2008 Woodie Awards
Letters to the Chronicle
Issue date: 4/23/07 Section: Opinions
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Other causes to blame in Virginia shooting deaths
I see it rather inappropriate to rush toward blaming the availability of firearms for this tragedy at VT. In fact, one news report stated that an "assault rifle" was involved, which is rather a mislabeled reference to a semi-automatic rifle, but an assault rifle is capable of full auto fire. In fact, American citizens can legally own a full automatic firearm with a "Class 3" license. In fact, the only crimes committed with a legally owned fully automatic firearm were committed by a police officer and a doctor in two separate cases. Because "Class 3" ownership is so strictly regulated along with strict background checks, crimes committed involving legally registered firearms with full automatic capability are rare.
A total firearms/handgun ban will never solve the problem; we need to look into the human being itself. In fact. until 15 years ago in this state, students actually were allowed to store firearms in their lockers for hunting in the morning or after school because of the high level of trust between school administration and the students themselves.
What about violent video games?
I believe there is a point in the human mind where a human being can't differentiate virtual cold-blooded murder to a real cold-blooded murder. I wonder why people think "Grand Theft Auto" and "Vice City" are the dope when you get "points" for killing LEO's. This strikes me as unmoral, and unjust. Whoever created these games must be totally disconnected from society itself.
In fact, Cho wouldn't have been allowed to purchase a handgun because a permit to purchase mental health background check would have come back negative , disqualifying him from approval.
It is hard to understand why the gunman in this VT tragedy would commit this horrible and inhumane act. Taking an innocent life never solves anything. I guess some people have psychotic, sick and twisted minds that are rather unpredictable.
I see it rather inappropriate to rush toward blaming the availability of firearms for this tragedy at VT. In fact, one news report stated that an "assault rifle" was involved, which is rather a mislabeled reference to a semi-automatic rifle, but an assault rifle is capable of full auto fire. In fact, American citizens can legally own a full automatic firearm with a "Class 3" license. In fact, the only crimes committed with a legally owned fully automatic firearm were committed by a police officer and a doctor in two separate cases. Because "Class 3" ownership is so strictly regulated along with strict background checks, crimes committed involving legally registered firearms with full automatic capability are rare.
A total firearms/handgun ban will never solve the problem; we need to look into the human being itself. In fact. until 15 years ago in this state, students actually were allowed to store firearms in their lockers for hunting in the morning or after school because of the high level of trust between school administration and the students themselves.
What about violent video games?
I believe there is a point in the human mind where a human being can't differentiate virtual cold-blooded murder to a real cold-blooded murder. I wonder why people think "Grand Theft Auto" and "Vice City" are the dope when you get "points" for killing LEO's. This strikes me as unmoral, and unjust. Whoever created these games must be totally disconnected from society itself.
In fact, Cho wouldn't have been allowed to purchase a handgun because a permit to purchase mental health background check would have come back negative , disqualifying him from approval.
It is hard to understand why the gunman in this VT tragedy would commit this horrible and inhumane act. Taking an innocent life never solves anything. I guess some people have psychotic, sick and twisted minds that are rather unpredictable.