View from the cop

By Cassie

April 17, 2007 10:28 AM | Link to this

Steve -

That might be one of the best columns you’ve written.

By Mike O

April 17, 2007 10:34 AM | Link to this

I’m a VT grad and this is just horrifying. But Steve’s right - there is no way to prevent this sort of thing. A man that is willing to die and kill countless others is not someone that can be reasoned with.

Just pray for the victims and their families and the university as a whole.

By Sue

April 17, 2007 11:46 AM | Link to this

GSU was not locked down awhile back when the courthouse shooter was still at large. Do they now have a plan? I’m concerned as my son teaches there.

By Major Green

April 17, 2007 12:05 PM | Link to this

Great post Steve most people look for someone to blame in these type of incident and the only one to blame or sentence is no longer with us.

By Dee

April 17, 2007 12:30 PM | Link to this

It amazes me how police are quick to rush and pull a person over of shot innocent black me, (Fulton County). But when it comes down to the real fight, where the bad guy has a gun in a building, all of a sudden the police are not willing to take control of the situation. Come on Po-Po, you chose this career and you know what is asked of you. DO YOUR JOB!!! Rush the building and TAKE HIM OUT!!! I was in the military USMC infrantry and I have been in combat, the only reason I chose not to be a COP was because I refuse to put my life on the line for pennies on the dollar. I knew however, that when I went into the military, I would probably be called to rush a building and take out the enemy, I was ready for that, and I did it.

When you join the be a COP, you know the risk, and you know that you would have to one day rush the building and take out the enemy, YOU DID NOT DO THAT…YOU ARE WEAK!!! You dont deserve to wear the uniform and a police office. You need to be a security guard.

It sicked me to see all of those offices with there guns drawn, hidden behind trees and cars, and the fight was inside the building.

By Drew W.

April 17, 2007 12:48 PM | Link to this

Wow Dee, could you possibly be any more ignorant? Using your logic, the cops should have charged in & started shooting everything that moved until the death toll was double that of what the real shooter caused.

As for the police pulling over & shooting innocent people, get over yourself. Police are not roaming through neighborhoods looking for people to shoot. Police are called to situations that merit their presence & they do their job every day.

Finally, you say you were a Marine (doubtful), but you would not be a cop because the pay is terrible? Based on your post of 2nd grade spelling & grammar, I can only assume that even if you were a Marine, you were an enlisted Marine. As an E-1, I bet that police salary would seem like a small fortune. Once again, your ignorance shines through!

By Dee

April 17, 2007 12:53 PM | Link to this

I made my point.COPPER

By Rudy

April 17, 2007 12:59 PM | Link to this

Dee, Please crawl back under the rock from whence you came! A true Marine would never disparage civilian law enforcement in a public forum they way you have. You and your ilk are a scourge upon mankind.

By Tony

April 17, 2007 1:00 PM | Link to this

Dee, You’re another clueless moron (our society seems to be filled with people like you). Police officers are trained to analyze first and then react, not the other way around. You also need to learn how to spell and proofread before you send anything. I can’t see you being Marine infantry with a name like Dee.

By Amanda

April 17, 2007 1:00 PM | Link to this

Dee, Every heard of strategy? You have to have a plan when you are facing a guy running rampant with a gun who manages to kill 30 people You can’t just rush in there and kill the guy - you have to prepare and make sure you don’t kill a student running from a classroom or another officer. You have to clear out the building where you think he isn’t, so that if he comes that way he will have fewer people to take hostage. You have to try your best to limit the amount of civilian casualties when you send in a SWAT team to take him out. You say you were in the Marines and you know about this kind of thing - then you would also know that without a plan, all you are doing when you rush into a building is giving the guy another target. PLEASE don’t make everyone on this site mad at you by dumping on the officers that, as you say yourself, make pennies and are willing to risk their lives for you each and every day. There were plenty of officers in that building too, ushering out wounded and clearing classrooms. Since you’re not willing to do the job yourself, please allow them to do theirs as best they can. Monday morning quarterbacking a tragic event like this one just makes it harder for the families who have lost loved ones to grieve.

By gman

April 17, 2007 1:02 PM | Link to this

I’m with Drew. Have all the cops rush the building and possible shoot innocent bystanders? That would have been worse. I think the same was said about Columbine.

As Steve said, in our society, this was bound to happen sooner or later. I question how this kid got his guns in the first place since he was not a US citizen and only US citizens can buy guns legally.

By kk

April 17, 2007 1:05 PM | Link to this

Dee,

You are an IDIOT!!

By Walt

April 17, 2007 1:05 PM | Link to this

The comment by Dee is symptomatic of our approach to the Iraq war — haphazard and unplanned. No wonder we’re losing!

By ALI

April 17, 2007 1:08 PM | Link to this

There is no stopping someone determined to die and it is equally impossible for an orginization (school or otherwise) to have a strategic plan for said madman storming the building and carrying out their plan. VA Tech did its abosulte best and to deal with what was happening right at that moment. This 20/20 hindsight everyone is spouting off about how things were handled wrong needs to stop. Let us not forget Fulton County police were no better at capturing their gunman. The only difference; Nichols had less of a plan. Pray for that greiving community do not criticize.

Oh and Dee - I for one am gald you are neither a cop; you’d disgrace the uniform.

