Virginia Tech Shooting

[manny21]

Originally Posted by Solar

I can think of 33 dead people in Virginia who had a reason to have a weapon.

Unless you can come up with a realistic system for removing the vast majority of guns from circulation all banning guns does is ensure only criminals are armed.

how many shootings occur in the UK on a daily basis? also have you ever lived in a country where guns are allowed and guns are banned? the difference is tremendous...

there are countries out there that have banned guns...and it seems to be working fine

[strafer_praha]

Originally Posted by manny21

how many shootings occur in the UK on a daily basis? also have you ever lived in a country where guns are allowed and guns are banned? the difference is tremendous...

there are countries out there that have banned guns...and it seems to be working fine

You're being kicked out of Texas tomorrow BTW

[manny21]

Originally Posted by strafer_praha

You're being kicked out of Texas tomorrow BTW

hahaha i have the feeling i dont fit the mold of texas...

[strafer_praha]

Originally Posted by manny21

hahaha i have the feeling i dont fit the mold of texas...

only steers and queers come from Texas private cowboy, and you don't much look like a steer to me so that kinda narrows it down

[OGAA]

so word on the street (ie msnbc and cnn blogs and interviews) is that the guy was Asian...so I have to admit if i was playing Keith's guess the race game i would have lost badly.

[strafer_praha]

Originally Posted by OGAA

so word on the street (ie msnbc and cnn blogs and interviews) is that the guy was Asian...so I have to admit if i was playing Keith's guess the race game i would have lost badly.

It was only a matter of time before those yellow bastards started acting up. And of course the overachieving motherfucker had to make it the biggest school shooting in history. Damn chinks.

[golgi body]

*****WARNING LONG POST AHEAD*****


This is quite horrific. Virginia Tech is my alma mater. I graduated from there last year with a BS in Statistics and a minor in mathematics. In fact I almost attended grad school at Tech, but decided to go to UNC instead. Most of my VA Tech friends have already graduated, but there are quite a few acquaintances I still have there that I have no way of getting in touch with. A lot of engineering students pursue minors in Statistics.

Last year my abstract algebra course as well as a computer science class were in the buildings surrounding Norris Hall. Pretty freaky.

As for the whole banning guns thing, last year at Tech a student was found to be in possession of a handgun. I forget what happened to him and if he had a concealed weapons permit or not. But soon after, the University enacted a campus wide ban on gun possession. Now some can argue that a student or faculty member with a concealed weapons permit could have ended this situation without the casualties being so high. I'm not going to make that argument, but people should remember that firearms in many (perhaps most, I'm not aware of the stats) gun related crimes are not obtained legally (I'm from Richmond, VA and we have had our fair share of illegal firearm murders). Therefore, a ban would essentially have little to no effect other than removing them from the hands of law abiding citizens who, contrary to popular belief, are quite responsible with their firearms.

I'm a gun owner and come from a family with numerous firearms. My brother used to have a concealed permit, but rarely carried his HK USP 9mm. My best friend is also an avid gun owner/collector. He owns/owned an Ak47, SKS, Mosin Nagant M-38 (the most powerful rifle I've ever fired, the muzzle blast is fucking insane), Colt 45, a Ruger 9mm, and last year built himself an AR-15. He's the epitome of a responsible gun owner. He is no more dangerous with those weapons than he is behind the wheel of a car.

I think the reason most people fear guns is due to limited to no experience with them. They're only as dangerous as the operator makes them. When I travel I often carry my Glock 19 with me in my car. I keep it in the trunk so I don't violate any concealed laws, but I do keep it for protection. Many of you may think this is bizarre or drastic, but I've personally known some people who were victims of murder and gun violence, and I've also been in some shady situations myself (car breaking down in the middle of Pennsylvania and sketchy people stopping by asking freaky questions, and some pretty crazy camping experiences). I'm fairly educated in the laws about lethal use of a firearm for protection and would never brandish a firearm to deter a situation (it's best to just avoid or flee these situations if possible).

However, the major problem I have with gun control is the fact that it takes away my right to protect myself, family, and residence from intruders. Now, statistically speaking I will probably never be in a circumstance where lethal force would be necessary, but everyday people prepare themselves for emergencies that again, statistically speaking, are of rare occurrence. Why should my right to bear arms be taken away because some fucker decides he wants to go off a bunch of college students? If you've been paying attention to the news, you should know that two bomb threats were made last week. I don't know if they were made by the shooter, but consider the fact there are a lot of farms in and around Blacksburg (there really is nothing in that town but VA Tech). I wouldn't be surprised if some of them possess ammonium nitrate. If the shooter really wanted to carry out his killing spree without the use of a gun, what's to say he couldn't make a fertilizer bomb like the one used in the Oklahoma city bombing?

Where there's a will, there's a way. A gun ban will not stop people from murdering others. For example, consider the Harvey family murder in Richmond, VA last year. Those sick fuckers slit the throats of 4 and 9 year old girls.

Would a ban at least reduce the numbers of gun related homicides? Perhaps, but I seriously doubt it would have the impact most liberals believe it would have. Also, keep in mind that countries' populations are not as homogeneous as people lead others to believe when comparing gun control laws and crime statistics. I don't know what the problem in America is, but it's much more complicated than the fact that we can legally own firearms.

Just some food for thought.

Golgi

PS - I think the shooter was using a Glock(s). I heard witnesses say the gun looked like it was made of plasctic and that he may have had 30 round ammo clips. The only manufacturer I'm aware of that makes 30 round clips for their hand guns is Glock (the ban on civilian possession of these was lifted last year).

PPS - Perhaps most importantly, my heart and prayers go out to the families and loved ones of the victims. I've never been a big fan of the Hokies when it comes to football, but as an alumnus, it has affected me more than I would have thought.

[strafer_praha]

Originally Posted by golgi body

Virginia Tech is my alma mater.

So how is this going to affect your ability to market your degree? Its at least going to make job interviews a little more awkward. Don't you wish you had gone to West Virginia instead now

[golgi body]

Originally Posted by strafer_praha

So how is this going to affect your ability to market your degree? Its at least going to make job interviews a little more awkward. Don't you wish you had gone to West Virginia instead now

Actually, it may work to my advantage. I may be able to get some sympathy hires.

In all seriousness though, if I am able to obtain my Masters degree, that'll be my main selling point.

[strafer_praha]

Originally Posted by golgi body

Actually, it may work to my advantage. I may be able to get some sympathy hires.

In all seriousness though, if I am able to obtain my Masters degree, that'll be my main selling point.

You're a genius