1 Killed in Shootings at Virginia Tech

[JonoBN41]

I keep seeing a video clip on TV showing a cop cowering behind a tree, holding what looks like a .38 special. Who is this guy? A million times we've heard it said that the police "put their lives on the line every day". Perhaps this just means writing parking tickets, because when someone has a gun and is shooting college kids like fish in a barrel, they hide behind a godamned tree.

Supposedly lessons were learned from Columbine that you don't crouch behind police cars calling, "Come out, come out, wherever you are, you go in and GET HIM. FAST!

The police never did kill the gunman; he killed himself. If he hadn't, how many more people would have died? From what I've heard, the police did nothing to stop the rampage.This coward, whoever he is, should be identified and fired - if not brought up on charges.

[Buttonz]

My school is doing an Orange & Maroon day tomorrow. Mind you, JWU doesn't offer Friday classes besides for a select few and very few people take them. I wish they did this on a Monday-Thursday....

[PM_Mama00]

Originally Posted by JonoBN41

I keep seeing a video clip on TV showing a cop cowering behind a tree, holding what looks like a .38 special. Who is this guy? A million times we've heard it said that the police "put their lives on the line every day". Perhaps this just means writing parking tickets, because when someone has a gun and is shooting college kids like fish in a barrel, they hide behind a godamned tree.

Supposedly lessons were learned from Columbine that you don't crouch behind police cars calling, "Come out, come out, wherever you are, you go in and GET HIM. FAST!

The police never did kill the gunman; he killed himself. If he hadn't, how many more people would have died? From what I've heard, the police did nothing to stop the rampage.This coward, whoever he is, should be identified and fired - if not brought up on charges.

Police have to watch out for their safety too. And I thought he shot himself right before police would have reached him? We don't know exactly what the police plan was, so we can't exactly criticize this guy.

[sdsuchelle]

Originally Posted by PM_Mama00

Police have to watch out for their safety too. And I thought he shot himself right before police would have reached him? We don't know exactly what the police plan was, so we can't exactly criticize this guy.

Exactly.. plus it's possible that he was part of a plan and was SUPPOSED to be hiding behind a tree in case something went wrong.

[SWTXBelle]

Not knowing when the cop was filmed, nor the specifics of the police response - it is possible that this cop was doing what he was instructed to do. And "cowering" - staying under cover is a good thing. How many cops were on the scene? Who was doing what? You don't know - we can't know - and trust me - my brother is a cop, and a SWAT team officer. Every time he stops a car, he is in danger. Every time he breaks into a crack house, he takes his life in his hands. I guarantee you those cops wanted nothing than to take the killer out - and there were tons of them on the scene. Don't judge by the one picture you saw.

[AlexMack]

Originally Posted by JonoBN41

I keep seeing a video clip on TV showing a cop cowering behind a tree, holding what looks like a .38 special. Who is this guy? A million times we've heard it said that the police "put their lives on the line every day". Perhaps this just means writing parking tickets, because when someone has a gun and is shooting college kids like fish in a barrel, they hide behind a godamned tree.

Supposedly lessons were learned from Columbine that you don't crouch behind police cars calling, "Come out, come out, wherever you are, you go in and GET HIM. FAST!

The police never did kill the gunman; he killed himself. If he hadn't, how many more people would have died? From what I've heard, the police did nothing to stop the rampage.This coward, whoever he is, should be identified and fired - if not brought up on charges.

Next thing I know, you'll be critizing the EMTs waiting in their ambulances for not getting straight out and heading over to the victims.

[macallan25]

Originally Posted by JonoBN41

I keep seeing a video clip on TV showing a cop cowering behind a tree, holding what looks like a .38 special. Who is this guy? A million times we've heard it said that the police "put their lives on the line every day". Perhaps this just means writing parking tickets, because when someone has a gun and is shooting college kids like fish in a barrel, they hide behind a godamned tree.

Supposedly lessons were learned from Columbine that you don't crouch behind police cars calling, "Come out, come out, wherever you are, you go in and GET HIM. FAST!