By Ben

April 17, 2007 1:10 PM | Link to this

Dee, Are you kidding me. At 7:15 an isolated incident occurs and 2 people are shot. The police close the dorm area and begin an investigation. Unless you have ESP and can tell the future how would one know that 2 hours later 32 people would be dead. At 10:15 am police proceeded to the building were the shooting was occuring. Once officers entered the 2nd floor the gunman shot himself in the head. WHAT ELSE WOULD YOU HAVE THE POLICE DO????? It is NOT feasible to think that 30000 people can be notified in a matter of 45 minutes before classes start. I assure if there is a sicko who wants to inflict casualties it can be done very easily on any given day. There is NO answer as to why. Just thank good for the many blessing he has given you, and know-THEY CAN BE TAKEN FROM YOU IN AN INSTANT!!

By RUChinaDoll

April 17, 2007 1:12 PM | Link to this

Actually Dee the cops did immediatly enter the building. They followed the gun shots up to the classroom where they found the shooter had already killed himself. Before you make ignorant accusations, get your facts straight. As a Virginian, you make me sick.

By Gunny

April 17, 2007 1:14 PM | Link to this

To Dee:

Amazing how you can something like this and inject racial meaning into it. You really need to get a life and stop blaming other people for your inadequacies. I realize, however, it’s much easier for you if you make yourself out to be the victim and blame every disappointment on other people. All I can say is I’m glad you’re ex-USMC, if in fact you ever were in the first place. Your diatribe makes me wonder. Gunny.

By Biker Mike

April 17, 2007 1:29 PM | Link to this

Hmmmmmm Steve,I’ll meet you on Brasstown Bald where we can take some pix of birds fying, leaves in the breeze and a nice waterfall. And just maybe, bring some hot-dogs so that we won’t be bothered with the menu decision. Thanks for the post from a ‘lawman who knows’.

By LevelHead

April 17, 2007 1:31 PM | Link to this

Dee - If you’re so sickened by the officers taking cover to assess the threat before making their next move. You should go ahead and join up, go to the academy and receive tactical trainning. A war zone is much different theater than an active shooter theater. It appears to me that you are hot headed and would rush into the building without intel on the location of the shooter , boobie traps and location of innocent bystanders. Officer joined to help and protect others, last time I checked a downed officer was of no help to others, as matter of fact a downed officer became a liability. Officers join the force accepting the risk, but they did not join to become casualties due to stupidity.

What would be your next move without intel? Shoot anything that moved?

You are also misinformed. The police breached the door which was padlocked and rushed the building. By that time, the damage was done and it was all over withing minutes.

If you listen to the sound of the shots, you can hear the quick succession of the 22 caliber and 9 mm shots and how much damage was being done as the police was breaching the building.

And as far as Fulton County is concerned , don’t you think that you should wait for the results of the investigation to come out. Are you aware that the first brother was engaged in a fight with one of the officers and the second brother jumped in and started fighting with the officers?

We are always quick to rush to judgement without adequate information. Quick to make inflammatory remarks and incite others.

Yes I too am a black man and I am choosing to be responsible and temperate and wait for the results of the investigation before I pass judgement….

The next time that an officer approaches me, I will not engage them in a fight, I will comply with their commands, I will not resist arrest, nor will I incite them. If I have a grievance, I will go to the proper channels, that’s what IA (internal affairs) is for, that’s what OPS (Office of Professional Standards) is for. The NAACP, SCLC, there are so many channels to address those issues.

We should not have to wait for a fatality to occur to go throight those channels.

We as black men need to start to hold ourselves accountable for our actions and behavior and think before we decided to engage in disorderly conduct (i.e fights with other or the police for that matter.)

I am quite sure that those officers did wake up that morning and say to themselves that “we’re going to get the Pettaway brothers”. They did something that caused someone to call the police to the scene. Details are still sketchy, butit has been reported the older brother stated that the officers were engaged in a fight with his younger brother and he also stated that he joined in the fight. The shots were fired after the second brother attacked the officers who were attempting to place the first brother under arrest.

Just think if he had complied with the officers and allowed them to place him in cuffs. We would not be engaged in this discourse. When officers are not sure of a situation, the first thing they will tell you “sir for your safety and mine I am going to place you in cuffs…”. The next step is to comply, not resist the officers.

By LevelHead

April 17, 2007 2:06 PM | Link to this

Dee - let the following marinade in your mind! Officers place themselves in harms way every time they wear the uniform and get out there. Officers perform heroic acts on a daily basis, we don’t hear about that in the media. When tragedies are averted, the media don’t often write about it because, they don’t know about it; more importantly it does not sell papers, it does not increase viwership and as result don’t sell ads and generate revenue.

In the last 10 years officers have refrained from firing their weapons in 80% of cases where they would have been justified to do so. Officers, don’t want to go out and shoot people, it is a traumatic experience that will those officers for the rest of their lives. Officers involved in shooting incidents and particularly fatal ones suffer as much as the families.

Maybe the good Reverend Markel Hutchins, Gerald Rose and the SCLC will now see the benefit of the taser. Weren’t they protesting against the use of tasers. Not be callous, but the alternative doesn’t look so good.

Police officers follow a use of force continuem in which, which conssist of 6 steps and deadly force is the last resort. When an officer fires their weapon, they are afraid for their life. If an officer in a fight or close quarter combat feels that they are about to be subdued and possbly loose their life as a result, they will go to the last step in that continuem and shoose to live. At that time, the officer does not have the benefit of tactical thinking and strategy, they are in a fight to live. They don’t have time to draw and aim, they will draw and fire from the hip without the benefit of aim accuracy.

