How can the Virginia Tech. massacre NOT be political !?

Question

I've heard and read a lot about keeping politics out of this tragedy. Unfortunatley, I think this HAS to be a political issue. We need policies to help decrease the chances that such a thing will happen again. Will resticting guns work ? Or will loosening gun control work ? Or for that matter are there any other solutions that don't have anything to do with gun control ? These questions need to be answered. Which means it will necessairly turn political. Do you think that we should actually try to keep "politics" out of this ?

I'm not saying that the person who did this had a political agenda. I understand that he was very disturbed. My point is that we need to make policies to deal with situations like this. When you make policies, it turns political.

Answer 1

When I say, "making it political," I'm talking about blame either party for what happened or saying silly things like, "Cho was violent enough to be a member of the ____ party." Things like that. Yes, I think we need to do something about the gun laws and about getting people like Cho the help they need when signs are present without having to worry about being sued. I suppose that is making it political, but making accusations or jokes out of it is reprehensible.

Answer 2

Nobody seems to get it ... this isn't a gun control issue at all, it's a mental health issue & the system is seriously flawed when faced with meaningless violence by an individual who was obviously disturbed....& everyone ignored the red flags! Why? Because there are laws in place that "protect" the individual's privacy where mental instability is concerned; the schools cannot throw a student out of school for being mentally ill & risk a lawsuit; on the other hand, if they knowingly, let an unstable person stay in school, they can also be held liable if he/she casues just such an incident as V-tech!!! These are the laws that need to be changed!!!!

Answer 3

Yes, as a matter of fact, I do think you have to keep politics out of it. The problem is that you cannot legislate anger, hatred, stupidity, or common sense. Gun control or lack of it are not the answer, someone like this young man or any of the others will find another way to kill. The sad reality in this case is that this young man had waved so many red flags in the faces of people who "might have" been able to do something and they failed him and ultimately his victims.

Again, I don't think the answers to this are political, and I don't think we need affix blame either. Do I know the answer? Not at all, try to limit hate speech (that we can do, without politicians), stop the bullying in our schools, (when you figure out how let me know), etc. My daughter was a victim of a school bully, and very real threats in middle school. We found both the school and law enforcement totally ineffective, and ultimately removed her and home schooled her. She has since graduated, gone to college, and started her own business (and is quite successful). This is such a difficult topic, I truly hope your question is taken seriously. Thanks

Answer 4

In my opinion, it is extremely disrespectful to use this massacre as an opportunity to advance a political agenda, Politics played no part in the brutal murders of these victims. The assassin was a psychotic young man. Politics played no part. Only a heartless person would be such a political opportunist at such a time as this.

Answer 5

Did you happen to see my earlier post regarding guns?

I don't know what the answer is, but I know it does not lie in "extremes;" ie total bans or everyone packing.

There has got to be some sensible, workable middle ground solution.

Obviously, the NRA will lobby against ANYTHING, and I literally mean ANYTHING.

And too many legislators are just blatant whores; taking pac $$ and afraid to suggest that some kind of control is in order.

America is a country seduced by guns, obsessed with fear, and I suspect things will only get worse...

Answer 6

You, my good sir, are the "reaction" to the "problem-reaction-solution" model crafted by conspiracy theorist David Icke. The VA Tech massacre occurred in large part due to the federal government telling local police to refrain from any action until they arrived. A bigger catastrophe would instigate a larger reaction from the public and the resulting support for gun control would be all the more powerful. Make sense?

Answer 7

I don't think it is very political to the ones close to the tragedy.

The school could not have any stricter gun laws. And most crimes do not involve guns. People should have rights to protect themselves. I do not think resident aliens should be able to buy guns; their allegiance is to another government. That would be a start. But the biggest problem is our judges and courts catering to the whims of liberals. We have had enough love, peace, therapy, forgiveness and civil rights for people who kill. This boy should not have been allowed at that school!

Answer 8

This type of tragedy should lead to policy discussions eventually but there will be a time and a place for that. Right now, I feel it is better to give these people support and help them grieve and try to return to a normal life. We should be focused on how best to help those who were personally affected by this tragedy: the students at VT, the parents of those killed and injured, the students who were injured, the parents of the killer, and all the faculty and staff at VT.

Answer 9

This will become a political talking point sooner than later. Every politician that thinks he can get some mileage out of this tragic incident will be addressing it in some way or another.

Answer 10

We included politics in columbine.. nothing changed, nothing happened, and people were using the tragedy for their own political gain.

This is not a political issue, nothing can stop an angry psycho determined to kill as many people as possible