The police never did kill the gunman; he killed himself. If he hadn't, how many more people would have died? From what I've heard, the police did nothing to stop the rampage.This coward, whoever he is, should be identified and fired - if not brought up on charges.

"Cowering"? How about taking cover perhaps? Please explain to me how they were going to "stop the rampage"? You are being completely unrealistic.........and from what I understand, the Korean blew his head off just as the first units arrived on the scene. I've heard it stated clearly on reports that the cops actions were nothing like Columbine, and that they immediatiely entered the building when they arrived.

.....but i'm glad you feel secure basing your thoughts off of a picture of one........count it.....one cop.

Responses like yours are the reason why I don't like to watch coverage of the events or really even listen to what people have to say other than the students and the victims. In the end, all it ends up being is a huge bitch fest about what wasn't done right, who was at fault, who was "acting like a coward", and other similar bullshit. Its pretty damn easy to point a bunch of fingers after you have seen it all completely played out. It makes me sick that you can call that police officer a coward while you are sitting behind a fucking computer.

[DeltAlum]

I agree with macallan about the police actions. Remembering, too, that the first responding officers were members of a university department who are not likely (no matter how well trained) to have been subjected to this kind of situation.

As for the use of the video tapes, pictures, etc., I'm sure glad I didn't have to make the decision. A real no-win situation.

Finally, once again, I was at the National Association of Broadcasters Convention in Las Vegas when a huge story broke.

I say "again" because both Columbine and Waco/Branch Dividian final standoff happened during NAB.

A very strange coincidence.

[AGDee]

Originally Posted by DeltAlum

Finally, once again, I was at the National Association of Broadcasters Convention in Las Vegas when a huge story broke.

I say "again" because both Columbine and Waco/Branch Dividian final standoff happened during NAB.

A very strange coincidence.

I'm curious, did the convention empty out when the story broke? And, was it a different week the year of the OKC bombing?

I agree with macallan about all the finger pointing. There is one person at fault. There are things we can learn by analyzing what occurred and how, and there should always be a retrospective analysis of what needs to be done differently in the future, so that something is learned from it, but finger pointing does no good.

[kstar]

Originally Posted by DeltAlum

I agree with macallan about the police actions. Remembering, too, that the first responding officers were members of a university department who are not likely (no matter how well trained) to have been subjected to this kind of situation.

As for the use of the video tapes, pictures, etc., I'm sure glad I didn't have to make the decision. A real no-win situation.

Finally, once again, I was at the National Association of Broadcasters Convention in Las Vegas when a huge story broke.

I say "again" because both Columbine and Waco/Branch Dividian final standoff happened during NAB.

A very strange coincidence.

Or because they always hold the conventions in mid-April?

[SWTXBelle]

My parents' anniversary is April 19th - I asked my mom what was the deal with all the tragedies around that date - she said she'd wondered about it, too!

[angelic1]

http://abcnews.go.com/US/VATech/story?id=3059025

[Buttonz]

Originally Posted by texas*princess

One of the quotes in that story had me going:



At both schools I went to, guns or anything that could be considered a weapon was absolutely forbidden on campus grounds and in the dormitories.

I don't really like that this quote makes it sound like any student can bring a gun to campus and it's OK, because it's not. (At least at the schools I went to... although I doubt that is much different at other schools??)

By us as well. With bi-weekly room checks and random bag searches...getting stuff in would be possible but not that easy.

Originally Posted by angelic1

http://abcnews.go.com/US/VATech/story?id=3059025

I don't blame them at all

[OOhsoflyDELTA#9]

Originally Posted by angelic1

http://abcnews.go.com/US/VATech/story?id=3059025

can't blame them at all

[honeychile]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

My parents' anniversary is April 19th - I asked my mom what was the deal with all the tragedies around that date - she said she'd wondered about it, too!

Interesting. I know of four couples who were married on April 18th, and they're all divorced!