You purport to be an ex-marine and as an ex-marine you should have had the benefit of such training and at least be place in simulations that where you had seconds to make decisions.

It’s easy for us to be Monday morning quarterbacks; those officers and those young men did not have that benefit once they were engaged in combat.

One brother did have the option to be compliant and not escalate the situation, the other brother had the option to not attack the officers and the option to direct his brother to comply and remain calm. He opted instead to escalate the situation.

Remember that officers are always at the disadvantage of having to react to situations, that’s why the best practice is to secure the person that you are interviewing before you search and interview them by placing them in cuffs.

Be honest with yourself and think this through. If you’re a fair person, you may draw a different conclusion.

By VLS

April 17, 2007 2:24 PM | Link to this

Dee?? Are you still with us? Not only would you not be a good cop but you would be even a worse fireman…you have proven that you can not take the heat!!! You Dee have proven your own ignorant point.

By Becky

April 17, 2007 4:22 PM | Link to this

Steve, love to read your columns. This one is right on the mark. My neice has friends that still attend VT & I believe that this was handled as it should of been. Dee, I’m so glad that you aren’t a police officer in my neighborhood. You give new meaning to being just plain stupid…My thoughts & prayers go out to each and everyone of the students & parents..

By Eleanor

April 17, 2007 4:49 PM | Link to this

Sorry guys, I agree with Dee. I am an economist working for the Federal Reserve. I was pulled over by an Atlanta police officer downtown and the harrassment continued for several days at my home. I was frightened and filed a complaint. Internal Affairs dismissed my complaint saying it’s my word against his. Up until then, I never doubted or feared the police. Now I am terrified of them.

By Tony

April 17, 2007 5:55 PM | Link to this

Eleanor, I’m sorry that you had that experience. If that had been my department, it wouldn’t of been dismissed until it was thoroughly investigated. If there was any evidence that the officer acted improperly, then that particular officer would of been dealt with. A large majority of internal complaints against police officers are bs (the person is mad because they got a ticket, the officer was “rude”). If I had stopped you, you would of either been let go with a warning or I would of written you a ticket and that would of been the end of that.

By JV

April 17, 2007 6:51 PM | Link to this

Remember that approximately half of the mass murders at schools in recent decades were stopped when some citizen got a gun and pointed it at the murderer(s). It’s been high-school principals, teachers, fellow adult students, neighbors, even passers-by (including once an off-duty cop) who were the unlikely heroes. Those folks did not hesitate to grab a gun then put themselves in harms’ way to try to save others’ lives. I’m not saying they did not use cover and concealment (some did, some didn’t) but they did not wait for reinforcements and better intel. Perhaps they acted foolishly but they survived and saved others’ lives by capturing or shooting the cowardly murderers.

The police response at VA Tech may look bad by comparison once the facts become clear. I don’t know. But… I’m not at all surprised that an ex-marine combat vet would be frustrated and angry watching it unfold on tv.

IIRC it was one guy shooting back at the Columbine morons that prompted them to kill themselves, stopping the slaughter. Hours later the local SWAT team declared the area clear.

Steve’s right that there’s little anybody can do to stop a determined, suicidal, would-be mass-murderer from starting to kill people. But maybe we can find ways to kill him more quickly in return, reducing his body count.

Maybe the best way to protect campuses would be for the ROTC students to carry their M16s everywhere they go. Encourage faculty and staff (and students old enough to legally own handguns) to obtain concealed carry permits (which require extensive background checks). Then let permit holders carry their concealed pistols at school. The crazy b******* won’t live long enough to kill 33 people if his intended victims are armed and willing to fight back.

Just my $0.02, -jv

By Judi

April 17, 2007 6:58 PM | Link to this

Dee - a moron.

We need to be thankful no more people were killed. We also need to be thankful for those people who are willing to put their lives on the line everyday to try and keep us all safe.

People are already pointing fingers and saying what was done wrong (in their eyes). Hind sight, and all that. No one (meaning the college personnel and the police involved)intentionally did anything to expose more students to death. One has to do the best they can in the moment and pray for guidance. NO ONE should be trying to place blame, other than on the shooter.

I lost a son to violence. I know where I am coming from.

Unfortunately, we live in a world that feels THEY are entitled…..they suddenly feel they were not treated fairly. None of this is fair, but those people involved did the best they could at the time.

Be thankful they are willing to work for low pay to be there and try to help you when the going gets rough!

By Cassie

April 17, 2007 7:36 PM | Link to this

What I notice, through all our collective yammering about the police response here…..

Hasn’t it occurred to someone that there is some flaw in our society that allows a young man to become so disaffected and alienated, without anyone to notice or care?

I feel sorry for him, actually. He did a horrible and amoral thing - we’ll all agree there. But what went on in his life and in his brain to put him here?

VA could tighten their gun laws…and probably will in response, but that doesn’t solve the problem. We are all so removed from our normal checkpoints - geographically removed from family, alone in a strange world…what I’ve gathered from the pieces of the note that has been leaked, it sounds like this man was trying to fit into a world of quasi priviledge, and couldn’t reconcile his own status and morals with the others in his immediate community.

By Drew

April 17, 2007 8:23 PM | Link to this

There is no reason to tighten any gun laws. The guns were obtained legally. Any maniac will find anyway he can to hurt people. Its just a shame VT president decided not to inform students right after the first shooting and have campus police blocks roads to keep more people from showing up to class. I can bet every student who showed up for class wouldn’t have if they had known a gunman was on the loose.

