VA Tech shooting

I’m having a tough time focusing my thoughts this morning, there is so much emotion surrounding something like this. I quite vividly remember the Columbine shootings in ’99, and before that the North Hollywood Bank Shootout. My thoughts and what prayers I have go out to those that have lost loved ones in this tragedy.

Sebastian (Snowflakes in Hell) has a tremendous post up regarding his feelings on the situation, and the possible reactions. I echo his reluctance to make political hay out of a tragedy like this, and yet I also am not a fool – I remember that Columbine, North Hollywood, and every other mass shooting in my lifetime has been used as political leverage by someone.

Bitter (from the Bitch Girls) points out quite accurate that the leveraging of the tragedy has already begun by some camps. I’d like to say that I’m surprised, but I’m not. It’s not even just the anti-gunners on this one. Jack Thompson, who has tried to blame every mass shooting in history on violent video games has already appeared on Fox and blamed (surprise) violent video games.

It’s stuff like that makes me want to scream. I know that people are going to use this for leverage. I expect it. Could you at least wait maybe until the bodies are cold, you fucking assholes?

This morning, I’m filled with grief and frustration – grief for the families, and frustration because I know what’s coming. Some assholes will decide that the blood of young men and woman makes the perfect lever for more nanny-state laws. “Trust the state with your safety, you can’t do it alone”, and “it’s for the children” are going to be echoing for a while. What is most frustrating is that you can’t argue against it. Try to raise an objection and you’re shouted down, because you can’t argue with emotion.

Right now, I don’t have too much to say; however I’ll post updates as I get them. Again, my heart goes out to the families of the victims.

Media Update
Well, the media is in rare form. This morning, I’ve heard the .22 LR cartridge referred as a “a deadly close range weapon”, and semi-automatic pistols “guns that can be fired every time you pull the trigger”. I really wish they find some “expert commentators” that were actually, well, experts.

Dancing in the Blood update
I won’t link to the Violence Policy Center on general principles, but they have a statement up (thanks to Smallest Minority for the link)

These tragedies are the inevitable result of the ease with which the firepower necessary to slaughter dozens of innocents can be obtained. We allow virtually anyone the means to turn almost any venue into a battlefield. In the wake of these shootings, too many routinely search for any reason for the tragedy except for the most obvious–the easy access to increasingly lethal firearms that make mass killings possible.”

Again, I’m disappointed but not surprised.

More dancing in the blood from Dr. Phil, who agrees with Jack Thompson that violent video games are responsible.

We’re going to have to start addressing those issues and recognizing that the mass murders of tomorrow are the children of today that are being programmed with this massive violence overdose.

Figures.

Mutant update
The shooter has been ID’d by authorities.

Police identified the gunman who killed 32 people on the Virginia Tech campus before turning the gun on himself as student Cho Seung-Hui, university police Chief Wendell Flinchum said Tuesday.

The 23-year-old South Korean and resident alien lived at the university’s Harper Hall, Flinchum said. He was an English major, the chief said.

It also appears that the feds were able to match the bullets from the shooting at the dorm to the rounds from the later Norris Hall shooting.

From the Chicago Trib, it appears that the mutant left a note. No details on its contents yet.

NRA Update
Some of my “left” friends have been almost gleefully waiting for the NRA to make a statement about this, I suppose to justify their mental image of the NRA as evil. Here’s the statement from the NRA’s website.

The National Rifle Association joins the entire country in expressing our deepest condolences to the families of Virginia Tech University and everyone else affected by this horrible tragedy.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the families.

We will not have further comment until all the facts are known.

That seems rather responsible.

Guns update
Well, both CNN and ABC have confirmed that the mutant used a 9mm Glock 19, and a .22 LR Walther P22. It’s been confirmed that the Glock was purchased from a gun shop and that the mutant cleared the NICS check. It’s also been confirmed that he filed off the serial numbers, which doesn’t make any sense to me, but then again I’m not crazy.

A few other sources have indicated that the mutant was on anti-depressants, which means that he lied on the forms you have to fill out, as under the care of a shrink/anti-depressants is a disqualifier for gun ownership.