Posted on 04/18/2007 8:34:50 AM PDT by bedolido
BLACKSBURG, Va. - The gunman blamed for the deadliest shooting in modern U.S. history had previously been accused of stalking two female students at Virginia Tech and had been taken to a mental health facility in 2005 after an acquaintance worried he might be suicidal, police said Wednesday.
(Excerpt) Read more at nwcn.com ...
What are the anti stalking laws in Virgina?
The residents of Queens own radios and TVs just as the students of VT do. From what I have heard, word was out after the initial killings. As for word spreading like wildfire, there is nothing to suggest that everyone would conduct a self-styled lock down. They MAY have done so, but we don’t know that. In any event, as you note, the killer was in his own dorm after the initial killings. He would have simply victimized those in his own dorm (how is that a lame excuse?), or, he would have gone on to Norris Hall, and being a student, would those there have refused him entry? (No one knew that he was the killer at that time.)
You suggest a possible cover up. Cover up of what? What evidence of this do you have?
There was a bomb threat previously at VT. Did the students lock themselves down then? I have not heard that.
CC&E
What to make of this statement in the article?
“He also expressed disappointment in his own religion, and made several references to Christianity, the official said.”
What was his own religion?
Virginia’s law is weak. You have to prove intent to harm in court, but you can still get a restraining order.
ec. 18.2-60.3. Stalking; penalty. Amended 2002.
A. Any person, except a law-enforcement officer, as defined in ? 9.1-101, and acting in the performance of his official duties, and a registered private investigator, as defined in ? 9.1-138, who is regulated in accordance with ? 9.1-139 and acting in the course of his legitimate business, who on more than one occasion engages in conduct directed at another person with the intent to place, or when he knows or reasonably should know that the conduct places that other person in reasonable fear of death, criminal sexual assault, or bodily injury to that other person or to that other person’s family or household member is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
I didn’t see the interview, but my wife reported that Franklin Graham unfortunately attributed the events in Blacksburg to a powerless god who was unable to control the actions of Satan (or something to that effect). The implication was that this event was somehow beyond God’s control or concern.
While I appreciate Mr. Graham’s efforts at evangelization, that fact remains that his view of God’s sovereignty in the wake of tragedy leaves much to be desired. What hope can you offer to people when your god is less than the absolute sovereign of the universe? If God was powerless to save the folks in Blacksburg, how do we know He is powerful enough to save us from our sins?
On his web site, Graham writes: “Having traveled to disaster and war areas around the world, I am often asked why God would allow such acts of destruction or violence upon innocent people; and while I can’t know the whole mind of God I do know two things. First, God created us. Second, God loves us and desires that all would come to Him.”
The only biblical and thus truly comforting response is to acknowledge that all things are under God’s direct control, and He orders all these things to His glory and to the benefit and blessing of those who love Him.
“Who is he who speaks and it comes to pass, When the Lord has not commanded it? 38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High That woe and well-being proceed?” (Lam. 3:37,38)
The gospel of Jesus Christ involves more than just owning a personal fire insurance policy. It is about the triune God who does all things well, even if we do not understand. It’s about a God who has conquered Satan, and what we experience today is just the effects of some skirmishes during the mopping up operation. Franklin Graham did not say that in his message.
God is in control of everything and nothing escapes His active scrutiny. If Franklin Graham can’t say that without hesitation then his “good news” rings a bit hollow.
This is from the Virginia Tech Women’s center:
What to do if you are being stalked or harassed
* If you are in eminent danger, go to a safe place and call 911.
* Consider talking with a counselor. A counselor can assist you in accessing resources and developing a plan for your safety. You can call the Virginia Tech Women’s Center or the Women’s Resource Center of the New River Valley for free and confidential services.
* Consider contacting the police, the VT Office of Judicial Affairs, or the equal Opportunity Office to file a report. (You may file an anonymous report to the Virginia Tech Police Department on this site.)
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The Clery Act requires colleges to provide “timely warning” to the campus of serious crime in order to prevent similar crimes. This Department of Education Handbook summarizes the requirements at Chapter Five (pdf)
http://www.securityoncampus.org/schools/cleryact/handbook.pdf
That was my first thought, until I heard about his removal from the professor's class and the arson attempts. Now I am not so sure. It appears messages of aberrant behavior were being sent and ignored.
Tell that to parents of the dead students. VT aided and abetted this crime on some many levels it is pathetic. Granted, the South Korean student pulled the trigger, but VT should have expelled that nut case years ago.
The lawsuits against VT are going bankrupt that political correct institution.
In the classroom? At that particular time of the morning on Monday, I'm sure most of the students on campus were in class. Several of them were probably notified of the vague e-mail by way of text messaging from other students, but I doubt that any of them felt they were in danger.
He would have simply victimized those in his own dorm (how is that a lame excuse?), or, he would have gone on to Norris Hall, and being a student, would those there have refused him entry? (No one knew that he was the killer at that time.)
No one knew who the killer was, period. At least the students and staff on campus would've been warned that the killer might be in their midst, and Cho, knowing that the entire campus is on lock-down (you'd think VT would have a campus-wide PA and/or alarm system) and in preparation to defend themselves against his actions, he might've thought differently about attacking a now-aware student population. If you believe the VT administration and the Blacksburg Police Dept. handled the situation well, I don't know what else to say. We'll forever differ on this particular subject.
You suggest a possible cover up. Cover up of what? What evidence of this do you have?
I've already addressed this in a previous post to you on this thread.
There was a bomb threat previously at VT. Did the students lock themselves down then? I have not heard that.
Bombs don't have legs and carry sidearms. In that particular situation, all buildings on campus should be evacuated and searched.
This incident would make a great analogy when juxtaposed against the pre-emptive removal of the Sadam regime, don’t you think?
After all, in one case a homicidal, unstable man exhibited intent towards hostile acts, while liberals would have had us issue yet more warnings and UN “restraining orders”, In the other case, the same liberals will be whining “why didn’t anyone do anything when all the signs were there?”
Difference between international politics and local law enforcement notwithstanding, I think a more capable wordsmith than I could make a compelling comparison.
You used those words well enough to make a great point in my mind, for what its worth.
Thanks.
Heard Rush say blame the PC crowd—”oh don’t say anything to him he might explode”....also mentioned the teaching of anger management in the schools. We are taught to accept odd behavior and not to say anything at the risk of hurting someone’s feelings. He should have been dropped from school and sent directly to a mental facility.No instead we are hearing the same old rant on gun control!
I don’t know whether VT should/could have done more, and if so, whether that would have made any difference, and neither does anyone else at this early stage. I think we agree that guns should have been allowed to be carried legally on campus, just as they were at the Appalachian Law School a few years back, stopping a bad situation from getting even worse.
It is extremely hard to get any sort of action taken in a stalking case even today. I was once stalked by a certified, medicated, in and out of mental hospital, voice hearing, loony and still couldn't get the cops to do a blessed thing.
“Restraining orders are simple to obtain, you just go down to the court house and file, they give you a date and you go in and tell the judge your story. The court will have already pulled police reports, etc. and the judge issues a ruling.”
At the news conference this morning the police said that the girls did not want to press charges and that they considered Cho more of an annoyance than a threat.
By “they” I mean the girls.
Glad Rush is on this.
We should be teaching people common sense defense class, how to be safer by taking responsiblity for your own safety, and not as much cultural PC basket weaving courses.
It was after the second stalking incident that he went to St.Albans.
http://i.abcnews.com/US/story?id=3052278&page=1
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