By natalie

April 17, 2007 9:31 PM | Link to this

Is a sad double irony the young black male killed a Va Tech was from Ga by a crazed gunman and turn around the black son of a U.S. Army sargent was shot and killed by Georgia police. Such sad and twisted irony. :(

By natalie

April 17, 2007 9:31 PM | Link to this

Is a sad double irony the young black male killed a Va Tech was from Ga by a crazed gunman and turn around the black son of a U.S. Army sargent was shot and killed by Georgia police. Such sad and twisted irony. :(

By natalie

April 17, 2007 9:34 PM | Link to this

It’s a sad double irony the young black male killed a Va Tech was from Ga by a crazed gunman and turn around the black son of a U.S. Army sargent was shot and killed by Georgia police. Such sad and twisted irony. :(

By Fred

April 17, 2007 9:38 PM | Link to this

Yada Yada Yada. This is only one more example of the pussification of America. A pistol holds 12 rounds, 13 with one in the chamber. Instead of running away or hiding while the gunman is reloading, CHARGE the son of a b***. Three, maybe four people would be dead instead of 33 but the SOB would be taken down. Bunch of whiny assed wimps. Take control of your life. Stand up and be what Americans are SUPPOSED to be. COme on, On September 11 some cowardly b******* took control of airplanes filled with even more cowardly sheep. They did it with a couple of boxcutters. I guarantee you that you can NOT kill me with a boxcutter before I can kill you with my rage and bare hands. WAKE UP YOU COWARDS. QUIT BEING VICTIMS, THINKING LIKE VICTIMS AND BECOME MEN.

The only man I read about was the professor that stood in the door and took bullets while his cowardly class cowered behind him. Had they rushed this SOB while brave Prof was eating bullets others would have been saved.

I am contemptuous of you cowardly sheep, you whiners will ALWAYS be victims of scumbags.

By mustang100

April 17, 2007 10:50 PM | Link to this

Fred, are you Dee’s brother? Husband? BOTH?

By Denise

April 17, 2007 11:07 PM | Link to this

As pathetic as Dee’s comments are, they are also representative of the ignorance and laziness of our society. How convenient to always have RACE to blame for any problem and/or situation in your life. How can anyone believe that the police officers jumped in their squad cars that night intent on murdering and maming two black brothers. If people, all people, would take responsibility for themselves and their actions our country would not be in the desperate situation we find ourselves today.

To this point, the police and administration of Va Tech have been taking an unfair beating. I am not a expert, but I cannot think of much they could have done differently. Considering the enormity of the campus & the sheer volume of staff and students to protect, I believe they did an exemplary job. This is not the size of an elementary school or mall - it’s a medium sized CITY. Creating panic and pandemonium would not have helped in anyone. There was not information to get out initially. Imagine what he could have done if an email did go out while he was back in his dorm. He could have done the same or greater damage if he found himself in lockdown in his own dorm. No one knew who he was - even witnesses at the scene of the first murders.

It is also sad that several of his professors and peers felt fear based on his writings and plays, but were powerless to protect themselves and others. He was encouraged to seek counseling, but no one could - based on his civil rights - force him into counseling, suspend him from school, etc. It appears he was a time-bomb waiting to explode. Without intervention, he did explode and many families, friends and other innocent Americans will forever be his victims.

There are lots of lessons to be learned from this tragedy, but I am afraid we will not. We will, once again, forget and in a few weeks the population at large will go on with their lives and the desperately needed changes in our society will go on unaddressed.

How terribly sad.

By Fred

April 17, 2007 11:29 PM | Link to this

Spoken like a true sheep there “mustang”. Why don’t you change your handle? Mustang brings op visions of horses running wild and FREE, ready top protect themselves. Your comments bring up bile, I mean visions of some coward relying on the same cops and soldiers your would deride as idiots when they aren’t there instantaneously to “protect” you when your visions of the real world prove false. You maybe should consider Serta as they use sheep as mascots. What a cowardly loser. Given the chance you WILL be a “victim” rather than a hero. At least when I die the bullet holes will be in the front, not in the back. Maybe my lead will inspire a coward like you to step up. Naw, not a chance. You are an internet hero, a monday morning quarterback. Well, just an all around coward relying on the non existant good will of some predator to spare your life. In other words, just an oxygen thief, stealing good air from productive humans. I will alment your loss as much as I do the other sheep. They got what they deserved. Like I said earlier, the hero was the Prof who stood up for the sheep, unfortunately they left him hanging in the breeze. Go have another drink at your upscale yuppie buckhead bar with the other useless oxygen stealing yuppies and whine. But in NO means EVER take responsibility for your own life, god forbid making a sacrifice for others…………. I fart in your general direction you Shetland.

By Cletus Snow

April 18, 2007 1:21 AM | Link to this

If just one of the students were armed and double tapped the shooter,how many lives could have been saved? If everyone had been armed it wouldn’t have happened in the first place.

By aaron humes

April 18, 2007 3:51 AM | Link to this

Police are paid crap and are harder to even find these days. They carry unhumanly expectations of an impatient public. I think they are placed under unfair scrutiny—that is, all you have to do to ruin a great cop is to file a sexual harrassment complaint.

The criminal justice system is well named. Criminals get all the justice and cops are quite often the untrumpted victims.

By Jmarsh

April 18, 2007 5:04 AM | Link to this

+5 Cletus. Cops are fine, but it’s the ultimate responsibility of every person to ensure their own safety at all times. VA Tech removed the ability of the students to protect themselves by threatening expulsion to any students or faculty that had a legal Virginia concealed carry permit.

