Nearly A Year Later... Virginia Tech Shooting Should Serve As A National Call To Arms
Dave Gibson
March 19, 2008
The shooting spree orchestrated last year by Seung Hui Cho and the incredible carnage wrought by that one man, was a tragedy that did not have to occur. Regardless of his motive or grim determination, had one or two students or teachers been armed--his murderous attack in Tech's Norris Hall could have been stopped before 32 innocent lives were lost.
In 2006, a Va. Tech student was disciplined for carrying a gun on campus, even though he possessed a concealed weapons permit. Va. Tech officials were quick to point out that their school was a "gun free zone." That assertion has not only proven to be naive but deadly as well.
In January 2006, House Bill 1572 was introduced in the Virginia General assembly. The legislation would have allowed students who possess a concealed weapons permit to carry their guns anywhere on campus. Most schools in Virginia have policies against students and faculty carrying guns on campus, Va. Tech is of course one of those schools. Unfortunately, the bill failed to pass through the Committee on Militia, Police, and Public Safety.
Va. Tech Vice President Larry Hincker gave the following statement shortly after the aforementioned measure died in committee: "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."
I wonder if Mr. Hincker has the courage to sit down with every family who lost a son or daughter last spring and explain that statement?
As much as the liberals are interested in trying to understand the painful life that supposedly leads someone to commit murder, they are equally uninterested in trying to understand how a well-armed citizenry can make these mass murders a thing of the past.
In 1997, Mississippi teenager Luke Woodham killed his mother and then drove to Pearl High School where he killed two students and wounded seven more. Assistant Principal Joel Myrick ran a quarter of a mile to his vehicle and returned with his .45 pistol. Myrick confronted the teenaged killer and detained him while waiting for police to arrive. Woodham was attempting to leave the high school and planned to drive to the local middle school and continue his killing. Myrick's actions undoubtedly saved the lives of many children that day.
In 2002, a Nigerian student named Peter Odighizuwa shot and killed three people at the Appalachian School of Law in rural Virginia. His shooting spree was ended when fellow students Todd Ross and Ted Bessen went to their cars and retrieved their own guns. The pair returned and ordered Odighizuwa to drop his weapon and held him until police arrived.
In February 2007, at a Salt Lake City mall, an armed off-duty police officer shot and killed a young Muslim named Sulejman Talovic. The officer (Ken Hammond), prevented a massacre as Talovic was found with a backpack full of ammunition, a shotgun, and a pistol. Before Officer Hammond ended the shooting spree, Talovic murdered five people.
Currently, Utah and Oregon are the only states in the union which allow teachers and staff to carry weapons in their schools. It is no coincidence that there has never been a school shooting spree unleashed in either of those states.
In 1975, handgun ownership was banned in Washington D.C. Since that time, violent criminals have over-taken our nation's capital. From 1976-2005, an astounding 8,278 murders have taken place in that city and guns were used in almost all of them. The lawless state which has become our nation's capital is a great example of how armed thugs will always take advantage of an unarmed populous.
The Supreme Court is currently hearing the case of the legitimacy of the D.C. handgun ban. Fortunately, it appears that a majority of the Justices see the ban in direct conflict with our Constitution. Chief Justice John Roberts let everyone in the courtroom know his judgment that the ban was unreasonable when he posed the question: "What is reasonable about a total ban on possession of handguns?"
What the anti-2nd Ammendment activists deem a 'gun free zone,' is actually seen by violent criminals as a 'free fire zone.' Criminals are always encouraged by gun control laws.
Never forget that laws only apply to the law-abiding!
In 2006, a Va. Tech student was disciplined for carrying a gun on campus, even though he possessed a concealed weapons permit. Va. Tech officials were quick to point out that their school was a "gun free zone." That assertion has not only proven to be naive but deadly as well.
In January 2006, House Bill 1572 was introduced in the Virginia General assembly. The legislation would have allowed students who possess a concealed weapons permit to carry their guns anywhere on campus. Most schools in Virginia have policies against students and faculty carrying guns on campus, Va. Tech is of course one of those schools. Unfortunately, the bill failed to pass through the Committee on Militia, Police, and Public Safety.
Va. Tech Vice President Larry Hincker gave the following statement shortly after the aforementioned measure died in committee: "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."
I wonder if Mr. Hincker has the courage to sit down with every family who lost a son or daughter last spring and explain that statement?
As much as the liberals are interested in trying to understand the painful life that supposedly leads someone to commit murder, they are equally uninterested in trying to understand how a well-armed citizenry can make these mass murders a thing of the past.
In 1997, Mississippi teenager Luke Woodham killed his mother and then drove to Pearl High School where he killed two students and wounded seven more. Assistant Principal Joel Myrick ran a quarter of a mile to his vehicle and returned with his .45 pistol. Myrick confronted the teenaged killer and detained him while waiting for police to arrive. Woodham was attempting to leave the high school and planned to drive to the local middle school and continue his killing. Myrick's actions undoubtedly saved the lives of many children that day.
In 2002, a Nigerian student named Peter Odighizuwa shot and killed three people at the Appalachian School of Law in rural Virginia. His shooting spree was ended when fellow students Todd Ross and Ted Bessen went to their cars and retrieved their own guns. The pair returned and ordered Odighizuwa to drop his weapon and held him until police arrived.
In February 2007, at a Salt Lake City mall, an armed off-duty police officer shot and killed a young Muslim named Sulejman Talovic. The officer (Ken Hammond), prevented a massacre as Talovic was found with a backpack full of ammunition, a shotgun, and a pistol. Before Officer Hammond ended the shooting spree, Talovic murdered five people.
Currently, Utah and Oregon are the only states in the union which allow teachers and staff to carry weapons in their schools. It is no coincidence that there has never been a school shooting spree unleashed in either of those states.
In 1975, handgun ownership was banned in Washington D.C. Since that time, violent criminals have over-taken our nation's capital. From 1976-2005, an astounding 8,278 murders have taken place in that city and guns were used in almost all of them. The lawless state which has become our nation's capital is a great example of how armed thugs will always take advantage of an unarmed populous.
The Supreme Court is currently hearing the case of the legitimacy of the D.C. handgun ban. Fortunately, it appears that a majority of the Justices see the ban in direct conflict with our Constitution. Chief Justice John Roberts let everyone in the courtroom know his judgment that the ban was unreasonable when he posed the question: "What is reasonable about a total ban on possession of handguns?"
What the anti-2nd Ammendment activists deem a 'gun free zone,' is actually seen by violent criminals as a 'free fire zone.' Criminals are always encouraged by gun control laws.
Never forget that laws only apply to the law-abiding!
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