Who's to Blame for the Massacre at Virginia Tech?
Terry L. Mitchell
April 18, 2007
Along with the grieving in the aftermath of the senseless massacre of 32 innocent people at Virginia Tech, there is a natural tendency to look for something or someone, other than just the killer, to blame. There's an abundance of Monday morning quarterbacking going on right now. But are others partially culpable for the deadliest shooting rampage in modern American history?
Many people blame themselves and/or others for failing to do this or failing to do that or for not recognizing the "obvious" warning signs. Still others fault campus security and local law enforcement for not locking the whole place down after the original incident, which occurred a full two hours before the second and far more deadly one. Some are even wondering if students and faculty members should have considered rushing the assailant, like passengers aboard United Airlines Fight 93 did to their hijackers on 9/11.
Then, of course, we have the perennial ad hominem arguments about guns. This knee-jerk reaction occurs after any substantial shooting anywhere in the U.S. Gun control advocates once again are decrying how easy it is to acquire guns in the U.S., and especially in Virginia. Surely, they say, our lax gun laws are to blame for this monumental tragedy. Some even go as far as holding the persons who sold the guns to the shooter partially accountable. Gun thumpers, on the other hand, are pointing to the fact that guns are banned on college campuses in Virginia. They claim the students would have been able to defend themselves, and therefore there would have been fewer casualties, if not for that "awful" law.
However, I think everyone should just cool it on the guilt trips and finger-pointing. This whole thing is all about personal responsibility -- one person's. Cho Seung-Hui and only Cho Seung Hui bears the blame for this mass murder. As far as law enforcement officials can tell, it was his idea and nobody else's. There were no co-conspirators before, during, or after the fact. And despite all the second-guessing, there was no way his actions could have been predicted or prevented. Rushing him would have been foolhardy.
Yes, the guy was obviously a bit psychotic, but I dare say 99 out of 100 psychotic people would never have considered an act like he committed. And we can't lock up or otherwise detain every strange, goofy, or marginally psychotic person. It would be completely impractical. Besides, if it were attempted, most of us would be in big trouble anyway. How many of us don't act a little strange, at least once in while?
As far as security is concerned, no amount or level of it is going to stop someone who is intent on killing others and has no regard for his own life. That theme has been played out over and over again as the civilized world has attempted to thwart terrorism. And if Cho wanted to get some guns badly enough, no amount of gun control would have prevented him. I would also imagine that few, if any, Virginia Tech students would have had guns readily available to defend themselves, even had they been legally allowed to carry concealed weapons.
When students return to class next week at Virginia Tech, they will obviously have plenty on their hearts and minds. Two things they should not have to be concerned about are guilt and blame. Those emotions, in regard to this tragedy, should be buried with Mr. Cho Seung-Hui.
Many people blame themselves and/or others for failing to do this or failing to do that or for not recognizing the "obvious" warning signs. Still others fault campus security and local law enforcement for not locking the whole place down after the original incident, which occurred a full two hours before the second and far more deadly one. Some are even wondering if students and faculty members should have considered rushing the assailant, like passengers aboard United Airlines Fight 93 did to their hijackers on 9/11.
Then, of course, we have the perennial ad hominem arguments about guns. This knee-jerk reaction occurs after any substantial shooting anywhere in the U.S. Gun control advocates once again are decrying how easy it is to acquire guns in the U.S., and especially in Virginia. Surely, they say, our lax gun laws are to blame for this monumental tragedy. Some even go as far as holding the persons who sold the guns to the shooter partially accountable. Gun thumpers, on the other hand, are pointing to the fact that guns are banned on college campuses in Virginia. They claim the students would have been able to defend themselves, and therefore there would have been fewer casualties, if not for that "awful" law.
However, I think everyone should just cool it on the guilt trips and finger-pointing. This whole thing is all about personal responsibility -- one person's. Cho Seung-Hui and only Cho Seung Hui bears the blame for this mass murder. As far as law enforcement officials can tell, it was his idea and nobody else's. There were no co-conspirators before, during, or after the fact. And despite all the second-guessing, there was no way his actions could have been predicted or prevented. Rushing him would have been foolhardy.
Yes, the guy was obviously a bit psychotic, but I dare say 99 out of 100 psychotic people would never have considered an act like he committed. And we can't lock up or otherwise detain every strange, goofy, or marginally psychotic person. It would be completely impractical. Besides, if it were attempted, most of us would be in big trouble anyway. How many of us don't act a little strange, at least once in while?
As far as security is concerned, no amount or level of it is going to stop someone who is intent on killing others and has no regard for his own life. That theme has been played out over and over again as the civilized world has attempted to thwart terrorism. And if Cho wanted to get some guns badly enough, no amount of gun control would have prevented him. I would also imagine that few, if any, Virginia Tech students would have had guns readily available to defend themselves, even had they been legally allowed to carry concealed weapons.
When students return to class next week at Virginia Tech, they will obviously have plenty on their hearts and minds. Two things they should not have to be concerned about are guilt and blame. Those emotions, in regard to this tragedy, should be buried with Mr. Cho Seung-Hui.
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