Given the choice, I’d much rather my sisters and mother have a firearm to defend themselves, and not have to depend on a 72 year old man to protect them (brilliant job he did, however.)

By ron

April 18, 2007 6:15 AM | Link to this

There’s a good possibility that someone wants to take a long,hard look at Dee. He seems to be on the verge of becoming a hatchet murderer.

By Ghostrider 3

April 18, 2007 8:18 AM | Link to this

Hey everyone. Just wanted to comment after I read “Dee’s” comment. Im a squad leader in a line infantry platoon in Baghdad with the 1st CAV. Dee, thanks for helping push the stereotype that all grunts are stupid. You have done a great job. Dont tie the results with this war to Dee’s competence. Secondly, no offense to campus cops, but do you, as a civilian, want those cops to get into a 4man stack, enter a building, possitively ID the threat, and take him out. I would’t because they dont do it alot. Raids, ie. breaching and clearing or assualting a building is a perishable skill. Its easy to defend a position from an assault, especially if you are in plain clothes and blend in with the victims/hostages. Not to seem arrogant, but I could keep cops tied up all day, pop them in the dome and maneuver. They were right not to assault. Leave that to SWAT for the high speed stuff, not to regular patrol cops. Lastly, Dee, proofread before you press the send button, or didn’t the Marines teach you that? Yes, I know I just ended my last sentence with a preposition. Protect the innocent/Punish the deserving-Infantry Leads the Way-OUT!!!!!!!

By Natalie

April 18, 2007 8:39 AM | Link to this

Its a sad double irony the young black male killed at Va Tech from Ga by a crazed gunman being paraded around in the Ga media as one of the first students killed and turn around the black son of a U.S. Army sargent was shot and killed by Georgia police. Such sad and twisted irony. :(

By Dirk

April 18, 2007 8:47 AM | Link to this

Tightening gun laws won’t make the least bit of difference. Do you think that someone who is willing to break the law against murder will even hesitate to break any gun law?

Interestingly - and sadly - there was a measure that didn’t even get out of committee, that would have allowed students and faculty the right to carry guns on campus. http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/wb/xp-50658

I wonder if Larry Hincker is singing a different tune now.

I’m just floored that nobody apparently fought back while this was going on. One gunman, dozens, hundreds of people. Not one person thought to throw a desk, a backpack, a fire extinguisher? Not a single person tried to rush him and tackle him and beat him senseless? Nobody tried to do anything but lock doors and hide under desks and jump out windows?

I’m not saying I would be the one to do something about a situation like that, though I certainly hope I would. I frankly have no clue how I’d react - but I like to think I wouldn’t just cower under a desk and hope he ran out of bullets before he got to me.

By Keith

April 18, 2007 9:47 AM | Link to this

I always feel kind of naked when in a so-called gun free zone, and sometimes ignore the rules and carry the gun if I feel the need.Walking the streets of Washington DC is an example of one of those times. You are a potential victim anytime one is forced into a gun free zone and obeys the rules. Gun control puts the innocent at risk. As for getting killed by cops- teach your kids to follow instructions and have just a little respect for authority and they will never be killed by a cop. It’s not racism, it’s poor training by parents and guardians and drug/alcohol fueled idiocy.

By Keith

April 18, 2007 9:48 AM | Link to this

I always feel kind of naked when in a so-called gun free zone, and sometimes ignore the rules and carry the gun if I feel the need.Walking the streets of Washington DC is an example of one of those times. You are a potential victim anytime one is forced into a gun free zone and obeys the rules. Gun control puts the innocent at risk. As for getting killed by cops- teach your kids to follow instructions and have just a little respect for authority and they will never be killed by a cop. It’s not racism, it’s poor training by parents and guardians and drug/alcohol fueled idiocy.

By chuck

April 18, 2007 10:05 AM | Link to this

dee, i didn’t think there was someone actually that ignorant in the world, you just proved it. eleanor, you are not giving the whole story, no cop is going to harrass you for days over a traffic violation, what is it your not telling us?

By William

April 18, 2007 10:10 AM | Link to this

I am with Fred on a few points. Dont be a victim first and formost. If you are a man dont cower! The first thing on my mind was like the terrorist taking the planes this could not happen to me if it did it would not happen to others. I think psychologocally the cow-tailing flamed the killers fire. And if one person would have stepped up that many more could have been saved.

By JB

April 18, 2007 10:15 AM | Link to this

Cassie, I agree with you in feeling very sad for such a disturbed young man. But at the same time you can’t really blame anyone other than this kid himself. By all accounts he had no friends, but not because no one reached out to him, rather because he wouldn’t even dignify a “hello” with a response. Something was indeed very wrong inside this guy’s head. But even if you look to his family or his upbringing you probably won’t find the answers. It all comes down to a psychological problem for which Mr. Cho was taking medications. But it pains me to see that sometimes no measure of treatment can counteract the torture that some people go through in their own minds. It seems it was all premeditated, a cold, callous act of massacre, and perfectly intentional. The world will never know why.

By JB

April 18, 2007 10:43 AM | Link to this

I wish that our Constitution’s wording was different: that to bear arms is a privelege, not a right, and that to be given that privelge you must demonstrate you will not abuse it. If kids on college campuses were permitted to carry weapons in order to defend themselves in instances such as this, the outcome would have no doubt been very different, but still tragic. My question is, how can you allow weapons to be carried on campus and not enforce that everyone carry one so that we’re all on an “equal playing field?” If most everyone around me were carrying a gun and I chose not to because of personal beliefs, I would be terrified, and would not want to attend that school. Am I making sense here?

