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http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/04/16/vtech.shooting/index.html

• NEW: Police chief says at least 22 people are dead, including gunman
• NEW: Attacks mark deadliest school shooting in U.S. history
• Officials tell AP that more than 20 people were wounded
• Student describes situation as "mayhem"; says 2 students jumped from window

This is horrible. Now they are saying 32 dead and more in critical condition.

God Bless the students, faculty, and parents!

Just stunning

Every time this happens, I just hope that it's the last time. Sadly, it never is.

And no matter how many times it happens, it remains unbelievable.

This is a terrible tragedy. One of Jackson's good friends has a cousin down there. His girlfriend is one of the girls that was killed. An aquaintence of Niki's has a son who goes to school down there. His girlfriend spent the night is his room last night (against school policy), otherwise, she would most likely have been shot as well.

What is this world coming to?

I just heard from a friend doing his doctorate work at Tech, he wasn't on campus but said Blacksburg is a surreal environment right now

I worry about the "copy cats" that may spring up after situations like these.

Wow, just tragic. I have kids of my own and I can't even imagine what the parents and family members are going through right now. An extremely sad day.

JansenFan wrote:What is this world coming to?

From one of the related articles on cnn.com:

We tell residents that it's important to remember that they're responsible for their own safety and they're also responsible for the safety of everybody else that lives there," said Maj. Jamie Herring, assistant campus police chief.

--- Regarding a shooting at a school unrelated to today's tragedy.

This begs the question, might we see the beginning of schools allowing guns for self-defense on college campuses?



Today's events are truly horrifying.

I have a friend who went to VA Tech in the 60's or 70's and he talks about a time of revival and massive waves of kids coming to faith in the Lord. Today's events are a far cry from those days he talks about.

God bless them all, and may HE strengthen the families who lost loved ones today.

I also pray for the counselors on site that will have to deal with some major healing on campus.

- RS

What a horrible tragedy.

THN sends out our prayers and best wishes for the families of all involved.

BossHog wrote:What a horrible tragedy.

THN sends out our prayers and best wishes for the families of all involved.

Yup, couldn't have said it any better myself. I just can't believe how easy something like this can happen. Very scary...

Wow, I'm at JMU and things are surreal here, I can;t imagine what its like to be in Blacksburg right now. My best friend who's an engineering student there (the 2nd shooting was in an engineering building) says that everyone is trying to not even think about it, although thats obviously not really possible right now. He ask that we please pray not only for the students there, their families and the faculty, but also for God to work mightily through the tragedy.

He ask that we please pray not only for the students there, their families and the faculty, but also for God to work mightily through the tragedy.

Agreed.

Beyond words.

Now they are saying the number is at 33 dead. I can't even imagine those kids and their families and what they are all going through at that school

My thoughts and prayers are with all of them and the law enforcement and medical teams that have to deal with it all.

33 dead. This is horrible.

RIP to the victims.

Thats so awful, What a tragedy, My prayers go out to all the families involved

I hope and pray that all your families and friends are safe. Somehow, I do not really want to watch the news.

Obviously you can't cure what causes people to want to kill... but what I want to know is, how on earth was it even possible for someone to kill 33 people and wound an almost equal ammount of others?

My heart goes out to all effected, and hopefully this incident will show college campuses that they need to take proper measures when security is concerned.

A police captain was telling me the other day that before Columbine the standard police response to a hostage situation like that was to just wait it out and call SWAT. That all changed and now when there's an active shooter situation any available units immediately go inside even if they are outgunned.

I wonder how many lives could have been saved if a more pro-active stance was taken against the shooter or if administrators had locked down the school?

In the days ahead, we'll find out more about the shooter. Everybody will be throwing their two cents in about what drove him to do this. His family will be stalked by news media, sidewalk memorials and shrines will dot the campus, eulogies will be written and blogged, outrage and shock will be expressed, people of faith will gather in the hundreds and sway to some meaningful song while holding lighted candles, funds will be raised through concerts and rallies, permanent markers will be raised honoring the victims, politicians will come and meet the families and students, shaking hands and nodding grimly...
...and somewhere, as Chrissy said, somebody will see the repeated mentions of "The worst mass shooting in US History:, and take that as a challenge.
And so it goes. Why do we always forget that we swore the last time would be the last time ?
From all this, I wish the media would choose their words more carefully.
I don't know anybody in that area, but those yet-unknown kids will be heavy on my mind for a while.
Our future has taken a major, major hit. We need to protect our young.

Wow. My thoughts and prayers go out to the familes and friends of all of the victims. What a devastating thing to happen. I just can't imagine.

Thoughts and prayers go out to all the families and friends of the victims for everyone here in Australia.

I have been to VT many times - best friend went there - and went to school right downt the road. Hard to imagine what is going on right now, but I know there are a lot of folks going through some serious pain. My prayers go out to all.

Wow, I'm still stunned about this.

But let this be a lesson to everyone. I've heard that the gunman came in the room and lined all the students up, then shot them.

Well let this be a lesson that if some crazy (wish this thread was in smack) idiot comes at you with a gun, and then asks you to line up facing the wall. Then charge his ass.

I mean, if someone is already crazy enough to take a bunch of people hostage at gunpoint, then they are crazy enough to shoot innocent people.

I know I have no right talking about what to do in that type of situation because I have never been in one, but if one person charges the gunman, I know I sure as hell would help him.

Again, RIP to the all the victims.

I just got back from visiting VT for a couple of hours... the mood on the campus is still very stunned, but it was encouraging that a few students seemed to be able to take their minds off of it and joke around. That lets me know that while we'll never forget about this, someday things will return to normal. Obviously, that was not the normal reaction of the students though. They seem to be really struggling and the hallow words of most the the speakers today will probably not help much, so I guess I'm writing this to suggest that anyone who knows someone at VT should give them a call and encourage them. This is a time when people are looking for answers as to why evil exist, is God there for them, and is there somewhere they can find comfort in all of this craziness. The students down there need to talk to people, from my short experience today, they long to do just that, and I suspect that as the shock wears off they will need to talk even more. If anyone reading this is asking those questions and needs to talk, or is just struggling with this and needs to talk about anything, please feel free to drop me a message.

prayers go out here too.