting.

**joe7f** · 04-17-2007, 09:32 PM

It's tough to know about the gun control. Play devil's advocate. What if the entire school was armed? In Germany you aren't allowed to own guns and they had a horrific shooting (two actually I think) last year (or in the last two). On the other hand if it were more difficult for this guy to get would he have still gone through with it?

All that aside, what an atrocity. I feel so bad for those families and friends of those deceased.

--Joey

**buzzingtalk** · 04-18-2007, 02:11 AM

i dont understand why america stil allows anyone to have a gun. when i went there its silly to think at age 19 you can buy a gun but not a beer. bad bad bad

in switzerland guns are legal but hardley any gun crime - so whats different about the US?

RIP

**blinkchick2134** · 04-18-2007, 05:57 AM

I don't have a t.v. so the only way I found out about it was via Yahoo news and other news sources. I knew of people that went there but I didn't know any of them personally, none of them were ones who were killed (as far as the sources go now).

Julia: My friend lived in Laurel, MD when the sniper shottings were happening. He tells me that everyone walked bouncing their head around to make it harder to hit. That whole experience most have been horrific, not specific targets, no real safe place. Gives me the chills.

**Dig** · 04-18-2007, 07:30 AM

My heart goes out to all the victims and their families...

I don't think this was a gun issue. His professor notified the appropriate people when he turned in weird writings. Nothing was done.

**SuDz** · 04-18-2007, 08:47 AM

Gun control wouldn't have changed a thing. The guns were bought and owned privately and legally.

SuDZ

RenzoMSP · 04-18-2007, 01:38 PM

Yeah gun control wouldn't make a difference in this case. Obviously this guy was mentally disturbed. All though it is a tragic event I hate how the media exploits it. I hear on the news "how this could of be avoided" and the answer is that IT CAN'T. I know people want answers, but the truth in the matter is its a freak incident. Also hearing the media try to talk about how to further avoid these masacares is bullshit. They are trying to install fear into us, so the government could take away more of our little freedoms. Anyway straying away from the media, this definitly was a horrific and sad day.

crybaby · 04-18-2007, 02:45 PM

It's hard to say if anything could have been avoided, but since his professor contacted the appropriate people, they should have made counselling mandatory. Or they should do so in the future if they come across a student or employee that seems extremely troubled. It might not be the key prevention solution but it helps promotes a wellness in the community

**SuDz** · 04-18-2007, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buzzingtalk

i dont understand why america stil allows anyone to have a gun. when i went there its silly to think at age 19 you can buy a gun but not a beer. bad bad bad

in switzerland guns are legal but hardley any gun crime - so whats different about the US?

RIP

he was not from the US though. So it is hard to base him on a general perception.

SuDZ

**Brookers13** · 04-18-2007, 05:22 PM

While I do believe its impossible to avoid all instances like this, there are signs and warnings that are found after the horrific shootings occur, and I believe that people should learn from them. In almost every case, the shooter has shown some kind of warning signs. In this particular case, this young man was in a psychiatric hospital and was then released though he obviously was not stable. It's hard to say whether or not anything could have been done to prevent the horrible acts, but I do not think the media is exploiting anything. They are doing their job. And if their "exploitation" helps other people learn to detect warning signs and get people help before they snap, then more power to them.

**noke_travel** · 04-18-2007, 07:30 PM

whatever the causes, the whole thing is just so surreal. having gone to school 20 miles up the road and taken countless roadtrips down to tech during my time in virginia i still feel a bit weird seeing all the reports on tv. luckily none of my friends at vt were anywhere near the shootings however they've said that the entire community is beyond devastated.
blacksburg is in a pretty rural part of virginia and being such a massive school, was pretty much the center (along with roanoke) of south west virginia.
it seems so sad to see such a pointless waste of young lives. i only hope this doesn't become a political issue...

sorry for the rant, but tht's my two cents.

**Sijuki** · 04-19-2007, 12:18 PM

If anything is to be learned by such atrocities, it is that life is fragile and limited. Irregardless of the safeties we can practice, life can be taken from us at any time.

I feel for those that were affected. I probably feel more for the families, as they will carry the burden of the deaths of their children to their graves. Especially those with only children.

Gun control, in my opinion, would not of helped this situation. While in this case the guns were purchased legally, it was even noticed that the serial numbers were etched off of the weapons. So if legal means were not available, then this individual would have gone through illegal means. I believe our 2nd amendment is for a reason. Citizens without guns, or a means of protection, will fall victim to criminals who will get weapons. Look at our legal system that allows an intruder to sue a homeowner for injuring themselves or being attacked. Where are our rights?

But i digress, as this isn't the place for this discussion. Blame, as the media likes to create and place on everyone, isn't the issue here. Answers will not make the situation finite. A tragedy has occured, and all we can really do is mourn, have our time of solace, and work to carry on.

May the wind always be at your back, may the sun shine down on you again.