Through the Misty Dawn - Editorial

A Tragic Failure All Around

A professor saw the danger signs and removed the killer from her class. She even tutored him privately to protect the other students. The killer was committed to a mental institution and later released. He was determined to be a dangerous threat to himself and possibly others. This man was then allowed to purchase two hand guns. For what better reasons do we have background checks on gun purchases?

On the day of his rampage after killing two people in a dormitory two hours passed before he killed thirty people at Norris Hall. Authorities say they believed he left the campus after the first killings and possibly the state. Their asserted belief is an absurdity. How could they know such a thing? All that was really known was two dead and a killer on the loose, free to strike again.

For unknown reasons we have not been told details of the time line of these tragic events. We do not know how he killed 30 students with but two hand guns. It seems impossible..... but horrendously true. Do survivors tell of any attempts to stop the mad man?

In a Democracy that guarantees the right to have arms for self protection, do we really have that right? An assassin can purchase weapons but I question if students can carry arms for their protection. Obviously, in the future, many students should be allowed that protection, including professors and teachers as well.

We can now say that such killings will, in all probability, happen again. Will we take any precautions that will protect students from such a massacre? Will there be weapons stored in schools and universities for quick response by teachers, administrators or security? Will teachers and students be permitted to carry arms? If not, then WHY NOT?

The gun control issue raises many disturbing questions. Newscasters are repeatedly saying we do not live in the Wild West where guns were necessary. We live in times in many ways far worse. Regrettably, we live in dangerous times which command provisions for the security of our children in schools and universities.

The question of identifying potential threats or people with the potential for harming other students is important. I strongly suggest required courses be added to all secondary school and university curiculum that teaches students alternatives to acting our their anger and frustrations. The value goes far beyond the tragedy because the problem is huge throughout the lifetimes of nearly all students. Similar courses should be mandated for penal institutions, as well. LONG OVER DUE.

Today the press is searching for a motive in the VT massacre. The answer seems simple enough. A lonely man sought to break out from his obscurity. What he did not know is that in a nation of 200 million people we are all obscure. Fame comes to but a few and has little or no merit in the personal, private and important aspects of life. Moreover it appears the killer sought originality in his writings but failed to compete in his daily living experience.

Richard

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• #1 Comment from fisherkristina 
  7/9/07 6:05 PM | Permalink

  I agree.
  BTW, I am stopping by your journal via Kellen's journal, b/c he awarded you the Rockin' Man Blogger's award.  Kellen's journal is http://journals.aol.com/irisheyes1929/FaithinRomanCatholicism
  Glad to check your journal out!
  
  Krissy :)
  http://journals.aol.com/fisherkristina/SometimesIThink