Why is the V-Tech gunman identified as a S. Korean student and not American?

Question

I ask because the kid has been in the US since he was 8 years old. He grew up in American Neighborhoods, went to American Schools and watched American T.V. Until I read the article I assumed he was an exchange student. Curious.

"slim" seemed to have missed the point a bit but to "Laquisha" and "Henry" I leave you to ponder these quotes:

We are a nation of many nationalities, many races, many religions bound together by a single unity, the unity of freedom and equality. Whoever seeks to set one nationality against another, seeks to degrade all nationalities.
Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882 - 1945)

When you call yourself an Indian or a Muslim or a Christian or a European, or anything else, you are being violent. Do you see why it is violent? Because you are separating yourself from the rest of mankind. When you separate yourself by belief, by nationality, by tradition, it breeds violence. So a man who is trying to understand violence does not belong to any country, to any religion, to any political party or partial system; he is concerned with the total understanding of mankind.
J. Krishnamurti (1895 - 1986)

Blood nor Documents does a citizen make. Mr Cho grew up in America, he's as American as you are.

Answer 1

They've just released his immigration/green card status this morning after many people had already referred to him as a South Korean student. In today's current climate regarding any foreign immigrants, especially those that 'don't look like us' there's a tendency to want to distance ourselves and blame outsiders.

Answer 2

He was brought here from South Korea when he was very young, so really he is as American as anyone else. I certainly hope this does not cause some people to blame Asians for this. He was having problems with depression; a condition that affects many of us regardless of race. I know that you don't feel there is any connection, but I fear that some people might think there is. What I don't understand is why there was no call for a complete campus lock down. There was a two hour delay after the first shooting. Students should have been warned far earlier. Someone's head will roll because of this.

Answer 3

Because he was South Korean. He was not a native-born American. Being in the U.S. since the age of 8, 18, or 80 does not change the fact that he was born in South Korea. The professor that was killed trying to save his students was Israeli. He is not classified as an American, although he has been a professor here for some years.

And, remember, this is the media doing this. They are not noted for their brains, only for the speed at which they can send in slanted news reports.

Virginia Tech officials did not "classify" him as a South Korean, just as a "troubled" student.

Answer 4

Apparently he still kept his Korean citizenship. He was classified as a "resident alien" and did have a visa. I suppose it was his choice or his parents to not pursue citizenship. Regardless, his nationality had no bearing on what happened. He was a seriously disturbed individual. I do know there will be people on here who will rant about "foreigners" in our country. They need to stop and think that all other school shootings were done by "red blooded" Americans.

Answer 5

From what gather the guns were missing SN#'s that said, he probably did not go through legal channel to obtain them.

We have enough laws on the books restricting the legal purchase of firearms, this scuzbag was the problem. Had it been 50lbs of ANFO and a detonator we'd not be having this conversation. Do we ban fertilizer? Do we ban automobiles even though 40,000 people dies each year in car accidents and another 1/2 million are injured? No we deal with personal responsibility of ownership. People who know how to use firearms legally that follow the laws are NOT the problem. The problem is the little pissants the knowingly go outside the law.


IF we sacrifice freedom for security based on government security we have neither security or freedom

If guns are outlawed only the outlaws will have them.

Beslan Russia - 300 plus children died as the result of terrorists, and the list goes on.

we have strong gun laws, and people with intent will find a way to perpetrate. Guns are tools as are fire, knives, pitchforks, ammonium nitrate, jet fuel, gasoline, the problem is NOT the object. The problem is the perpetrator.

I believe many people have become willing to usurp their personal liberty for security they will clamor for a police state before long.

I believe that tragedies such as this ought to give us a reason to pause and look at the causes as to why angry people do atrocious and horrific acts.

I believe the media is culpable. I believe that parents are culpable, I believe liberals are culpable, I believe by removing any semblance of conflict from schools we not given kids healthy outlets for conflict and aggression.
When I was a kid, I carried my 22 rifle and 20 gauge shotgun in the truck of my car so I could go hunting after school, I never once thought when I was getting picked on by a bully to go get the gun and kill him.. I thought differently because I respected myself and those around me. If it came to blows with the bully it would be with fists in the parking lot. a bloody nose generally stopped it.

Guns are not the problem. Ignorance of anything is dangerous and society has become ignorant of firearms. Both of my children have certified in hunter safety and firearm training. They not only know HOW to use firearms but HOW NOT to use them. This is the problem with schools today, we no longer accept firearms as a norm so they've become abnormal AND people clamor for control. This is wrong.

The media is wrong in reporting facts. This not the worse, not even close.

http://www.columbine-angels.com/violence...

Answer 6

I don't think that he was officially an US citizen. If he were then they would refer to him as Korean American. From what I have been hearing, he is not a citizen but I'm not exactly sure

Answer 7

If he came here at 8 years old and is 23 years old now, then he is pretty American.

Answer 8

He wasn't a citizen. It takes more than crossing the US border to become an American, ya know.

Answer 9

Because the media wants to add more "juice" to the story. That is how hate crimes come about. What does his race have to do with this anyway is my question. what does anyone race have to do with any problems we are having. Isn't it the person doing the bad acts not his race.

Answer 10

From the news reports I have read, he was not an AMERICAN...but I guess we will hear of his background, etc in the next few days, hopefully, accurately.