What things could have prevented the shootings at Virginia Tech?

Question

What happened on Monday was one of the most emotional times in alot of peoples lives. One thing I have thought about alot since the shootings were, "Could something of been done to prevent the shootings for going as far as they did?"

My main though was that there were so many people in the room during the shooting, and Cho Seung-Hui was only using a semi-automatic pistol. I was just wondering if any of the victims had ever thought of a possible barracade or a raid to try and get this psychopath undercontrol or dead. There were desks in the room and tables that could have been used, also chairs. The main thing that made me think about this is during the Columbine shootings, one of the victims whom was a wrestler could have gotten one of the shooters under countrol after he tackled him. I understand that alot of people dont know how to act or what to do in those situations but I would love to hear some feedback from you.

I will continue to pray for the familys and friends.

Answer 1

We won't ever know what it was actually like in that guy's line of fire but there's one fact that will ALWAYS remain true...
IF others were legally able to carry a concealed weapon, he would have been stopped much sooner.
This fact is proven everyday. An armed criminal can only be stopped by another armed person.

Answer 2

First let me say that their are 15,000 students at that particular university, 4,000 in the dorm, and 11,000 who reside off campus. Virginia Tech yesterday had a Press conference on Fox News, and one of the Authorities (there were 3), and I don't know his title said that they do have a security system, through email, and other technical means. However the time that the incidents occurred, was in the A.M. when the students were commuting. When they did arrive they felt that it was best to lock down when they did arrive. Truthfully at the time of the news conference they were still doing the investigation of the witnesses, and they did not have all the answers yet. That said, I believe they should have metal detectors as they do at the airports, and I.D. cards (ones that can not be counterfeited), as they are planning to do with Passports in the United States. Secondly when an incident does occur they should have a loud siren like they do in Israel, and other countries during war time alerting people to go into their shelters. That wll alert the ones who are commuting. For the ones that dorm they should have a PA system installed. These are the only measures that I can think of, aside from strickter gun control laws. Truth to tell, it is unfortunate but whatever measures are installed it seems that when a deranged person, or a terrotist is determined to harm people unfortunately they always find a way to work around any security system that is installed. It is like a no win situation, but we have to do what we have to do no matter what. G-d should help those families, to be able to overcome the tragedy of losing a chlld.

Answer 3

I guess the college could have done more to inform the students about the first shooting and taken proper precautions to stop the shooter. As far as i've heard the students got most of their information from the internet. It's pretty obvious the college didn't do as much as they could have if they let classes continue that day, if they had sent everyone to their rooms or something and cancelled classes to ensure the whole campus was totally safe then there wouldn't have been any further shootings that morning.
I don't think the students could have done much themselves, to be fair they were probably in total shock and absolutely terrified....I would have been, you can't think straight when you're in a situation like that. There've been stories about members of staff who did their best to barricade the classes along with some students doing what they could...but it wasn't as if they woke up expecting that kind of thing to happen to them. The lowlife who did it...well, he was a total bloody coward for taking his own life after taking so many other people away from their families and friends with absolutely no reason to do it. Asshole.

Answer 4

I don't think anything could've stopped the first shootings. a better warning system could've helped the second shooting spree but with the authorities thinking that the threat was over would the alert ever have gone out even if there was one? I heard that the shooter already had a bunch of cartridges ready and was a pretty adept shooter. trying to charge him would be suicide whether it was an automatic weapon or not. besides he was killing or shooting whoever he saw there prolly wasn't time to form a group. truthfully if someone had i think it just would've added to the number of the deceased. This wasn't like united 93 where they had time to make a plan and everyone including the terrorists were trapped inside the airplane and the passengers had accepted their fate if it didn't work out. at vt people were jumping out of windows and there were still ways to get to safety. They were two very different situations.

Answer 5

I think the students were in shocked and couldn't believe that it was happening, one teacher block the door with his body so other students could jump out the window-he was killed. This kid had depression and if he had sought help earlier on in his life then maybe this wouldn't have happen. I try and think what could people/the university could do? He chain the doors shut so people couldn't leave-there wasn't much the students could do-chairs and desk are pretty heavy to throw-and he'll most likely duck or something. As for the university I want to know what happen in that 2 hour gap-if something had been done in Norris hall as the first shootings happen then maybe the second one would not have.
My thought and prayers go out to the families.

Answer 6

I'm not sure there was much anyone could do to prevent this. I'm sure there is something, but it's hard to say. The kid was a psychopath and obviously was uncontrollable. Also, in a state such as this, would you be able to stop a killer, especially with a gun? And you have nothing but self defense? It is almost impossible. The idiot also chained off the doors so no one could get in, blocking all exits making it impossible for anyone to enter and exit.

My heart goes out to all the students, faculty and loved ones lost whom attend Virginia Tech. I want you all to know that I'm praying and thinking about you constantly.

Answer 7

The administrators of the school were informed that one of the kids (murderer) was writing disturbing things and need a therepist and phychologist, but no actions were taken. They should have sent him to a phychologist period! Also after a girl was murdered and a guy was shot I think they should have had the students leave rather than keep them in and hope the killer was gone. Really he was in his room loading ammo and gathering the chains to lock the doors. This is their fault! 33 kids died afterwerds becuase the kids were kept inside. Now that college will have a bad reputation and nobody will want to go there becuase hey, would you want to go to a college were teachers let down their students, took poor action, and more importantly.... 33 kids were killed! it's sad.

Answer 8

An armed professor or student may have been able to stop this carnage before so many died. In Israel, teachers in schools are armed. The Israelis did this because Palastinian terrorists realized schools were a 'soft' target, and would raid schools and kill Jewish kids. Now that the teachers are armed, guess what? No more attacks by palistinian terrorists on Israeli schools.

Answer 9

If schools could lawfully intervene when someone is showing signs of being very disturbed this would have helped. At the moment, regardless of how a person acts or what they make people think, the school cannot take any action against someone until the have threatened or harmed someone. They cannot do anything until it is too late. Thats the law.

Answer 10

if i recall, most colleges have doors that open in the opposite direction. meaning, piling up desks and tables will do no good, since the person outside can open it to get in. i don't know about the other states, but in calstate school systems, the desks and tables are mostly screwed to the floor, and the windows don't open all the way.