By Amanda

April 18, 2007 10:56 AM | Link to this

My husband and I are curious about the outcome of several recent news stories. 1. Back in January police chased someone (on foot!) into our Brookhaven neighborhood, Ashford Park, all the way from Phipps Plaza-what was that about? 2. A cabbie appears to have purposfully crashed his car into a bridge on our street-what was found there? 3. What happened with the Jaguar into the Talbot’s store on the 13th? We are upset that these stories hit the news and there is never any follow up.

By Nikita

April 18, 2007 10:58 AM | Link to this

Great column.

As to everything else…

This business about “acting like a man” is delusional. You have no idea how you will react in such a situation. And it has nothing to do with what’s in your pants.

And in fact, VT could have/can do many things to make their campuses safer. They could have locked down campus, but a minimum precaution of issuing a description of the suspect and a warning via radio and email at the time of the first shooting would likely have prevented a lot of deaths.

As for longer-term solutions, armed students/faculty might have prevented some bloodshed, but keep in mind that the guns were acquired legally — and if those types of weapons (clip-loaded, rapid-firing)weren’t available legally the outcome might have been very different. At the same time, the dorm where the first attack occurred was not secure — it’s open during the day.

By William

April 18, 2007 11:24 AM | Link to this

This was a great column. To Nikita This buisness about feminism is dilusional. I agree it is not about whats in your pants or is not in you pants in your case. I do know what I did in a similar situation. I have had a gun in my face twice once getting in a fight second time getting robbed and had to decide what to do. Story I was carjacked at gun point. My wife luckily was inside the gas station. The short story is the cops didnt have manpower to chase. I spent the next 8 hours doing the next best thing according to the cops which was look myself. Most thieves will not drive during daytime hours so they sugessted I canvous nearby parking lots. I did and found my truck and the thief was removeing the stereo. Not knowing if he was still armed I set my wife out and told her to go call 911. Then I blocked the truck and confronted thief. He ran I got the truck back. So as not to be macho I did what I felt needed to be done. Some things need to be done regardless of fear if your a man or a woman. The point was like flight 93 people can unite and dont have to be victims in any situation.

By JS

April 18, 2007 12:49 PM | Link to this

The cops and all emergency personnel should be praised every day for the work they do and laying their life on the line to protect others. The shooting at VT is a downside to how easy it is for U.S. citizens to legally obtain guns. The shooter at VT had recently legally obtained his gun.

By john

April 18, 2007 1:15 PM | Link to this

DEE, WHAT A D—BA—, FIRST TAKE YOUR 2ND GRADE SPELLING BACK TO YOUR HOUSE AND SHUT THE —— UP!! ITS PEOPLE LIKE YOU THAT MAKE THIS WORLD AS BAD AS IT IS, IF THERE WERE NOT POLICE WE WOULD BE HIP DEEP IN S—-!!! HOW DO YOU WAKE UP WITH YOURSELF EVERY MORNING YOU RETARD!!! TAKE YOUR A— SOMEWHERE ELSE IM TIRED OF HEARING YOUR CRAP… MY HATS OFF TO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT WAS INVOLVED IN THE HORRIBLE SHOOTINGS THAT OCCURED IN YESTERDAYS GREAT STATE OF VIRGINIA , GO HOKEY’S !!!

By john

April 18, 2007 1:15 PM | Link to this

DEE, WHAT A D—BA—, FIRST TAKE YOUR 2ND GRADE SPELLING BACK TO YOUR HOUSE AND SHUT THE —— UP!! ITS PEOPLE LIKE YOU THAT MAKE THIS WORLD AS BAD AS IT IS, IF THERE WERE NOT POLICE WE WOULD BE HIP DEEP IN S—-!!! HOW DO YOU WAKE UP WITH YOURSELF EVERY MORNING YOU RETARD!!! TAKE YOUR A— SOMEWHERE ELSE IM TIRED OF HEARING YOUR CRAP… MY HATS OFF TO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT WAS INVOLVED IN THE HORRIBLE SHOOTINGS THAT OCCURED IN YESTERDAYS GREAT STATE OF VIRGINIA , GO HOKEY’S !!!

By essbee

April 18, 2007 1:19 PM | Link to this

It seems to me that many of us are missing the point here. It’s very easy (and I think very unfair) to look back with the benefit of time and distance and say what “should” have happened or speculate on what we would have done differently had we been in the same position. In the heat of the moment, the victims, including school administrators and campus police, reacted to the situation. I suspect the majority of us would have acted in much the same way.

The message I took from Steve’s column is that certain tragedies will occur no matter how hard we try to prevent them. I also think he was saying that life is precious and I should make a point to spend time with and enjoy my family.

By Upset

April 18, 2007 1:35 PM | Link to this

Steve, whyhave you not updated the Sandy Springs police pdf file of the arrests in a since March? I used to like reading it.

By Gun Control

April 18, 2007 2:27 PM | Link to this

I want GUN CONTROL now!!! With gun control this never would have happened. Sure, the guy has no problem killing people but I’m sure he would never obtain and carry a gun illegally (tongue planted firmly in cheek).

