A gunman opened fire in a dormitory and classroom at a US university on Monday, killing at least 30 people.
The rampage at Virginia Tech University was the deadliest in US history, government officials said. The gunman was killed, bringing the death toll in Blacksburg, Virginia, to 31.
It is unclear if the gunman was shot by police or took his own life.
"Today the university was struck with a tragedy that we consider of monumental proportions," said Virginia Tech president Charles Steger. The university is shocked and indeed horrified."
The name of the gunman was not immediately released, and investigators offered no motive for the attack. It was not clear if the gunman was a student.
The shootings spread panic and confusion on campus, with witnesses reporting students jumping out classroom windows to escape the gunfire. Students and faculty members carried out some of the wounded themselves, without waiting for ambulances to arrive. Police with flak jackets and assault rifles swarmed the campus.
The bloodbath took place at opposite sides of the 2,600-acre campus, beginning at about 7.15am (1215 GMT) at West Ambler Johnston, a co-ed residence hall that houses 895 people, and continuing about two hours later at Norris Hall, an engineering building.
Police said they were still investigating the shooting at the dormitory when they got word of gunfire at the classroom building.
After the first shots were fired, students were warned to stay indoors and away from the windows. But some students said they thought the precautions had been lifted by the time the second burst of gunfire was heard, and some bitterly questioned why the gunman was able to strike a second time, two hours after the bloodshed began.
Some of the dead were students. One student was killed in a dorm and the others were killed in the classroom, Virginia Tech Police Chief W.R. Flinchum said.
just gets to show the great american dream/way they go on about, i was very sad to hear this on the news when i switched on but i guess guns rule america even the president is funded by the gun companies
In The Name of Allah, The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful
format_quote Originally Posted by enaya
just gets to show the great american dream/way they go on about
sis this isn't only a "American problem" since there are lunatics in every society. nothing to do with the American dream. this guy had issues and he decided to take it out on other people.
I think this is a very tragic event, however I do not believe that the right to bear arms should be revoked. I own quite a few weapons myself and I have never harmed anyone with any of them. I also have a concealed weapons license and I carry two pistols on me at all times, neither of which have ever had to be drawn. The problem is not the right to bear arms, when you own a weapon legally you understand this as you have to go through a lot of classes and education to own such weapons. The problem here is you have a foreign student who illegally obtained a gun and killed these people. The problem is not the right to bear arms the problem is criminals who deal arms illegally. The DEA, ATF and the FBI need to crack down on gun runners and illegal arms so that these things dont happen. The sad fact is though it is hard to track these types of illegal arms. :unhappy:
"War does not determine who is right - only who is left."
- Bertrand Russell
"He who fears being conquered is sure of defeat." - Napoleon Bonaparte
"There is nothing so likely to produce peace as to be well prepared to meet the
enemy." - George Washington
Can't really call him a terrorist as he had no clear political aim or motivation. Can't really call him an American either, because he wasn't.
Most likely he had an undiagnosed and untreated mental illness and was socially isolated.
Perhaps you can make the argument that he was influenced by American culture
and he very likely didn't bring the guns into the country, which means he bought them here. Very bad. Everyone who witnessed that, the surviviors and the families who lost someone on that campus will be scarred in some fashion.
Every year thousands of the brightest students from different parts of the world come to usa to study. This is perhaps the only known incident of an international student committing crime. And one thing you missed out is that he was a permanent resident, so he was not even an international student, so to speak. Not every student gets to become a permanent resident while studying. I find your logic very naive and absurd. With the amount of high school dropouts among american citizens, if we kick out all the mexicans who do most of the low paid jobs that americans wouldnt want to do, and the internationals who do all the hi-tech jobs, I wonder how America would survive!!!
Also if I may add, some of the schools survive on international students
just gets to show the great american dream/way they go on about, i was very sad to hear this on the news when i switched on but i guess guns rule america even the president is funded by the gun companies
The first part of your post is highly offensive (and stupifyingly ignorant). It displays an Anti-Americanism so ingrained and reflexive that you cannot even bring yourself to check your tongue with civilized decorum out of respect for 32 innocent victims. You appear to be dancing over the bodies of the innocents.
The second part is just stupifyingly ignorant, like a schoolyard taunt which can be ignored by the adults.
