House Passes Gun "Control" Legislation

The NRA and the Democrats agreed on something, and Hell didn't freeze over.

The House passed a bill that would strengthen the background checks done before a gun purchase to prevent someone like the Virginia Tech shooter from obtaining a firearm by adding those who are "mentally defective" to the list of people who will be red flagged during a background check.

The House passed the bill by voice vote and only one member had some opposition to it. Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas), Congressman No himself

The bill is expected to pass the Senate and be signed by the President.

Thinking about it though, I'm not too sure how I feel about the term "mentally defective." It sounds like we're talking about a household appliance instead of a human being. It kinda bothers me actually.

Virginia Governor Closes Loophole

Governor Tim Kaine (D-Virginia) has closed the loophole that allowed Seung-Hui Cho, the Virginia Tech killer, to buy his two guns despite being ruled a danger to society.

Kaine issued an executive order requiring that a database of people who are prohibited from buying guns include anyone found to be dangerous and ordered to undergo involuntary mental health treatment.

I know it may seem like it's stupid this didn't already exist, and I know it doesn't bring back the 32 people lost, or heal the wounds that will last a lifetime, but this is how society progresses. It learns from it's mistakes and changes itself to adapt.

Also, Governor Kaine says he expects Virginia's Republican controlled legislature to show some support to legislation requiring background checks for sales at gun shows. Similar legislation, supported by the Governor, has consistently died in the General Assembly.

Guns In The Wrong Hands

Why I'm such a reluctant advocate for some gun control?

This.

I've heard arguments since Monday's tragedy at Virginia Tech that college students should carry guns. This guy killed a man and himself because of a bad performance review...only after working at NASA (so clearly he wasn't noticably crazy.) Can you imagine guns in the hands of an overstressed college student who has just been told he/she was failing a class?

Yeah, not a good idea, sorry. It's logical, just not a good idea in my book.

This Is Sick

You want to know why I have such disdain for Christian fundamentalists, or as I call them, theocratic fascists...this is why;

Shirley Phelps-Roper, said the Virginia Tech teachers and students who
died on Monday brought their fate upon themselves by not being true Christians.
“The evidence is they were not Christian. God does not do that to his servants,”
Phelps-Roper said. “You don’t need to look any further for evidence those people
are in hell.”

It's bad enough they do this to our brave soldiers who have sacrificed their lives for this country, but these victims are innocent. They're just college students, one of whom was a VERY RELIGIOUS person might I add. How dare you say these people aren't true Christians, you psychotic bitch, how offensive. Some of them weren't even Christians. A JEWISH professor SAVED LIVES.

You make me ashamed of being a Christian. I hope you all rot. If your God is the one true God, then I want no part of it.

How Did This Slip Through?

Cho Seung-Hui was mentally ill and "an imminent threat to himself and others." Yet he managed to get two guns, which he then used to kill 32 people.

I don't blame the gun dealer, presuming he did the correct background check. The blame may lie with the Commonwealth of Virginia for not committing this madman or, at the very least, not warning those close to him of the threat this guy posessed. This didn't even show up on a background check. If ANYONE should be kept away from deadly weapons, it's someone who is THIS mentally-ill.

Someone's head will roll over this.

Thoughts on the Virginia Tech Tragedy

I think the first thing that jumped into everyone’s minds today, when it became clear of the extent of today’s massacre, was the shocking tragedy that occurred just eight years ago this Friday; the Columbine High School shootings in Littleton, Colorado. I had planned on writing up something like this on Friday in remembrance of the Columbine tragedy, but in the wake of today’s events, now is probably just as good a time as ever.

I was a high school sophomore when Columbine occurred. It changed my entire high school experience. After that, there was a different aura around my school, as was the case in most, if not all, high schools. It seemed the deans didn’t trust students anymore and students looked around wondering who would “do it here?”

I can remember sitting in the hallway with my friends in the days, weeks, months, and even years after Columbine watching some of the Goth students with suspicion. We had a list; a list of the most likely suspects should it happen “here.” I remember sitting in Geometry class with another friend, as well quietly discussed how we would hide, barricade the door, or run to the North staircase if someone began shooting in the hallway outside. I remember the discussion about the possibility about putting in metal detectors.

Some of us felt safe. A private Catholic high school in New York City; it wouldn’t happen here, just in “redneck rural America,” secretly we weren’t so sure. We weren’t so certain it couldn’t happen in our high school. We had the loners, the bullied, and the tortured, just like the rest of them. We had the cliques, the jocks, the popular groups and the unpopular “freaks.” They existed here too.

Even after I graduated high school and went to college, it crossed my mind. Would it be in this building? If it is, can I jump out the window? Where will we hide? If it happened somewhere else, how will we know? Will I be able to get from here to my car without having to pass somewhere where I’d get shot?

I never obsessed over it; only thought about it rarely. The tragedy is, however, that it had to cross my mind. I’m sure it crossed other people’s minds too. Columbine changed my generations’ views on school. They weren’t 100% safe. We could be shot in our classrooms. We could actually be SHOT while sitting in our classroom. It was a staggeringly frightening thought.

Still, we went on. We had our high school dramas, our proms, our dances, our detentions. We had our teenager lives and our college experiences. We had our keggers, our happy hours, our fraternity and sorority mixers, and our dorm parties. We lived normally, despite the fact we were the first generation that had to really worry about the possibility of being shot dead in our school; that just going to learn can get you killed.