By neil boortz

April 18, 2007 2:33 PM | Link to this

Don’t worry about it ya’ll, as soon as Oprah gets through “healing” the nation of the Imus situation and then finishes up “healing” the nation from the VT shootings, then she’s gonna come down here and begin the “healing” process here. Oprah’s comin’ yall everythings gonna be OK.

By JS

April 18, 2007 3:03 PM | Link to this

Gun Control,

would be funnier if it weren’t probably true. I doubt people would be out on the streets carrying guns in little baggies in their pockets for sale, if they were illegal. Not saying some wouldn’t be in circulation, but a whole lot less of ‘em would.

By Dave

April 18, 2007 3:51 PM | Link to this

Guns don’t kill people, idiots with guns do. If guns are outlawed only outlaws will have guns. I want to own my gun so if someone like this approaches I have a chance.

By sleepingbeauty

April 18, 2007 4:08 PM | Link to this

I really enjoyed your column today. And Essbee, I totally agree with you. We are missing the point. Life IS precious and we should regard each day as a gift. We should all be thankful we get up in the morning!!! Hindsight is always 20/20….easy to say “after the fact” what should have been done. We should be remembering those people who lost their lives and their families, and thank God for each day we have with our families!!!!

By Judi

April 18, 2007 4:11 PM | Link to this

And by the way….all these blogs that go on during the day…..at work?

GREAT WORK ETHIC!

By sleepingbeauty

April 18, 2007 4:15 PM | Link to this

Oh, and as far as “Dee” is concerned….I am of the opinion that he/she is some attention seeking twit that just got his/her jollies at everyone responding.

By sleepingbeauty

April 18, 2007 4:16 PM | Link to this

Oh, and as far as “Dee” is concerned….I am of the opinion that he/she is some attention seeking twit that just got his/her jollies at everyone responding to his/her inane drivel.

By Ed

April 18, 2007 6:40 PM | Link to this

For “Dee’s info and for the Idiot comments of Thomas M. West in todays AJC. Please get a few facts before you spout off. My son is a Blacksburg officer and he was IN THE BUILDING, as soon as he arrived and just as this deranged killer finished his own life. The officers outside were providing perimeter defence. Walk a mile in their shoes and thank God that you did not witness the carnage that my son and his fellow officers witnessed.

By Sydney

April 18, 2007 8:30 PM | Link to this

To Keith: You said “…teach your kids to follow instructions and have just a little respect for authority and they will never be killed by a cop. It’s not racism, it’s poor training by parents and guardians and drug/alcohol fueled idiocy.”

Son, you obviously have either (a) not studied your history, (b) been asleep for the last century or more, or (c) chosen to turn a blind eye to reality. There are plenty of men, women and youth alike who never disrespected the authority of “the law” and were killed all the same. I can’t believe you even wasted your energy typing something so oversimplified…“they will never be killed by a cop.” You make me laugh! Until you’ve been Black, don’t you ever roll up in here trying to “call” something you know nothing about. I’m an intelligent African-American, and while I refuse to pull the race card out about every little thing that goes wrong with our people, especially you guys’ ever-growing list of “Black men vs. Cops” in Atlanta, I refuse to sit back and let brainfarts like you try to pull the “erase card” and pretend like everything is hunky-dory. Sometimes you gotta call a spade a spade.

To Chuck: You say…”eleanor, you are not giving the whole story, no cop is going to harrass you for days over a traffic violation, what is it your not telling us?” I don’t know where you’ve been, but the above msg to Keith goes for you too. What she is describing ain’t all that uncommon. Just because you can’t fathom it, don’t step to her trying to make it look like she is fabricating this. I doubt she has a great deal to gain by just making up something like that to post here today. The sheer fact that White people (and I shouldn’t assume that you are) still think that nothing’s wrong in this country is one of the reasons we keeping having these atrocities of behomoth proportions. The only thing good thing I see coming out of Columbine, 9/11, OKC bo*bings and now VT, is that your race is finally getting a dose of their own medicine. Without these kinds of events, you guy’s would never know what it means to see your own killed off for no Earthly reason! This is not about playing victim, it’s about reality! And you run around with your “9/11 We Will Never Forget” bumper stickers and now these “Remember 4/16” catch phrases, but you wanna lambaste any Black person who ever brings up the very things that…um, excuse me, we will NEVER FORGET! Yeah, we’d like to forget the decades on in of being violated. Who wouldn’t wanna forget. We’d like to act like everything is peachy king, but the fact still remains that we still smell a rat, and the smell ain’t likely going nowhere no time soon. Get over yourself!!! Payback is indeed a *itch. It’s just too bad that other races are just in harm’s way during this age of reaping. Yes indeed, you reap what you sow!!

Now, to touch on the subject at hand, please know that my post is in no way an attempt to insinuate that VT was about race. I was responding to totally different comments. My heart, like everybody else’s grieves for the victims of this foolishness, regardless of the color of their skin. I agree with the lady here who said that no one is addressing the true issue of this guy’s problem(s).

By Judi

April 18, 2007 10:31 PM | Link to this

Sydney:

Unless you were BORN in Africa, you are a plain old American like all the rest of us…….But then of course, if you were born in Africa, then you are not American. If you chose to leave Africa and become American, then again, you are NOT African American…..there is no such thing!!!!! Decide what you want to be and then go live there!

By Lt. Steve

April 18, 2007 11:35 PM | Link to this

Upset, I am not quite sure what your coded message said. I’d like to answer so try it again please.

Dee…I don’t think I could add to what was said in response to your comments but from what I read, i don’t think I needed to.

You guys make some good points.