Overall; however, I found your input quite constructive. We Americans thank you for your advice. Maybe we could post a story about a big traffic accident or sports team being hit by lightning and you could offer your opinions on that?
Every year thousands of the brightest students from different parts of the world come to usa to study. This is perhaps the only known incident of an international student committing crime. And one thing you missed out is that he was a permanent resident, so he was not even an international student, so to speak. Not every student gets to become a permanent resident while studying. I find your logic very naive and absurd. With the amount of high school dropouts among american citizens, if we kick out all the mexicans who do most of the low paid jobs that americans wouldnt want to do, and the internationals who do all the hi-tech jobs, I wonder how America would survive!!!
Also if I may add, some of the schools survive on international students
This is perhaps the only known incident of an international student committing crime
Oh is it? From NPR...dated TODAY
Chapel Hill Graduate Faces Attempted Murder Charges
... by Rusty Jacobs
All Things Considered, March 7, 2006 · A University of North Carolina graduate is charged with attempted murder after driving an SUV into nine students in front of the university student center over the weekend. Mohammed Reza Teheri-azar says he did it because he is angry at the U.S. government for what it has done to Muslims. Rusty Jacobs of North Carolina Public Radio reports.
With the amount of high school dropouts among american citizens, if we kick out all the mexicans who do most of the low paid jobs that americans wouldnt want to do, and the internationals who do all the hi-tech jobs, I wonder how America would survive!!!
Guy..you do realize most of the high school dropouts in LA, for eg, ARE Mexican-American. Most of the low wage jobs in agriculture, for eg., are taken by those who dropped out of elementary school. (BTW .."Mexican" should be capitalized out of respect)
And the "internationals" do ALL the hi-tech jobs? Do you think that might be a little over the top?
NOTE: I am not saying international students should be banned. I do not agree with Chiteng on that. (With the possible exception of Chinese students in science and engineering fields)
Every year thousands of the brightest students from different parts of the world come to usa to study. This is perhaps the only known incident of an international student committing crime. And one thing you missed out is that he was a permanent resident, so he was not even an international student, so to speak. Not every student gets to become a permanent resident while studying. I find your logic very naive and absurd. With the amount of high school dropouts among american citizens, if we kick out all the mexicans who do most of the low paid jobs that americans wouldnt want to do, and the internationals who do all the hi-tech jobs, I wonder how America would survive!!!
Also if I may add, some of the schools survive on international students
I did not invite them, I owe them nothing.
I am not interested in your opinion of actual US citizens.
If the Universities need foreign students to survive, they dont deserve
to survive.
The rest of your post is pro-uncontrolled immigrant nonsence.
If this man, did not have a student visa, these people would still be alive.
And one thing you missed out is that he was a permanent resident, so he was not even an international student, so to speak. Not every student gets to become a permanent resident while studying.
That is another flaw in the program. They should NOT, be granted such status. They should be allowed in ONLY, with the understanding that they
will eventually LEAVE.
It should not be used as a mechanism to evade normal immigration.
I listened to BBC radio 4 where one of the speakers equated the targeting of innocents and then suicide of the perpertrator with Suicide Bombing. Interesting perspective.
Occupation: The term of control of a territory by foreign military forces: Iraq 2003-2005 Liberation:when something or someone is freed: Operation Telic 2003
That is another flaw in the program. They should NOT, be granted such status. They should be allowed in ONLY, with the understanding that they
will eventually LEAVE.
It should not be used as a mechanism to evade normal immigration.
Your just a bigot, The guy clearly had issues, I don't see what immigration has anything to do with it, I doubt you'd take the same stance towards columbine ect.
The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist
Your just a bigot, The guy clearly had issues, I don't see what immigration has anything to do with it, I doubt you'd take the same stance towards columbine ect.
Every person that posts on any board is a bigot.
Why not look up what the word means?
Hey there! Looks like you're enjoying the discussion, but you're not signed up for an account.
When you create an account, we remember exactly what you've read, so you always come right back where you left off. You also get notifications, here and via email, whenever new posts are made. And you can like posts and share your thoughts. Sign Up
Hide
Looks like you're enjoying the discussion, but you're not signed up for an account.
Bookmarks