Here’s an interesting realization; the freshman class of 1999, the first full school year after the Columbine massacre are graduating college next month.

Let’s hope and pray that our children will not have to live with the same fears we did…and that we, as parents, NEVER have to relive the horrors we did as teenagers, but this time perpetrated against our own children.

Just the thought gives me the chills.

Gonzales Testimony Delayed Till Thursday

On account of the VA Tech massacre.

I haven't been really paying attention to much else today, except for this horrible situation in Virginia.

I hope to get back to the nitty gritty of politics tomorrow or Wednesday.

Right now, we're witnessing history, and something that will likely affect the gun control debate in the future.

Republican Candidates React to Virginia Tech Massacre

Former Gov. Mitt Romney, (R-Massachusetts): "The entire nation grieves for the victims of this terrible tragedy that took place today on the campus of Virginia Tech. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families and the entire Virginia Tech community. Our full support is behind the law enforcement officials who are involved with stabilizing the situation and conducting an investigation."

Rep. Tom Tancredo, (R-Colorado): "I can only offer my thoughts and prayers to those kids, their family and friends at Virginia Tech today. This senseless violence cannot be justified nor the motives of the monster who committed it ever be fully understood. This is a dark day in our history as the lives of so many promising young kids have been cut short by a disturbed and evil person. From experiencing our own tragic event (Tancredo's district includes Columbine High School) whose anniversary is only a few days away, I can say with some encouragement that in time, wounds do heal." (Issued statement) *

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R-New York): "On this day of national tragedy, when we lost some of our finest to a senseless act, we stand together as a country to mourn those who lost their lives. My thoughts and prayers continue to be with the survivors and the many friends, colleagues and family members of those who perished. May God bless them all."

Sen. John McCain, (R-Arizona): "I am shocked and saddened to hear the news of today's events. This inconceivable tragedy was a horrific act of cruelty that took the lives of so many innocent young people, cutting their lives short and inflicting tremendous pain on all of those who loved them. Cindy and I extend our deepest sympathies and prayers to the students, faculty, friends and family of the Virginia Tech community."

Sen. Sam Brownback, (R-Kansas): "This is an unbelievably tragic time for the Virginia Tech community, and our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. This is a sad time for the country, and we will remember all the people who have been touched by this tragedy." (Issued statement)

Democratic Candidates React to Virginia Tech Massacre

The top Presidential Candidates all responded today in the wake of the tragedy at Virginia Tech this morning.

Here is what they've said, thanks according to CNN. I am especially struck by Senator Edwards' statement;

Sen. Joe Biden, (D-Delaware): "Today's horrific events at Virginia Tech have shocked us all. There are few comforting words in such senseless times as these. Our humble thoughts and prayers go out to the victims' families and loved ones. We will grieve as a nation together with all those affected by this terrible tragedy." (Issued statement)

Sen. Hillary Clinton, (D-New York): "I am shocked and saddened by the horrific tragedy at Virginia Tech. My prayers are with the victims and their families, as well as the students, faculty, and community devastated by these gruesome killings. As a parent, I am filled with sorrow for the mothers and fathers and loved ones struggling with the sudden, unbearable news of a lost son or daughter, friend or family member. This tragedy is still unfolding and I hope as a nation we can come together and keep in our thoughts all those affected as we learn more about the events which took place this morning." (Issued statement)

Sen. Chris Dodd, (D-Connecticut):"We are shocked and deeply saddened by the tragedy that took place on the campus of Virginia Tech earlier today. Our thoughts, prayers, and condolences are with the families of those who lost love ones." (From campaign Web site)

Former Sen. John Edwards, (D-North Carolina); "We are simply heartbroken by the deaths and injuries suffered at Virginia Tech. We know what an unspeakable, life-changing moment this is for these families and how, in this moment, it is hard to feel anything but overwhelming grief, much less the love and support around you. But the love and support is there. We pray that these families, these students, and the entire Virginia Tech community know that they are being embraced by a nation. There is a Methodist hymn that gave us solace in such a moment as this, and we repeat its final verse here, in hopes it will help these families, as it helped us:'

In our end is our beginning;
in our time, infinity;
In our doubt there is believing,
in our life, eternity,
In our death, a resurrection;
at the last, a victory,
Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see

.

'Our dearest wish is that this day could start again, with the promise of these young people alive. Knowing that cannot be, our prayer is for God's grace and whatever measure of peace can be reached on this terrible day." (Issued statement)

Sen. Barack Obama (D-Illinois)- "There are going to major tragedies that we hear about as we heard about today at Virginia Tech and I can only imagine what its like for parents who still can't get in touch with their kids from all over the country. We pray for them." (During a campaign event in Chicago)

Gov. Bill Richardson, (D-New Mexico) "On behalf of all New Mexicans, Barbara and I extend our condolences to the families of the victims whose lives were cut short by this horrific tragedy. This is a sad day and our hearts go out to the Virginia Tech community as it grieves this loss." (Issued statement)

Another Shooting At A School

Virginia Tech...21 dead.

This SHOULD NOT happen in schools.

UPDATE: The Virginia Congressional Delegation now says 31 are dead, making it the worst shooting incident in US history.