By sydney

April 19, 2007 12:15 AM | Link to this

Judi, your points about our racial naming conventions are well taken. No doubt people go ‘round and ‘round in their debates about the etymology of these terms and what we should be called. But the fact that you came back with your diatribe about what I should be referred to proves that you missed the finer points altogether. The realities I spoke of remain the same, whether I’m known as “Black,” “African- American,” “Colored,” “Negro,” “Ni….”You get the point. Or do you?

To Todd: Well, not much to say to you. You just gave me some more comic relief for the evening! :-)

By Ross

April 19, 2007 1:12 AM | Link to this

There is an easy way to solve this problem - make a society that doesn’t create crazy people.

Start by turning off the lights at night. Let people see the Universe they live in. The cycles of life are all humpbacked and crooked. Straighten out the little things - the big things will take care of themselves.

And don’t be afraid, no matter how crazy people get. Save us from the good people.

-ross

By GSU2

April 19, 2007 7:27 AM | Link to this

To - By Sue

April 17, 2007 11:46 AM | Link to this

GSU was not locked down awhile back when the courthouse shooter was still at large. Do they now have a plan? I’m concerned as my son teaches there.

Sue, GSU or any other distributed campus (like VA Tech) is not like a High School that can be “locked down.” As Seger said, “What do you lock down?” There is no perimeter fence, and there is no master switch to slam and lock all the doors ala Alcatraz. For better or worse, the buildings lobbies do not have posted receptionists or security guards during busines.

By sharon

April 19, 2007 8:10 AM | Link to this

Sydney how can you say you grieve with the rest of us about the VT tragedy and in the same breath say “The only thing good thing I see coming out of Columbine, 9/11, OKC bo*bings and now VT, is that your race is finally getting a dose of their own medicine. Without these kinds of events, you guy’s would never know what it means to see your own killed off for no Earthly reason.” I don’t get that. I was pretty much feeling everything you were saying up to that point.

By Todd

April 19, 2007 8:25 AM | Link to this

To: Sidney,

So was the comic relief meaning I made you laugh (which was my intention) or was it meant to say you were laughing at me? Either way doesn’t bother me, because I have the big picture in mind, when someone asks to describe a person the color never arises, he was a man/woman, 5’9” , brown hair, and had freckles or whatever. Until those descriptions are ok and the color of the skin is NEVER mentioned, the world will never move forward. THAT my friends is what is wrong with the world and why racism still lingers, every form almost, every single damn thing you have fill out requires you to state the race or color. In medical forms I can understand because of certain conditions are faced by differnt races more than others. BUT other than that, there is NEVER a need for anyone to add to a piece of paper or screen what color they are. When describing someone for anything the color should never be mentioned, when running for office or anythign, why is alway necessary for race to brought up, well Barak is the first real AFRIFAN AMERICAN to have a chance at the Presidency. Why can’t it be, Barak is one of the first truly intelligent men, with excellent social qualities we ahve had to hav ea chance at the PResidency, Why? becaus eth media makes it so, we see it in everythign we watch and it will never go away unless it taken out of what we and our children watch. PERIOD, and this comes from a white man with roots back to the 1740’s here. It’s time and it should happen soon or was as humans will never reach our full potential. RACE and RELIGION are the biggest obstacles to our reachign greatness.

By tonya

April 19, 2007 5:00 PM | Link to this

Thank you Sydney!!!

By Fred

April 19, 2007 10:26 PM | Link to this

Just damn Natalie. It’s ALL about the color of your skin isn’t it? You race warriors make me sick. If I had MY way I’d take all you Jesse Jackson, Al sharpton wannabes and all those knuckle dragging David Duke white “supremisists” and put you a* holes in a stadium, let you shoot it out and then execute the winner so the REST of us real folks could live in harmony. I would say you are a “ho” but since I’m not black and not a rapper that would be “racist”. Somehow it’s now “racist” to refer to folks in the same way they refer to themselves. Go figure. I have yet to see sharpton or jackson dog a black man for calling women “ho’s”. Yet I’M the racist. I fart now in YOUR general direction you racist pig.

By Fred

April 19, 2007 10:47 PM | Link to this

Sydney,

YOU can stop the racism by not being a racist. Do you HONESTLY believe that cops only harass black people? Give me a break. I’m “white” (no more true white than you are true black but I REFUSE to use hyphenated American thingies, either we are American: IE brothers; or we are not, the color of our skin matters not.) I have beeen jacked around several times by cops and I am in no way a criminal. I have never been arrested for anything nor to the best of my knowledge even suspected of anything, yet I have been treated like s** on more than one occasion by our “finest”. One time was the day after I came home from 2 years of defending our great Country. I will spare you the details but please, get that racist chip off your shoulder. Bad cops harass folks regardless of the color of their skin. Thank God there are more “good” cops than bad cops. Well at least I hope so, but I’m STILL not gonna believe a cop “just because” if I’m ever on a jury……… but I digress. Quit being a racist. I growing rather bored with the race card being pulled in every conversation. If YOU are so ashamed of the color of your skin don’t blame it on me. If Amreica is so bad, I believe there are other countries you could relocate to and last I checked we had no restriction on folks leaving.

Thank you for your time.

By DW

April 22, 2007 1:29 PM | Link to this

DEE, you work at mickey d’s u are the idiot that forgot my pickles. To the other brain child no cop would waste the gas of the city,to worry about a citation for a traffic violation. You are the one that is worried that he would not pay any attention to your sexual advances ho ho ho